Iceland’s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (Hafrannsóknastofnun) has called for environmental protection of the South continental shelf slope (Suður‑landgrunnshlíða), an undersea region home to a significant share of the nation’s living coral reefs. The proposal and its details were first reported by Eyjafréttir.
According to Eyjafréttir, the proposed protected area would prohibit fisheries that use gear contacting the seabed. The measure is designed to help preserve the fragile ecosystems supported by the coral reefs in these waters. The exact boundaries and size of the area concerned have not yet been reported.
The new initiative is linked to Iceland’s broader aim to protect at least 30 percent of its land and sea by 2030, officials told Eyjafréttir. Additional details, such as when the protections would take effect or whether the proposal has reached the relevant authorities, are not yet known.
Sources
- Eyjafréttir (first reported) in Icelandic
