New Maritime Protection Zones Established Along Northern Coast

The Birdland Parliament has unanimously approved the creation of three new maritime protection zones along the nation's northern coastline, extending critical environmental safeguards to an additional 45,000 square kilometers of ocean territory.

The New Zones

The three designated zones, effective immediately, are:

1. Northern Peninsula Sanctuary -- Covering the waters from Cape Frost to the Drift Islands, this zone protects key feeding grounds for adelie penguins and several species of albatross.

2. Krill Basin Reserve -- A deep-water zone safeguarding one of the Southern Ocean's most productive krill breeding areas. Commercial harvesting is now prohibited within these boundaries.

3. Icebreaker Passage Corridor -- A migration corridor used by humpback and minke whales during the summer months. All non-essential vessel traffic will be diverted away from this area.

Enforcement

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has deployed additional patrol vessels to monitor compliance. Foreign vessels found operating within the protection zones without authorization will be subject to diplomatic intervention through the International Maritime Cooperation Council.

"Birdland has always maintained that our territorial waters are sovereign," said Maritime Minister Chinstrap Davies. "These new zones reflect our commitment to managing our marine resources responsibly, not through isolation, but through firm and fair enforcement."

International Response

Several human nations, including New Zealand and Chile, have expressed support for the expansion. The Antarctic Cooperation Council has scheduled a review session in March to discuss alignment of these zones with existing international frameworks.

The full text of the Maritime Protection Zones Act is available through the Birdland Parliamentary Records Office.