INDONESIA ANNOUNCES SHARK AND MANTA RAY SANCTUARY

Indonesia has announced a new shark and manta ray sanctuary, the first to protect the species in the rich marine ecosystem of the Coral Triangle, known as the "Amazon of the ocean". Environmentalists on Wednesday welcomed the creation of the 46,000-square-kilometre protection zone, in an area at risk from both overfishing and climate change. The local government in Raja Ampat on the western tip of New Guinea island announced the move this week, issuing local regulations to ban the finning and fishing of sharks in the area, a tourist destination popular with divers. Meanwhile, Queensland researchers have spotted an unusually large group of manta rays in a feeding frenzy near Lady Elliot Island. University of Queensland researcher Dr Kathy Townsend believes up to 150 manta rays were feeding in the area last month. She said thephenomenon was a result of recent flooding in Bundaberg, with excess levels of water sending a surge of nutrients into the ocean, leading to a spike in plankton.