Book 6, Question 141
Why Is a Marine Park a Kind of Fence?
A marine park, or marine reserve, marks off a part of the sea where fishing, anchoring, or collecting is limited or stopped. The fence isn't made of boards. It's made of rules!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 6
More fun facts
- A marine park is a kind of marine protected area, a part of the ocean where the government limits what people can do.
- Marine parks usually still allow boating, snorkeling and sport fishing.
- Most protected areas are open for fishing, diving and boating. Only a few ban fishing completely.
- Areas where fishing is banned, called marine reserves, may actually help fishing nearby.
- The Galapagos Marine Reserve protects islands and waters about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) off South America.
- East End Marine Park protects the largest barrier reef system in the Caribbean Sea.
- The first known mention of an ocean sanctuary as an underwater park was in a 1956 book.
Sources: National Geographic Education, National Geographic Education, NOAA, NOAA
Questions kids ask
Can you fish in a marine park?
Often yes. Many marine parks allow sport fishing, but some reserves do not allow fishing at all.