Niue, a small island nation in the southern Pacific Ocean, is poised to make a big splash in ocean conservation with a new commitment to protect all the waters in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Niue Nukutuluea Multiple-Use Marine Park will conserve 100% of the waters in the EEZ, which totals around 317,500 square kilometers of ocean surrounding the 261-square-kilometer island. Niue's sovereign waters are home to underwater caves, coral reefs, and diverse marine life, including grey reef sharks, spinner dolphins, and katuali, a venomous sea snake that can only be found in this region. "The decision reflects Niue's ancestral tradition of taking only what is needed from the ocean to sustain life and ensure continued abundance for future generations," the Niue government shared in a press release. "It also underpins the centrality of sustainable and responsible tourism that has been a significant part of Niue's sustainable development agenda and economy over the last decade."

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