A landmark decision has been made in Australia to increase protection of the Ningaloo Reef, one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders.

The decision results in increased protection from fishing in the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park from 10 to 34%. This comes just one year after protection was increased for Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef to 33%.

This decision is the result of a consistent and collaborative effort by WWF and its Save Ningaloo Campaign partners, as well as wider support from thousands of messages sent to the Western Australian government via Panda Passport.

On Friday 4th July 2003, the Premier of Western Australia, the Honourable Geoff Gallop, announced that his Government was REJECTING the controversial proposal for the marina and large-scale resort at Maud’s Landing, Ningaloo Reef.

"I think there were far too many risks involved in accepting this development," Premier Geoff Gallop said.

"The amount of information that we had available ... led me to the conclusion that this would carry risks, and if we were to lose the integrity of this area I think that would be a dereliction of duty for any government."

As part of its promise to respond to the tourism pressures of the region, the Government has released: "Future Directions: Sustainable Tourism and Land Use Scenarios for the Carnarvon-Ningaloo Coast." It is envisaged that some areas will remain in a wild state while others will be suitable for low-impact accommodation, all with a watchful eye on the wilderness values of the whole region. Bigger resorts and heavier infrastructure will be concentrated at Exmouth and Carnarvon.

Thankyou for your efforts, you made the difference!

The Lancang-Mekong Navigation Channel Improvement Project, is part of a grand scheme to allow large ships to freely navigate from Simao, China to Luang Prabang in Laos. The first stage of the project would destroy 11 major rapids and 10 scattered reefs along a 331-kilometre section of the Mekong from the China-Burma border to Ban Houayxai in Laos.

Rapids and reefs comprise some of the most productive riverine habitats, serving as vital breeding grounds for fish and other forms of aquatic life. Because of their high productivity, islets and rapids are also a source of food and income for fishermen and villagers, who rely on the river for their livelihoods.

WWF asked Passport holders to urge the Thai government to stop all work on the project, and in particular ensure that comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments are properly conducted and considered according to Thai Law and International Standards.

Thanks to pressure from NGOs, local communities & WWF supporters, the Thai government ceased blasting activities in the Mekong River.

A Thai ministerial meeting has also called for an environmental impact assessment before any blasting activities recommence. This is great news, and thank you for your support. More than 6,000 messages were sent by Passport holders!

WWF is still working hard to halt all work under the Lancang-Mekong Navigation Channel Improvement Project. Some of these activities include;

- The Chiang Khong Group, which is supported by WWF, is now working in the field collecting data on agricultural, social and environmental impacts in 20 villages along the Mekong. And the Mekong's Women Group has been established aiming to promote the role of women in Mekong river conservation.

- In February 2004, the Chiang Khong group and supporters will hold a 2-day educational and cultural event aimed at increasing public interest in the conservation of the Mekong River.

Many thanks for your support, you have helped intensify pressure on the government to protect the Mekong River. We’ll keep you posted if further action is needed or we have news on latest developments.

The WWF campaign to stop the Norwegian Government opening the paradise Lofoten Islands to oil development has been successful.

On Monday, December 15th the Norwegian Government announced that it would not be opening the seas around the islands for oil development in the immediate future.

The Government said, "As of now, it has not been demonstrated that adequate consideration to the fisheries and the environment can be attended to if petroleum activities are allowed in the area."

The decision is a U-turn for the Norwegian Government which offered the seas off the islands for oil development after oil companies expressed an interest in drilling there. The Government has decided not to allow exploration in the area despite claims by the oil companies that there was as much as one billion US dollars worth of oil beneath the seas.

WWF expects that in 2005 the Government will fully protect the Lofoten Islands on completion of its Barents Sea Management Plan.

The Lofoten Islands are home to the world's largest cod and herring stocks, shoals of sperm whales and killer whales, some of the largest sea bird colonies in Europe, including puffin and cormorant, and the world’s biggest cold water coral reef, which was only discovered last year. The island community is almost entirely dependent on fishing and tourism for survival.

Samantha Smith, director of WWF's Arctic Programme, said: "This is a landmark decision which oil companies planning to explore in the Arctic should take note of. Some things are more important than short-term oil and gas profits. It is no longer acceptable to explore for oil in biologically vulnerable and valuable areas. We have seen this happen in the US over the Arctic Refuge and now we have seen it in Lofoten."

However, WWF was surprised and disappointed by the Government's decision to allow exploratory drilling in another field, Goliath, off northern Norway. The area is very close to major seabird colonies and fish spawning grounds. Samantha Smith said: "The Norwegian Government is producing a management plan of the Barents Sea and the idea that it can somehow open up areas of that sea – like Goliath - for oil and gas development before this is completed is crazy and totally inconsistent. WWF will not allow full scale development to take place in Goliath without a major battle."

The Barents Sea is still one of Europe's last large, clean and relatively undisturbed ecosystems. Among its most spectacular features are the world's highest density of seabirds, some of the world's richest fisheries, and diverse and rare communities of marine mammals.

The new Regulation for Marine Fisheries by the country's Council of Ministers was approved on October 28th, 2003. TEDs will have to be implemented in all trawl nets on boats with engines, from January 2005.

These deaths can be averted by installing TEDs on trawl nets — a simple and inexpensive operation which is actually welcomed by Mozambican boat owners.

In Mozambique, WWF supported the first TED trials in the Sofala bank shrimp fisheries.

The result was that pressure for changes in legislation started to come from within the council of Ministers.

One article allows for local fishermen co-management committees to have a say in fisheries management. Another establishes the minimum size for sea cucumbers (holothurians), which may bring some hope to the protection of this collapsed resource.

As a result, surveillance and enforcement of fisheries is now high in the agenda in meetings between the Ministries of Defense and Fisheries.

WWF thanks the Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, domestic fleet owners, and the many others involved in the TED trials and for their support of the new legislation. And Passport holders, your pressure was critical in creating this great result.