Cepa, UPNG to protect marine life in Bootless Bay

The Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) can now protect marine life on University of PNG land in Bootless Bay outside Port Moresby.
It follows an agreement signed between the two parties and witnessed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in Port Moresby this week.
According to Cepa marine environment division manager Yvonne Tio, a national policy to address biodiversity conservation was made in 2014 and implemented by the authority in partnership with the government of Japan through a Cepa-Jica project.
“The memorandum of understanding between the authority and UPNG to protect mangroves and establish marine-protected areas on Tahira and Motupore, realised provisions of the National Protected Areas Policy 2014 which has been implemented through the project,” Tio said.
Tio said the project selected Bootless Bay as a proposed marine protected area because of its rich marine biodiversity and supported the formation of Bootless Bay Marine Conservation Initiative of which UPNG was part of.
Prof Chalapan Kaluwin of UPNG said the university was committed to work with Cepa and other members of the Bootless Bay project to realise the outcomes of the agreement and create a model marine-protected area that would be replicated in other parts of PNG.
“We are excited about getting our students and scientists involved. “