November 19 - Australia has created the world's largest network of marine national parks, protecting a 2.3 million square km (888,035 sq mi) area of ocean roughly the size of Western Europe.
The move will prevent oil and gas exploration and commercial fishing in the most sensitive areas.
Australia's environment minister Tony Burke said the decision would protect areas of ocean, including the Coral Sea off the north Queensland coast and the coral reefs off Australia's southwest coast, as well as help support endangered sea life.
