World's biggest marine park created in Australia

Australia has created the biggest marine park in the world to protect its oceans. It will cover around one million square miles and means no overfishing and drilling for oil can take place there.


The ocean around Australia is home to the Great Barrier Reef which is the world's largest coral reef system, covering a massive 1,600 miles. Endangered marine animals like green turtles, blue whales and whale sharks all live in these waters.

Some areas of the ocean around the country are already protected but the government to protect more because of worries that it was becoming polluted and the coral reef was being damaged.

Not everyone is happy about it though, fishing groups say it will damage their industry and lots of people will lose their jobs.

Match the words below to their definitions

coral / endagered / industry / marine / polluted / reef

1. relating to the sea
2. hard rocky material produced by a type of very small sea animal
3. line of rocks or sand near the surface of the sea
4. describes types of animal or plants that may become extinct soon
5. when the water, air or soil contains dangerous substances
6. an activity (such as fishing) that people and companies engage in to make money
True or false?

1. Blue whales live near the Great Barrier Reef.
2. Everyone thinks the park is a good idea.
3. This is the first marine park in Australia.
4. The fishing industry depends on the Great Barrier Reef.
5. The Great Barrier Reef is not polluted.
6. Overfishing can damage the ocean.
7. Oil companies can drill in the park.
8. Whale sharks are endangered.

What's the missing word?

1. Some areas of the ocean around the country are already________________.
2. The ocean around Australia is_______________to the Great Barrier Reef.
3. Green_______________, blue whales and whale sharks all live in the waters.
4. The coral reef was being_____________.







KEY

marine relating to the sea
coral hard rocky material produced by a type of very small sea animal
reef line of rocks or sand near the surface of the sea
endangered describes types of animal or plants that may become extinct soon
polluted when the water, air or soil contains dangerous substances
industry an activity (such as fishing) that people and companies engage in to make money

True or false?
1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. True

What's the missing word?
1. protected
2. home
3. turtles
4. damaged