COPENHAGEN, June 7 -- A broad political majority in Denmark's Parliament (Folketing) agreed to a new Marine Plan on Wednesday to "ensure greater nature protection in the Danish sea area."

"I am proud that with this agreement we are taking responsibility for nature at sea with more protected areas," Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke said in a press release.

According to the minister, Denmark aims to increase its strictly protected sea areas by 10 percent by 2030. The country has already set aside 6 percent of its sea area as strictly protected.

"Nature in the sea is under pressure, and therefore it is imperative that we protect the wild nature of the sea. With this agreement, we are taking a big step in the right direction," he said.

The new plan also envisages a reduction in areas for raw material extraction at sea from approximately 7 percent to approximately 5 percent of the total ocean area and new restrictions on dumping material in the sea.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, the plan is an important addition that will help "contribute to the goal in the European Union's biodiversity strategy of a 30 percent protected marine area, of which 10 percent is strictly protected, by 2030."

  - Xinhua