CQUniversity professors who specialise in marine research, Chad Hewitt and Marnie Campbell have both welcomed news that Australia has declared the world's biggest marine reserve -- with the Coral Sea the jewel in the crown -- on top of a $100 million buy-out for the besieged fishing industry.

The decision to protect more than 2.3 million sq km of ocean in marine parks was announced by Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke on Friday, November 16.

Professor Marnie Campbell

Professor Campbell described this as a very significant move, "especially given the issues faced by the Great Barrier Reef and the pressures placed on the Queensland region including expansion of port developments and massive urbanisation".

"Research shows that we're about to have another Crown of Thorns outbreak and coral has significantly declined over the last 30 years, so we need to protect the reef and our marine environment for our future generations.

Professor Chad Hewitt

"It's time stewardship of our oceans is taken seriously: no reef equals no tourism or fish, so protecting this area will lead to better marine conservation outcomes for our future generations."

Meanwhile, Professor Hewitt says the declaration is a "much-needed move in the future protection of our oceans".

"These areas will be under increasing stress with the changing climate and increasing human pressures on our ocean resources. Protecting vast tracts allows recovery and long-term benefits to a wider region than just those areas under conservation measures."