Spain eliminates three marine bird sanctuaries to avoid diplomatic spats

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http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/Spain/eliminates/three/marine/bird/sanctuaries/to/avoid/diplomatic/spats/elpepueng/20111019elpeng_12/Ten

Spanish diplomacy has prevailed over environmental protection. On Tuesday, the Environment Ministry published its proposed list of the maritime areas that it wants the government to declare as national preserves.

However, in an effort to head off any diplomatic spats, ministry officials have eliminated three areas located in international waters, including two that are in an area of jurisdiction that is disputed with Gibraltar and Morocco.

Nevertheless, environmentalists are praising the government's move to declare 41 other areas as marine bird sanctuaries, saying that "it is a big step forward" in Spanish conservation efforts.

In total, the so-called Special Protection Zones for Birds total more than 50,000 square kilometers of areas along the coast of the Spanish peninsula and the Balearic and Canary Islands.