Chile to create one of world's largest marine parks around Easter Island

Plans put forward by the local people will ban fishing in over 600,000 sq km of the Pacific ocean

Chile will create one of the world's biggest marine parks around the Pacific waters of Easter Island, president Michelle Bachelet said on Monday.

If the island's indigenous Rapa Nui people approve the plan after a consultation by the mainland government, fishing will be banned from a 631,368 sq km (243,630 sq miles) area - though still allowed up to 50m out for local fishermen - in an effort to stem illegal fishing.