MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina agrees to protect marine life.

Argentina has agreed to bar harmful development along its 2,000-mile coastal zone, giving a new lease of life to its elephant seals and sea lions.

The Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society, which spearheaded the effort, said the Argentine government reached the agreement with Fundacion Patagaonia Natural, a conservation group in that country.

In addition to the sea lions and elephant seals, the agreement is especially critical to some of the world's largest penguin colonies.

"The plan's objective is to bring together Argentina's coastal provinces to better coordinate protection for their amazing concentrations of wildlife, often seen in spectacular breeding colonies along Patagonia's rugged coastline," the WCS said.

The society said two species of penguin breed there, including the Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo and the largest known colony of rock hopper penguins, numbering some 200,000, in Tierra del Fuego.

The plan calls for improved technical assistance among the coastal provinces, while also laying the foundation for establishing new protected areas, and strengthening existing ones.