阿根廷在聖克魯斯省巴塔哥尼亞區成立了2個大型海洋保護區，該國政府表示此舉將「維護海洋生態系的代表性樣本」，並「保護景觀遺產、自然及文化」。
為了建立新的保護區，全國代表大會2012年11月通過相關法令，並由總統費南德茲（Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner）於12月頒佈。
這兩個海洋公園分別為企鵝島海岸海洋公園及邁肯基（Makenke）海岸海洋公園，總部設於紐約的國際野生物保育協會（Wildlife Conservation Society）讚揚這項作為，他們在保護區籌畫階段與阿根廷官方共同合作。該會主席暨執行長Cristián Samper表示，「我們讚揚阿根廷政府創建這些新的海洋保護區網絡的保育成就，企鵝島及邁肯基海洋公園為後代保護重要野生動物族群，並為阿根廷的生態旅遊業創造新的機會。」
企鵝島位於聖克魯斯省的Puerto Deseado南方80英里處，離大陸12英里遠，包含1800平方公里的大洋，島嶼以峭壁與海為鄰。
整個巴塔哥尼亞海岸中，跳岩冠企鵝（rockhopper penguins）僅棲息在企鵝島。
企鵝島保護區內還有大量的南美海獅、紅腳鸕鷀及全球最多的藍眼鸕鶿棲息，這兒有超過8000對有繁殖能力的藍眼鸕鶿。
邁肯基海岸海洋公園位於更南邊，涵蓋600平方公里的海岸及海洋。公園內有全國最多的紅腳鸕鷀棲息其間，它同時也提供了稀有的海豚鷗（dolphin gull）及黑白相間的康氏矮海豚（Commerson’s dolphin）繁殖地的保護。
達爾文1833年乘坐小獵犬號造訪過現在劃入企鵝島範圍內的區域，他描述了他停留期間觀察過的野生動物。
邁肯基海岸海洋公園毗鄰聖朱利安，1520年麥哲倫在此處決一群擾亂他航程的叛變者，麥哲倫是世界上第一個繞行全球一週的人。
阿根廷國家公園管理局的局長Patricia Gandini博士及拉帕塔戈尼亞奧斯特瑞爾國立大學的Esteban Frere博士大力推動兩個海洋公園的設立。1985年，這兩位生物學者都在國際野生物保育協會贊助下於聖克魯斯省海岸開始野生動物研究。
在由全球環境基金、聯合國發展計畫署贊助的巴塔哥尼亞區域管理計畫方案（Patagonia Coastal Zone Management Plan project）中，這些區域被定義為優先保護點；研究的部分還有來自國家科學和技術研究委員會的贊助。
阿根廷政府表示，他們意圖在「經營管理上，優先鼓勵與促進研究及監測環境」來創建這些跨行政區的海洋公園。
根據劃設公園的法源，負責管理公園的官員有職責促進「與保護區相容的永續活動」，並「透過解說與環境教育讓居民及使用者認知保護區的重要性」。
每個公園將由包含中央及省官員的執行管理委員會監督，且在邁肯基公園還會納入地方官員。
邁肯基公園的執行管理委員會將納入鄰進公園的農村土地擁有者、園區居民、非政府環保組織、技術與科學組織及鄰近當局代表做為顧問團成員。
而根據條文，政府也必須確保公眾以「有利遊客身心、為現在及未來的世代保護其自然與文化特性」的方式使用這兩個公園。
Argentina has established two large marine protected areas in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz that the government says will "maintain representative samples of the marine ecosystem," and "protect the landscape heritage, natural and cultural."
To establish the new parks, laws passed by the National Congress in November were enacted by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in December 2012.
The new marine parks – Isla Pingüino Coastal Marine Park and Makenke Coastal Marine Park – were applauded this week by the Wildlife Conservation Society, based at New York's Brox Zoo, which worked with Argentine officials to create the new parks.
"We commend the Government of Argentina for their conservation stewardship in creating this new network of marine protected areas," said Dr. Cristián Samper, president and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society. "Isla Pingüino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks now protect vital wildlife populations for posterity and create new opportunities for Argentina's ecotourism industry."
Stretching 80 miles south of the town of Puerto Deseado and extending 12 miles out to sea, Isla Pingüino, or Penguin Island, covers nearly 1,800 square kilometers (720 square miles) of ocean and coastline bordered by cliffs.
Isla Pingüino is inhabited by one of the only colonies of rockhopper penguins on the Patagonian coast.
The newly protected area contains large populations of South American sea lions, red-legged cormorants, and one of the largest colonies of imperial cormorants found anywhere, with more than 8,000 breeding pairs.
Farther south, the Makenke Coastal Marine Park begins at the entrance of the Ria San Julian, covering almost 600 square kilometers (230 square miles) of shore and ocean.
This park contains the largest colony of rare red-legged cormorants in the country. It also protects breeding colonies of the dolphin gull, a rare scavenger, and pods of black and white Commerson's dolphin.
Charles Darwin traveled to the region now contained in Isla Pingüino in 1833, describing the wildlife he observed there during his voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.
Makenke Coastal Marine Park borders the inlet of San Julian, where in 1520 Ferdinand Magellan executed a group of mutineers who disrupted his voyage, the historic first circumnavigation of the globe.
Both the Isla Pingüino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks resulted from work conducted by Dr. Patricia Gandini, president of Argentina's National Parks Service, and Dr. Esteban Frere of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral.
Both biologists began studying the wildlife of coastal Santa Cruz in 1985 with support from the Wildlife Conservation Society.
These areas were identified as priority conservation sites by the Patagonia Coastal Zone Management Plan project, carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Fundacion Patagonia Natural with support from the Global Environmental Facility and the United Nations Development Program. Support for the research was also provided by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas.
In creating these interjurisdictional marine parks the government stated its intention to "encourage and facilitate research and monitoring environmental, as primary activities associated management."
The officials charged with managing the parks will seek to promote "sustainable activities compatible with conservation area" and "awareness of the importance of conservation area for users of the same and the inhabitants of the region, through the interpretation and environmental education," states the decrees establishing the parks.
Each park will be overseen by an Executive Management Committee that includes both national and provincial officials, and in the case of Makenke, a local official as well.
For Makenke, the Management Executive Committee will select an advisory board of representatives of rural landowners adjacent to the park, as well as park inhabitants, nongovernmental environmental organizations, technical and scientific organizations and municipalities in the vicinity.
In its establishing decree, the government says it will seek to ensure public use of the Makenke and Penguin Island parks "to contribute to physical and spiritual welfare of visitors, preserving their natural and cultural attributes for current and future generations."
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※ 本文與 行政院農業委員會 林務局 
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