VIÑA DEL MAR: Chilean President Michelle Bachelet opened an international conference on the protection of the oceans Monday with a pledge to create huge new marine reserves around Easter Island in the Pacific.

To warm applause from delegates from around the world, Bachelet said her government would work with indigenous Rapa Nui to protect their waters from illegal exploitation while preserving their ancient fishing traditions.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2015