Endemic Australian sea lions are under threat; they need your urgent support.
Bycatch and climate impacts are threatening Australia’s sea lions. Your support helps AMCS deliver recovery plans and stronger protections at key breeding sites.
The endemic Australian Sea Lion remains one of the country’s most threatened marine mammals. Slow breeding cycles mean recovery takes decades, and colonies are under mounting pressure from fisheries bycatch, habitat disturbance, climate-driven marine heatwaves, toxic algal blooms, and the emerging threat of avian influenza.
AMCS has helped secure stronger protections in South Australia, reducing mortalities through improved fisheries management and advocacy. But progress must be defended. Climate change is intensifying, a devastating algal bloom has recently impacted South Australian marine life, and bird flu has now reached subantarctic Australian territory — placing vulnerable colonies at real risk.
Western Australia represents the greatest opportunity for rapid conservation gains. Protections remain weaker, with inconsistent bycatch mitigation, limited marine protected areas around breeding colonies, and inadequate monitoring. Many colonies face unprecedented climate stress. With greater investment, AMCS can work alongside scientists, Traditional Owners, local communities, tourism operators and government to strengthen safeguards, expand foraging protections, improve transparency, and push for measures that mirror and exceed the South Australian model.
With your support, AMCS can integrate sea lion recovery into a coordinated national marine mammal program — accelerating durable protection across state and federal waters.
In 2026 we are seeking to raise funds to secure stronger, science-based protections for Australian sea lions across South Australia and Western Australia. By donating TODAY you can help support:
- Stronger bycatch mitigation to cut sea lion deaths.
- Increased foraging habitat protection around breeding colonies.
- Improved population monitoring and public fisheries reporting.
- Rapid response planning for algal blooms and avian influenza outbreaks.
- Adoption of best-practice recovery measures.
- Expanded public education, grassroots engagement, and advocacy opportunities empowering thousands of Australians to take action to protect the Australian sea lion.
Explore how you can help enable this important work below.
All donations over $2 are 100% tax-deductible. The projects featured in the Funding Prospectus are priority campaign activities and needs for which we are urgently seeking funds – current at the time of posting or going to press. As time progresses, there may be some cases in which the project you have selected may already be fully funded. In that instance, we would be delighted to discuss where the need is greatest at the given time. All of our campaigns work in symbiotic support of our mission to protect our oceans. Please be assured your gift will go to work to be the voice for Australia’s oceans, working on the big issues that risk our ocean wildlife.
