Australia is the epicentre of sea snake diversity, but they’re being pushed to the brink
Tens of thousands of sea snakes are caught in Australian trawl fisheries each year, and in WA are threatened by extinction from fossil fuel development projects.
Australia’s northern waters are home to the greatest diversity of sea snakes on Earth. These remarkable marine reptiles are vital predators in coral reef and seafloor ecosystems, helping maintain ecological balance. Yet today, they are being pushed towards collapse.
Tens of thousands of sea snakes are unintentionally caught each year in Australian trawl fisheries, from Ningaloo’s nursery ground in the Exmouth Gulf around to the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef. Many are caught and released but do not survive the release, or tragically are already dead or dying on capture.
At the same time, populations in Western Australia face escalating risks from offshore fossil fuel expansion near the globally significant Scott Reef. Some species, including rare and range-restricted sea snakes, are now at real risk of extinction.
We cannot protect ocean health while losing the species that hold these ecosystems together. Targeted research, practical fishery reforms and vital policy change can dramatically reduce sea snake deaths and safeguard the critical habitats they rely upon.
In 2026 we are seeking funding to protect threatened sea snakes, and reduce the risks driving their decline. By donating TODAY, your support will help to:
- Quantify populations of threatened and endangered sea snake species to inform urgent conservation action.
- Secure mandatory bycatch reduction devices in trawl fisheries to reduce sea snake deaths.
- Advocate for a 25% reduction in trawl licences in the Reef, including removing latent effort so fishing pressure cannot increase.
- Strengthen partnerships with industry, scientists and government to deliver measurable bycatch reduction outcomes.
Australia has a responsibility to safeguard the world’s richest sea snake diversity. With the right interventions now, we can reduce bycatch, protect critical habitats, and prevent irreversible species loss.
Image Credit: Scott Reef, Australia © Nush Freedman Photography
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.
