Join us as we work to address the biggest threats to some of Australia’s most iconic threatened species.
Commercial fishing is the biggest threat to threatened marine wildlife. But we still lack accurate data. Independent monitoring will increase transparency and accountability to protect iconic species.
Australia’s oceans are home to extraordinary wildlife, from dugongs, turtles and sawfish in the tropical north to dolphins and Australian sea lions in the south. But many of these species are under pressure from commercial fishing, particularly in high-risk trawl and gillnet fisheries operating alongside globally significant ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef.
For decades, fisheries management has relied heavily on self-reported data. That has left dangerous blind spots, with threatened species interactions under-recorded and the true ecological cost of some fisheries unclear. Without accurate, independent data, recovery of vulnerable species such as sawfish and sea snakes is compromised.
After years of advocacy, a major breakthrough has been secured. The Queensland Government has committed to rolling out independent electronic monitoring cameras across its commercial trawl fleet from June 2026. This reform will significantly strengthen transparency, improve the accuracy of bycatch reporting, and provide regulators with the evidence needed to better protect wildlife and sensitive marine habitats.
This progress has only been possible because thousands of supporters demanded change. But gaps remain. Not every vessel will be covered immediately, and it is still unclear how comprehensively footage will be reviewed. Science tells us monitoring must be risk-based, comprehensive and transparent to truly safeguard threatened species.
In 2026 we are seeking to raise funds to continue to secure and strengthen independent monitoring across Australia’s highest-risk fisheries. By donating TODAY you will help ensure:
- Comprehensive, independent camera coverage in high-risk fisheries.
- Accurate reporting of threatened species interactions and discarded catch.
- Fisheries data that is publicly transparent and used to drive stronger protections.
- Improved bycatch reduction measures to protect sawfish, sea snakes, sharks and rays.
Together, we can modernise fisheries management, protect magnificent ecosystems, and give Australia’s threatened marine wildlife a genuine chance to recover and thrive.
Image Credit: Prawn Bottom Trawling Paul Hilton, © Earth Tree Images
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.
