Let’s create safe havens for our marine life, friend!
Marine heatwaves occur after a period of above average ocean temperatures and can have devastating impacts on marine wildlife, ecosystems and coral reefs.
The science is in – our Australian oceans are suffering:
- February 2025: Ningaloo Reef suffers widespread coral bleaching from a vast underwater heatwave.
- January 2025: Marine heatwave kills 30,000 fish on WA coast.
- March 2024: Great Barrier Reef experiences catastrophic bleaching. Recurrent mass bleaching events since 2016 have had a severe impact on the Reef’s ability to recover.
- January 2024: The same marine heatwave forced an emergency evacuation of critically endangered red handfish from the wild.
- November 2023: A marine heatwave was linked to deaths in migrating birds and kelp loss.
- October 2023 and March 2024: The kelp forests in south-eastern Australia have been progressively lost, driven by changing ocean conditions caused by climate change.
We must give our oceans a fighting chance against further heat stress.
Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer and dangerous due to climate change. Marine sanctuaries help ease the pressure our oceans are facing.
Marine sanctuaries act like national parks in the ocean and increase the resilience and recovery of marine life facing threats like marine heatwaves.
We’re fighting for increased marine sanctuary protection, but we can’t do it without your support.
Please watch our short film Sanctuary exploring why Australia needs marine sanctuaries to safeguard our oceans:
All donations over $2 are 100% tax-deductible. Our important campaigns are not funded by Government grants, we are totally reliant on generous people like you to protect Australia’s oceans and the animals that call them home.