Send Email

Protect Australia's volcano penguins!


Thank you to everyone who made a submission! The consultation period has now closed, but there is another way you can still help protect Australia’s volcano penguins.

Far below our south-west coast lies a hidden Australian wonder. It’s full of ice, fire and penguins, and it urgently needs your help.

Closer to Antarctica than the Australian mainland, the Heard and McDonald Islands are an uninhabited wilderness.

These islands are the peaks of an underwater mountain range that soars up from the ocean’s depths. Amongst the summits sit Australia’s only two active volcanoes.

Four million macaroni penguins have made their homes at the base of these volatile volcanoes.¹ ² But they’re in trouble.

 

 

A recent independent science report found that Heard and McDonald Islands marine life is under threat.¹ And the threats are getting worse.

As the pressure to exploit our planet’s southern resources grows, industrial fisheries are looking for new areas to expand into.

New research also shows shallower waters around the Heard and McDonald Islands are warming at an alarming rate, putting cold-adapted species at risk.¹ Macaroni penguins rely on eating krill, fish and squid in shallow waters while they care for their eggs and young chicks.

The science is clear: expanding marine sanctuary protection around the Heard and McDonald Islands is one of the best ways to protect marine life against these growing threats.¹ ³

But a new government plan leaves 77% of macaroni penguin feeding areas outside of marine sanctuaries. Right now, we have an opportunity to change that.

Add your name now to call for strong marine sanctuaries that protect macaroni penguin feeding areas and other important conservation zones in the oceans around the Heard and McDonald Islands.

Taking action doesn’t just support macaroni penguins. Krill, fish, albatrosses, elephant seals, fur seals, sperm whales, killer whales, king penguins, endangered eastern rockhopper penguins and gentoo penguins also rely on the Heard and McDonald Islands.¹

Please help preserve these remote Australian islands and their wonderful marine life for generations to come.

Latest Supporters

More information

Show/Hide Submission Text

[YOUR OPTIONAL PERSONAL MESSAGE WILL APPEAR HERE]

I support the government’s proposal to expand Australia’s Heard and McDonald Island Marine Park. This is a positive step forward for the protection of the regions’ globally significant conservation values. I support the expansion of sanctuary (IUCN II) protection for the shelf habitat and a ban on mining and new damaging fisheries in the marine park.

I am concerned that the park does not adequately protect key conservation features, such as undersea canyons, unique seamounts and the Williams Ridge. These areas have important seafloor habitats and support feeding grounds for species such as penguins, Antarctic fur seals, elephant seals and albatrosses. They also support a variety of fish species including Patagonian toothfish and mackerel icefish.

The government’s own science report and an independent science report acknowledged the importance of these areas and that there was currently inadequate protection for important seafloor habitat, foraging areas for albatross and macaroni penguins, and areas supporting an abundance and variety of fish.1,2 It also highlighted the global significance of these waters and the threats posed by climate change, pollution, fishing and invasive species. This was also recognised by a recent independent study which recommended protection for 6 key conservation features – five of which are not adequately protected as part of the draft proclamation.

I urge you to ensure the proposed expansion of the marine park increases fully protected marine sanctuaries (IUCN II) for key conservation features prioritising protection for the southern canyons and Williams Ridge, including the seamounts.

Please accept this as a submission to the draft proclamation for Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park and the Notice of Intent to Create the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park Management Plan.

  1. References:
    Andrew, J., Constable, I., Cresswell, N., Bax, K.. (2024). Understanding the marine ecosystems surrounding Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) and their conservation status. Australian Marine Conservation Society.
  2. Welsford, D., Lamb, T., Masere, C., and Sumner, M. (2024). Conservation values in the marine environment surrounding Heard Island and the McDonald Islands. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
What are the Heard and McDonald Islands?
  • Lying 4,000 kilometres south-west of Perth, The Heard and McDonald Islands are closer to Antarctica than the mainland. The islands, and a huge 410,722 square kilometres of surrounding ocean, are an Australian territory. That means protecting the marine life around Heard and McDonald Islands is our responsibility.
  • The region is defined by a giant underwater plateau that rises up from the ocean depths, forming peaks that breach the water’s surface. The island landscapes are dominated by Australia’s only two active volcanoes, including Big Ben which sits on a summit taller than Mt Kosciuszko. Below the rough waves, currents that encircle Antarctica collide with the underwater mountain range that forms the islands. This drives nutrient-rich waters towards the surface, fuelling a thriving marine food chain.
Why now is the moment to call for stronger marine sanctuary protection on the Heard and McDonald Islands?
  • Every ten years, the Australian government reviews the Heard and McDonald Island marine park. One of those once-in-a-decade reviews is happening right now. As part of the review, the government has released draft plans for an updated marine park. The draft contains some major improvements, including 378,000 square kilometres of new marine park. But once you scratch beneath the surface, there are big problems with the government’s draft plans:
    • 77% of macaroni penguin feeding grounds and 90% of king penguin feeding grounds are not protected in marine sanctuaries.
    • Five of the six key conservation areas that scientists recommended protecting in new marine sanctuaries remain under-protected, including the vitally important southern canyons and the Williams Ridge. This leaves key areas for penguins, seals, albatrosses, cold-water corals, Patagonian toothfish, mackerel icefish, dolphins and whales at risk.

Satellite tracking of macaroni penguins overlaid over the Australian government’s new proposal for the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park. The tracking reveals almost all of the macaroni penguins’ foraging areas remain outside of marine sanctuary protection (green areas).Satellite tracking of macaroni penguins overlaid over the Australian government’s new proposal for the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park. The tracking reveals almost all of the macaroni penguins’ foraging areas remain outside of marine sanctuary protection (green areas).¹

Marine sanctuary protection around the Heard and McDonald Islands must be urgently expanded in line with scientific recommendations. This expansion must include key areas that have been left out of the Australian government’s draft plans.

What’s the difference between a marine sanctuary and a marine park?
  • Many marine parks are multiple use and are zoned to help manage and protect conservation values. Some zones still allow certain types of damaging activities like seismic blasting, fossil fuel drilling, shipping, recreational fishing and commercial fishing. Marine sanctuaries act like national parks in the ocean. They protect key conservation areas from all damaging activities, while still allowing for non-damaging recreational activities like snorkelling and surfing. Marine sanctuaries also improve the health of marine ecosystems, giving them the best chance to withstand the impacts of climate change.
What happens when you submit your submission
  • Your submission will be sent to the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water as part of the Australian Antarctic Division’s review into the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan 2014-2024. You can learn more about the review, the government’s draft plans and how your submission may be used via the consultation hub.
  • Know that your submission will be read by real people and that taking this action will have real impacts for marine life.
References
  1. Andrew, J., Constable, I., Cresswell, N., Bax, K.. (2024). Understanding the marine ecosystems surrounding Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) and their conservation status. Australian Marine Conservation Society.
  2. Garnett, S. & Baker, G. (2021). The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020. CSIRO Publishing.
  3. Welsford, D., Lamb, T., Masere, C., and Sumner, M. (2024). Conservation values in the marine environment surrounding Heard Island and the McDonald Islands. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

 

Feature image: King penguins in front of the Big Ben active volcano on Heard Island. Image by Matt Curnock.