Update December 2024: Another marine heatwave is descending on the oceans around Tasmania and Victoria this summer. Combined with heavy fishing pressure and oil and gas industry activities, south-east Australia’s oceans are under more pressure than any other marine region in the country. It has created a perfect storm of decline, requiring an urgent response.
Add your name to support increasing marine sanctuaries that help protect south-east Australia’s iconic marine life.
Last summer’s devastating marine heatwave killed seabirds and kelp, and forced scientists to remove critically endangered red handfish from the ocean. This summer’s marine heatwave, coming so soon after the last, could put marine life under even more stress.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) predicts the 2024/25 summer’s marine heatwave could reach the top end of its sea surface temperature hotspot scale.
Marine sanctuaries act like national parks in the ocean and have been shown to increase the resilience and recovery times of the marine life they protect.
Sadly, only 8% of south-east Australia’s offshore oceans are protected in marine sanctuaries.
The Australian government recently released a proposal to almost double that protection by adding 11 new offshore marine sanctuaries to the region. Over 16,000 of us sent letters in support of strong protections. Right now, the Australian environment minister Tanya Plibersek is deciding if these waters, home to marine life like whales, dolphins, sea lions and albatrosses, will be protected. We need to keep the pressure up so our politicians do the right thing to protect marine life.