Please help us create healthy oceans full of life.
Healthy marine life is central to our Australian lifestyle, our livelihoods, our coastal economies and our global reputation.
But our oceans are under threat – climate change, poorly managed fisheries, coastal development, and pollution threaten the health of our oceans.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are key tools for ocean conservation, helping to reduce stress on marine ecosystems. Human activities are carefully regulated within MPAs, with different activities allowed in different zones. Multi-use zones, for example, allow certain types of commercial fishing. Zones designed to protect the seabed habitat might allow only recreational fishing.
Marine sanctuary zones, also known as marine national parks or green zones, are the highly protected zones where no fishing, mining, dumping, or oil and gas extraction is allowed, but we can visit and enjoy seeing the wildlife – they are the golden egg of marine conservation!
Scientists say that we need to protect at least 30% of our global oceans within well-connected networks of highly protected marine sanctuaries, by 2030.
Right now, sanctuary areas cover 21% of Australia’s waters, but there are major gaps in the network and many vital habitats remain unprotected – we need to do better.
We need to grow our networks of marine sanctuaries – in both Commonwealth and coastal state waters – to ensure all types of ocean ecosystems are protected. And we need to champion marine protection in areas beyond national borders – the high seas.
As well as establishing networks of marine parks we need to ensure that we tread lightly on our oceans. We need to reduce land-based pollution, make sure our fisheries are sustainable, and take action to address climate pollution.
Our ocean wildlife is under immense pressure and there are not enough sanctuaries to keep the balance. Join us to call for more!
All donations of $2 or more are 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.