We have launched our Thriving Ocean Plan – an ambitious plan to safeguard Australia’s ocean, coasts and marine life.
Habitat destruction, pollution, overfishing and coastal development are pushing our blue planet to the brink.
We must build ocean resilience and restore habitats to give our marine life a fighting chance.
Read our guide to our Thriving Ocean Plan.
Our VisionA thriving ocean for a healthy planet. | Our MissionWe are the guardians and voice for Australia’s ocean, coasts and marine life. |
Our Thriving Ocean Plan
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) is the guardian and voice for Australia’s ocean, coasts and marine life.
A thriving ocean is critical to life on Earth. It provides much of the oxygen we breathe, feeds millions, supports livelihoods, shapes our climate and weather, and is home to an extraordinary array of marine life. For Australians, our ocean is a source of awe, joy and national pride. It is deeply woven into our cultures, identities and sense of wellbeing.
But Australia’s ocean, coasts and marine life face unprecedented threats. We stand on the edge of a twin crisis – an extinction crisis that is eroding biodiversity, and a climate emergency that is undermining the health of all ecosystems. Powerful corporations continue to exploit our natural resources at an alarming pace. Habitat destruction, pollution, overfishing and coastal development are pushing our blue planet to the brink.
For six decades, AMCS has led the charge, pushing our leaders to protect our ocean, coasts and marine life – not only for the wildlife and places we love, but for the communities, livelihoods and future generations that depend on a thriving marine environment.
Over the next five years, we must prevent further destruction caused by fossil fuels, pollution, unsustainable fishing practices and unchecked development. We must build ocean resilience and restore habitats to give our marine life a fighting chance.
All of us have a role to play if we are to succeed.
This Thriving Ocean Plan lays out the path forward.
 | 1. Driving climate action for the oceanProtecting our ocean from the greatest threat – climate change. Australia faces a critical challenge in addressing climate change and shifting to renewable energy. Marine and coastal ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating while support for fossil fuels continues in influential quarters. Meeting these challenges requires a dual focus: stopping further fossil development while also supporting the energy transition that protects and restores nature. AMCS will work to build the political momentum needed to raise government ambition, stop new fossil fuel development in our ocean, and begin strengthening the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems. |
 | 2. Protecting threatened species and habitatsTargeting key threats to protect and restore Australia’s threatened marine species and their habitats. Australia’s marine habitats and species are facing mounting pressure as part of a broader national extinction crisis. Threats from climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, declining water quality and unsustainable fishing are deeply interconnected and demand a coordinated, holistic response. AMCS will hold state and federal governments accountable for delivering on their commitments – including passing strong environmental laws, protecting threatened species and reforming high-risk fisheries. |
 | 3. Safeguarding critical placesProtecting the most important places in Australia’s ocean and on our coasts. Cumulative threats from development, climate change, commercial and recreational fishing, pollution and other pressures are putting Australia’s most ecologically and culturally valuable marine places at serious risk. AMCS will advocate for a more ambitious, science-based fully protected network of marine sanctuaries in federal waters, priority state and territory waters, and protect important places from destructive development. |
 | 4. Building support for our oceanGrowing the movement and reshaping the narrative to drive lasting change for our ocean. Meeting the challenges requires bold, movement-wide leadership from AMCS. We will strengthen our supporter base and collaborations across Australia to unify the collective movement to protect our ocean, coasts and marine life. |
5. Ensuring a strong, effective organisation that delivers mission impact.Strengthening our organisation’s capability, sustainability and resilience to deliver mission impact. Our promise to you – we will remain a sustainable, effective, transparent, ethical and empowered organisation that delivers mission impact. |
Our Values
- Passion. We demonstrate commitment to and care for our ocean in all we do.
- Integrity. We are trusted, credible, independent and ethical in our actions.
- Courage. We are brave, respectful and honest advocates for marine life.
- Solidarity. We work together, embracing equity, diversity and inclusivity.
- Effectiveness. We are driven, professional, agile and resilient, working to deliver the best outcomes for Australia’s people and marine wildlife.
- Innovation. We are creative, flexible, open and solutions focused.