Turning the Tide Magazine Marine Parks

Macquarie Island Win!

Spring '23 Newsletter
October 13, 2023

Turning the Tide Newsletter – Spring 2023

Macquarie Island Win!

Expansion and upgrade of the marine park around Australia’s Macquarie Island is a massive win for our unique Sub-Antarctic ocean wildlife.

This World Heritage-listed island, halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica, is teeming with wildlife, including albatross, seals, whales and penguins. Some species, such as the royal
penguin, are found nowhere else on Earth.

By almost tripling the size of the marine park and making around 93% a fully protected marine sanctuary, Australia has given Macquarie’s wildlife the best possible chance to survive and thrive into the future. The new park will cover an area more than double the size of Victoria.

It is a major contribution towards international efforts to conserve the Southern Ocean.

Across the Southern Ocean, temperatures are rising and the rate of ice loss has tripled. Industrial fisheries are damaging areas of high biodiversity, and the ocean’s rich wildlife is struggling to adapt to these rapid changes. Strong sanctuary protection will help build resilience in the face of these growing pressures and will also help to future proof this globally significant wildlife hotspot from threats such as seabed mining.

Because of You!

Thank you for your support. The expansion and upgrade of the marine park around Australia’s Macquarie Island is a massive win for our unique Sub-Antarctic ocean wildlife.