What is real marine protection?

Marine Sanctuaries or 'no-take' areas are the only form of non-extractive or real protection in marine parks, marine reserves & marine protected areas.

The Wilderness Society's Campaigns

The Wilderness Society (TWS) has long campaigned for marine protection in Australian waters. We are currently running active marine campaigns in Western Australia, South Australia and The Northern Territory - where less than 1% of the commonwealth waters are protected. We are aiming to secure large networks of marine sanctuaries, to create "seascape" wide conservation – a marine equivalent to TWS’s WildCountry "whole of landscape" conservation approach. So our unique and pristine marine life can be protected for what the future holds...

With technology advancing we can now discover the what lies beneath... check out this fly through footage of Australia's coast from under the sea.

Campaign highight: Our unique South-West underwater world

Australian Sea Lions off the SA coast. Photo: Ron and Valerie Taylor

Australia's South West marine and coastal environments support an abundance of rare and endangered plants and animals including the Australian Sea Lion, Leafy Sea Dragon & Southern Right Whale. A collaborative campaign called Save Our Marine Life is concentrating on boosting SW sanctuaries.

Incredibly, South-West Australia is home to a far greater level of unique marine life than the Great Barrier Reef – up to 90% of our marine species are found nowwhere else on Earth. Despite this, our South-West oceans has less than 1% real protection.  The commonwealth government bioregional planning process is expected to deliver a network of marine protected around Australia by 2012.

Real protection or pretend parks?

Marine parks in both State and Commonwealth waters will be "multiple use".  This means large parts of the parks will remain open to extractive activities such as aquaculture, commercial fishing and mining exploration.

Only within sanctuary zones will activities which harm or remove marine plants and animals be totally prohibited. Neither Government has yet made any committments about how big sanctuaries within the new marine parks will be. 

The Wilderness Society is working closely with other international, national and local conservation groups to ensure both initiatives deliver real and effective protection for our coasts and oceans, not pretend parks with insignificant sanctuary zones.

What are sanctuary zones and why do we need them?

A group of keen snorkelers, Esperance. Photo: Jenita Enevoldsen

Sanctuary zones are also known as marine reserves, marine national parks, fully protected areas and no-take zones.  They are similar to national parks on land - their purpose is not to exclude people but to provide marine life with a much needed refuge from harm.

The world's oceans are under huge and increasing pressure from overfishing, pollution, mining, invasive species, coastal development and climate change.  Networks of large sanctuaries which protect important habitats (such as the breeding and feeding areas of unique, threatened and commercially fished species) are the best way to conserve our spectacular marine ecosystems for the future.

Research from hundreds of marine parks around the world shows that on average, animals become 28% bigger within sanctuaries, species diversity increases 21% and the total biomass of plants and animals grows by a huge 446%.

Take Action:

Do you want our coasts and oceans protected for future generations? Right now, the Australian Governments are deciding the fate of our unique marine life. Do your bit and join us in calling for a network of large no-take marine sanctuaries in the South-West Australian Waters! 

1. Use the media – write to your local newspaper expressing your support for marine parks or call talkback radio and ask for airtime to debate this important issue.   

2. Tell Prime Minister Julia Gillard that you expect Australia's new marine parks to deliver real and effective protection for our unique marine life in the form of large no-take sanctuary zones.

3. If you live in a coastal electorate, contact your local MP and ask him or her to ensure that your local areas of high conservation value are protected by sanctuary zones. For more information about the high value conservation areas near you, contact our national Marine Campaigner

4. Become a volunteer – we are always on the look-out for passionate people to help promote our exciting campaigns.  Whatever your strengths and abilities, we can harness them to protect and promote South Australia’s unique marine environment.