Our Sealife in Strife

Sea turtle

NSW marine waters are home to rich and diverse habitats which offer refuge to an extraordinary wealth of wildlife – from fields of seagrass where majestic weedy seadragons shelter, to rocky reefs where gentle turtles swim. This is a largely unseen and uniquely beautiful world.

However our marine wildlife is under increasing threat from overfishing, pollution and climate change. The Grey Nurse shark is on the verge of extinction and the Weedy Sea Dragon is disappearing. Climate Change is now recognized by scientists to be the greatest long term threat to our ocean habitats.

There is now an urgent need to Take Action for the Ocean.

Currently – only 6.5% of our NSW marine environment is fully protected within the state’s inadequate marine parks. By fully protected we mean no take zones. No taking of shells, corals or fish – no taking of life of any sort. Only through safe havens such as these will our marine wildlife survive, recover and thrive as it naturally should.

The best available science tells us at the very least 30% of marine environments should be fully protected as no take zones if we are to adequately protect ecosystems and habitat. By establishing large scale networks of Marine Protected Areas we can create healthy ocean systems on which we all depend – no matter where we live.

Towards healthy thriving WildOceans

In NSW we are asking the government to establish long overdue fully protected areas in our waters off Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong – known as The Hawkesbury Shelf Bioregion – and increase fully protected areas throughout the state’s marine environments.

This includes asking for an increase to the no take zones for both the Solitary Islands and Jervis Marine Parks which are under review this year, 2008.  The international scientific benchmark is at least 30% - so this is our ask.

We are also asking the government for the development of a Climate Change Action Plan to implement strategies that will minimize the impacts of climate change on our fragile marine environment. Read article on climate change and how the oceans are impacted here.

You can help – Take Action 4 the Ocean!

Here are four ways you can make a difference to the campaign at this important early stage:

1. Let the politicians know you care – write a letter to your local MP or to our State Minister for Climate Change and The Environment, The Hon Verity Firth. Click here for a letter template.

2. Join our email list to keep updated with the marine campaign.

3. Volunteer at our Newcastle or Sydney Campaign Centres.

4. Make a tax deductible donation to The Wilderness Society.