Northern Territory Updates

Migrating oceanic sharks less protected than ever! - February 19, 2010

Populations of sharks are declining worldwide. Sharks continue to be at risk internationally from over-fishing, illegal trade (e.g. shark fins), habitat degradation, incidental bycatch as well as emerging threats such as climate change. Despite supporting their listings as internationally vulnerable on the IUCN red list and the Australian Government’s commitment to international shark protection and conservation, Environment Minister Peter Garrett suddenly changed his mind.

The myth of Northern Australia becoming the “food bowl of Asia” has been dealt a crushing blow - February 23, 2010

In early February 2010, the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce released a scientific report produced by the CSIRO that examined the future of development in Northern Australia. The report emphasized that massive irrigated development would face substantial natural constraints and severely impact on the region’s fragile ecosystems.

Send an E-Postcard to save our marine turtles! - February 18, 2010

Sadly, all six of the seven species of marine turtles found on the Top End coast are listed as endangered or critically endangered under the ICUN threatened species list. Climate change, ghost nets, boat strikes, fishing gear entanglements and turtle-egg eating feral pigs are threatening their survival. However with your help we can prevent this from happening.

Top End Sea Life Worth Protecting! - November 25, 2009

The Australian Government has committed to delivering a network of marine sanctuaries across the Top End by the end of this financial year and The Wilderness Society wants the government to ensure that this network is on par with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Northern Territory’s Flatback Turtles - Unprotected - November 25, 2009

Last month the Wilderness Society was fortunate to participate in flatback turtle (Natator depressus) surveying with the Lianthawirriyarra Sea Rangers, Traditional owners and scientists on West Island.  

The "Flatback": Australia’s own Sea Turtle - November 25, 2009

Of the seven turtle species worldwide, only one is faithful to a single country – the flatback and its country is Australia!

Crazy northern schemes torpedoed by reality check - October 09, 2009

In late September, Australia’s leading scientific research organisation, the CSIRO, provided a much needed reality check to mad schemes to turn northern Australia into a giant irrigated farm.

Kimberley Reefs Saved from Trawling! - September 16, 2009

We were successful in telling Federal Minister for Fisheries, Tony Burke to maintain the closure protecting over 6,000km² of our Kimberley marine environment.

The Tiwi Islands - a tropical paradise where forests and wildlife are being destroyed for woodchips - September 02, 2009

The Tiwi Islands are a tropical paradise, but their internationally-significant forests and wildlife are being destroyed for woodchips. With their savannah woodlands, remnant rainforests, wetlands, mangroves and pristine coasts, they have been described by scientists as the “jewel in the crown” of Northern Australia. Right now there is a Senate Inquiry into the logging and land clearing on the Tiwi Islands.

The Cost of Catching Marine Wildlife - August 05, 2009

In April this year the northern community of the Territory was shocked when photos were circulated in the popular press of commercial barramundi fishers catching large quantities of saw sharks as bycatch in their gill nets.