Coral bleaching on a tropical reef system. Photo: Bryan Skinner

Sadly, our oceans are being affected by overfishing, oil and gas drilling, mining, pollution and ocean acidification from climate change.

To ensure that our marine life is given proper protection for our kids to enjoy in the future - we need marine sanctuaries*

*Marine sanctuaries are safe havens for our marine life to feed and breed in – they are the only fully protected areas of marine parks, free from damaging mining, oil/gas exploration, fishing and other extraction activities.

Unique and diverse marine life

Australia boasts some of the most unique and diverse marine life in the world, according to a 10-year international global study of our oceans (Census of Marine Life Project). From our vast fringing coral reefs in the Kimberley and North Queensland, to our unique kelp forests of Southern Australian, there have been over 33,000 species found and documented.

Dugong Bay, Kimberley WA. Photo: Richard Costin

The study unlocked many secrets, not only documenting long-term and widespread declines in marine life but also the resilience of the ocean in recovering areas. Scientists predicted that there could be another 200,000 species living in our oceans still to be discovered…

This is exciting news but with overfishing, oil and gas drilling/exploration, mining, pollution and ocean acidification changing our marine ecosystems – our marine life needs our help.

“Marine species have suffered major declines over the last century - in some cases 90 per cent losses - due to human activities and may be heading for extinction, this is why marine sanctuaries are so urgently needed”, said Dr. Jill St.John of The Wilderness Society in Perth.

What areas need urgent protection?

The Wilderness Society has current marine campaigns in the following states:

• Western Australia (The Kimberley and the unique South-West)

• South Australia (The islands and coastal bays)

• Northern Australia (the coastal islands)

• Tasmania (kelp forests in state waters)

Take Action - 4 ways you can help during oceans '11.

Real Marine Parks, Surf Circle, WA 2008

1. Sign our online petition to Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke today - Support the protection of the Flatback Turtle, Dugong and the Australian Snubfin Dolphin.

2. Join our Blue Army on Facebook – friend Support Marine Sanctuaries and the Wilderness Society

3. Stay up to date. Subscribe to email updates.

4. Show your support by ordering your free 'Save Our Marine Life' sticker and display it with pride!

Some of the most beautiful places in the world can be found in South Australia. These areas include the mysterious Coorong, spectacular Nullarbor wilderness, the Lake Eyre Basin and our unique marine environment.

South Australian Campaigns

Ancient Myall on the edge of the Nullarbor Plain, SA. Photo: Bill Doyle

South Australia contains vast areas of wilderness and has some of the highest quality arid and marine wilderness anywhere. Sharing borders with all mainland states, SA is crucial to any vision of continent wide conservation.

Protecting core areas and connecting processes in and between these areas is a key WildCountry goal. Our work in South Australia involves campaigning for:

• Better Nature Reserves - no mining in national parks and other high conservation value areas
• Wilderness Protection Areas
• Marine Sanctuary Zones

Some of our campaigns run across many of these categories.

On the coast, the Coorong and the lower Murray River Lakes are dying a slow death. Starved of fresh water, the Murray has been reduced to little more than an ineffective irrigation ditch.

Fresh water is desperately needed to bring the Coorong back to life.

Inland, few wilderness areas are more widely known and valued internationally than Arkaroola. Preserved through the efforts of the Sprigg family, this spectacular part of the Northern Flinders Ranges is one of our most significant conservation areas: a place that is too precious to mine.

At sea, the marine environment of South Australia is home to the iconic Leafy Sea Dragon, Australian Sea Lion and a vast array of fish including the Western Blue Devil and the Harlequin.

All of these species are under serious threat. The recently proclaimed Marine Parks Act and subsequent proclamation of 44% of the states waters within the boundaries of the Marine Parks Program is a good first step. Now we need to see Marine Park Management Plans implemented with Sanctuary Zones that cover at least half of the Marine Park area if we are serious about protecting our marine environment.

History

The South Australian Branch of the Wilderness Society was formed in the late 1970's to campaign to protect the Franklin River in Tasmania. After the Franklin River victory, attention turned to the arid wilderness of South Australia.

In 1992, after a community campaign spearheaded by The Wilderness Society, state parliament passed the Wilderness Protection Act to provide high levels of protection for Wilderness Protected Areas and Zones. Five areas on Kangaroo Island were proclaimed as Wilderness Protection Areas in 1993.

Pearson Island on the West Coast of Eyre Peninsula

Other significant victories for the South Australian Branch include:

• The proclamation of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (1995), with further protection gained in 2000, and 2003.
• The stopping of a mine proposal at Weetootla Gorge in the Gammon Ranges National Park (2000), and a permanent ban on mining in the Park in 2002.
• Wilderness Protection Area at Memory Cove, lower Eyre Peninsula (announced 2003).
• Protection of a core area of Coongie Lakes in a National Park, and petroleum excluded from an area surrounding it (announced 2003).
• The state government promoting a WildCountry philosophy (2002) and launching NatureLinks as its WildCountry program (2003).
• Wilderness Protection Area at Yellabinna in the state's West (announced 2005).
• Wilderness Protection Areas in Danggali and Billiatt in the SA Riverland (announced 2007).
• The passing of the Marine Parks Act (2007).
• Proclamation of outer boundaries of 19 Marine Parks covering 44% of SA waters (2009).
• Wilderness Protection Areas for the Nuyts Archipelago and Investigator Group of Islands (2010) .
• Almost 1 million ha Wilderness Protection Area on the Nullarbor Plain (2011)

South Australia is on the verge of one of the most significant conservation decisions in the state's history.

South Australia's coastal waters are amazing with up to 90% of marine life in SA's coastal waters found nowhere else on Earth.

But this unique marine life is under threat from overfishing, pollution and climate change. Less than 1% of the marine environment is protected in marine sanctuaries, the ocean equivalent of a national park.

Support marine sanctuaries

It's easy to show your support for marine sanctuaries and help conserve SA's amazing marine life.

1. Send a message to the Hon. Paul Caica, Minister for the Environment and Conservation to ensure he honours commitments made by the Labor Party at the 2010 state election to put in place marine sanctuaries that meet international standards.

2. In our Marine Campaign Pack you will learn how easy it is to lobby your local politician, send a letter to the editor of a newspaper or call talkback radio.

3. Download a brochure about some of SA's special marine places.

Additional Resources

The resources below explain why marine sanctuaries have been proven to protect marine life, help fish stocks to recover and generate economic and social benefits.

• ConservationBytes is a website by Professor Corey Bradshaw, Research Director of Marine Impacts at Marine Innovation SA: Blog post on marine protected areas and a blog post on the spill over effect .
• 'More than fishy business' is a literature review published by the University of Adelaide that explains how sanctuary zones are benefiting both the environment and fishing interests.
• The Australian Marine Sciences Association have outlined why they support marine protected areas: Position statement on marine protected areas.