The world’s oceans need expanded regions where fishing is barred to help preserve fragile ecosystems and protect them from what one leading biologist dubbed “a silent storm” driven by climate change. The World Parks Congress, a once-in-a-decade event, wrapped up in Sydney on Wednesday with calls to ensure at least 30 per cent of marine-protected […]

BRENDAN TREMBATH: One of the world’s leading ocean explorers, dubbed “Her Deepness” by the New Yorker, has a warning for Australia. Dr Sylvia Earle says Australia is at risk of going backwards on the protection of its oceans and marine life. Liv Casben prepared this report. LIV CASBEN: As co-host to the World Parks Congress, […]

Environmental groups have blasted Environment Minister Greg Hunt for taking credit for marine protection efforts that his government has stalled since taking office. Mr Hunt told the World Parks Congress in Sydney that more than a third of Australia’s marine environment is protected, the groups say, omitting the fact the Coalition government had suspended the […]

In June 2012 the Labor government announced the “world’s largest” system of marine parks, adding 2.3 million square kilometres and taking the overall size of Australia’s Commonwealth marine reserves to 3.1 million square kilometres. Just a year-and-a-half later the new Coalition government overturned the management plans, leaving the reserves effectively a system of “paper parks”. […]

Thirteen South Coast residents made an impassioned plea to NSW Premier Mike Baird to protect marine park sanctuary zones at the weekend. They attended the Wilderness Society’s Save our Sanctuaries rally at Pretty Beach on Saturday. The rally was intended to draw attention to the value of marine parks, such as the Batemans Marine Park, […]

A ‘Save Our Sanctuaries’ action was held last Saturday morning at the Peace Pole, Main Beach in Byron Bay in a last-ditch effort to preserve fish breeding grounds around Julian Rocks. It was part of a state-wide push to get premier Mike Baird to reverse the decision his government took last year that put in […]

Marine conservation groups are calling on Port residents and business owners to take a stand against the state government’s plan to allow fishing in sanctuaries. The Port will join the Save Our Sanctuaries campaign on Saturday, September 10, with a protest-like event to be held at Fly Point from 11am. The event is one of […]

Over the past 18 months, both federal and NSW governments have abandoned protective marine zones or sanctuaries. Seemingly throwing aside decades of previous research and consultation, the federal government has just announced that it has appointed a new expert panel to review the “management plans and balance of zoning” of Commonwealth marine reserves. This is despite […]

Environmentalists will unveil banners in Murramarang National Park tomorrow to send a clear message to Premier Baird that marine sanctuaries should be protected.  The “banners on the beach” demonstration will be held at Pretty Beach from noon. Environmentalist John Perkins said he was contacting people to join the “Save our Sanctuaries” demonstration, which will protest […]

The Coalition has launched a review of the vast network of marine reserves set out by the previous Labor government, to deliver what it calls a more “sensible balance” between fishing and environmental concerns. In 2012 Labor formally protected more than 2.3 million square kilometres of ocean environment, creating the largest network of marine reserves […]