Scientists challenge Australia's ocean protection claims
Australian scientists have challenged environment minister's claims of 'world-leading' ocean protection for being 'misleading' and a 'missed rare opportunity to protect globally important feeding grounds for marine life including penguins, seals, and albatross.'
Grand claims made by the Australian government this week that it was on track to protect more ocean territory than ‘any other country on Earth’ have been challenged by the country’s scientific community which suggests the reality places that coverage on a far smaller scale.
When the country’s environment minister, Tanya Pilbersek, detailed plans to expand Australia’s sub-Antarctic marine park and recognised ‘wildlife haven’ across Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve by more than 300,000 square kilometres this year, it came with headline-grabbing claims that this was ‘not just a win for Australia but for the planet.’
Plans for the marine park situated around 4,000km south-west of Perth suggest its area will now quadruple in size, bringing the total area of protected marine space to 52% of Australia’s ocean territory, outstripping the global 30% by 2030 target it signed two years ago and effectively totalling more protected area than any other country on the planet.
These claims have, however, since been challenged by scientists and conservation groups working across the Islands who suggest while Australia may have half of its oceans in marine parks, less than 25% of the area is fully protected with ‘no-take’ marine sanctuaries.
“In Australia, marine parks are multi-use and zoned to allow for different activities which can include recreational fishing, commercial fishing, and even mining,” a representative of the Pew Charitable Trusts – a co-lead on the Save Our Marine Life alliance, a group of 27 environmental organisations fighting for greater marine life protection in Australia – told Oceanographic Magazine.
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Heard and McDonald Islands are located around 1,700km from Antarctica and are home to glaciers, wetlands, and Australia’s only active volcanoes. The decision by the Australian government to expand the areas of protection afforded to them does now mean a bulk of the waters around the islands will be free from mining as well as new pelagic fisheries.
But, Save Our Marine Life issued its own response, stating the Government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has “missed a rare opportunity to protect globally important feeding grounds for marine life including penguins, seals, and albatross.”
“We welcome the Government’s decision to quadruple the size of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve and to expand fully protected sanctuary zones within the park,” said Fiona Maxwell, The Pew Charitable Trust’s national oceans manager.
“However, the decision to leave important undersea canyons, highly biodiverse seamounts, and the Williams Ridge outside of sanctuaries will disappoint tens of thousands of Australians – including leading scientists – who made submissions calling for stronger protection of these critical habitats.”
A recent science report pulled together by the Australian Government itself concluded there was ‘inadequate protection for a range of seafloor habitats, foraging areas for albatross and macaroni penguins, and areas supporting the abundance and variety of fish.’ The same report underlined the global significance of these Southern Ocean waters and the threats posed by climate change, pollution, fishing, and invasive species.
The planned expansion will offer increased sanctuary protection for a small part of the Gunnari Ridge, an important area for mackerel icefish as well as globally significant foraging grounds for king and macaroni penguins, albatross, and Atlantic fur seals.
According to Darren Kindleysides, CEO of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, and co-lead on the Save Our Marine Life alliance, “the Government should have heeded the science and community sentiment and increased the marine sanctuaries around the most important conservation features to help ensure the future of our Antarctic marine life.”
It’s a position that challenges environment minister Pilbersek’s claim this week that the Australian Government is ‘doing everything we can to protect this unique and extraordinary part of our planet.’ Her announcement was made ahead of what the Government has billed a ‘global nature positive summit’ that got underway in Sydney on Tuesday, October 8th.
“Climate change is affecting life across the Southern Ocean, with everything from krill to whales struggling to adapt,and marine sanctuaries play a crucial role in building resilience in our marine ecosystems,” said the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Kindleysides.
“Last year the Government listened to the science and community opinions and showed global leadership by significantly expanding the marine park and sanctuaries around Macquarie Island, Australia’s other sub-Antarctic territory.
“While this week’s announcement is notable, the Government has missed an opportunity to do the same for Heard and McDonald, as the next review of the marine park is not due until 2025.”
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