News & Events

By joining us you will receive occasional updates, keeping you in touch with news and events that help save our marine life.

» Events

Save Our Marine Life supporter group
Please join us for a meeting of Save Our Marine Life supporters. Details...

The End of The Line film
See the cinema trailer of the internationally acclaimed film, The End of The Line. Details...

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Watch our TV ad

Cinema Trailer - End of the Line

Save Our Marine Life is presenting screenings of The End Of The Line all around Australia. Click here for screening details.

Underwater marvels revealed with new technology

Michelle Grady, National Liaison Manager, Save Our Marine Life
8 February 2010

Today Save Our Marine Life is excited to be releasing an online video which reveals some of Australia’s greatest marine wonders. In a first for Australia, we’ve combined Google Earth imagery and incredible underwater footage to capture underwater canyons, submerged mountain ranges, and the unique marine life of Australia’s south western waters.

It provides a fascinating window into a remarkable place, and clearly shows why it deserves greater protection. With a higher proportion of unique species than the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, it’s crucial that the Australian Government act now to safeguard it for future generations. For the next four minutes, please enjoy ‘A Tour of Australia’s South West Marine Region.’

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How long can you survive in Unprotected Waters?

David Mackenzie, Online Campaign Manager, Save Our Marine Life
12 January 2010

Here at Save Our Marine Life, we thought we’d kick off 2010 with a bit of serious fun. Check out our fabulous new online game, Unprotected Waters. Steer Sandy Seal past plastic bags, trawler nets and stray oil drums into the safety of protected waters. You’ll be hooked in no time!

Even better, spread the word about the need to protect our unique marine life by passing the game on to a few friends. You’ll be giving them a welcome distraction from clearing the back-to-work inbox clog and a chance to support the campaign.

This year will see the Federal Government release maps of proposed protected waters in the south west – its crucial now that we build our community and show ministers that the public want large marine sanctuaries.

So please pass Unprotected Waters to others - share the fun, spread the word and help make 2010 the year Australia gives its unique marine life the protection it needs.

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South Bound for Save Our Marine Life

Maria Gomez, Community Volunteer, Save Our Marine Life
10 January 2010

You would think people who attend music festivals are there mostly to enjoy the bands, but I was surprised to see how the people in Southbound were keen on getting information and participating in our SOML campaign.

Truth is we had fun activities going on as well, like Show us your thong! in which people would pose for us with a message about protecting the oceans written in their thongs. Or feet!

Spending a number of days over there was not only about the music, it was a great bonding experience with my fellow volunteers. I also learned how cold it gets at night (Leah thanks for lending me those warm clothes!) and then as days went by it was so rewarding to see more and more people wearing our stickers in the clothes, their tents and their cars. It was a big success!

To top

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Thank You and Happy Christmas from the Save Our Marine Life team!

Our amazing Save Our Marine Life volunteer group made a big splash at the Walk Against Warming last weekend, announcing to the world that it is time to protect our marine environment to help it cope with climate change: Blue is the new Green! (photo Robin Chapple)

Save Our Marine Life has come a long way this year. With the help of you, our volunteers and supporters, over 15,000 people have written to the Government demanding better protection for our unique marine life, we have run stalls every weekend in Perth, screened The End of the Line to over 2000 people around the country and distributed thousands of brochures, pamphlets and postcards.

Next year presents the biggest challenge for the campaign yet, as Peter Garrett will release marine park boundaries that will define protection for our marine life for decades to come. If we build enough pressure on the Government we will change the way marine protection is done in Australia, giving our marine life the chance to recover and thrive for the benefit of all.

From the Save Our Marine Life team, we’d like to send a big thank you and warm Christmas wishes to you all! We look forward to working with you in 2010, and don’t forget to tell your friends to sign up to our online campaign, word of mouth is the best way we can spread the message and increase our support.

Let’s make sure next Christmas is the happiest yet for the Southwest’s unique marine life!

Tim Nicol, Media Coordinator, Save Our Marine Life

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Moving house online…

With 6 million Australians now visiting Facebook each month, earlier this year Save Our Marine Life set up its own Facebook group ‘Save Australia’s Big Blue Backyard’. We wanted more people to know what’s going on in our oceans and it sure worked!

We grew quickly to 3,000 members, and with restrictions on groups larger than 5,000 members we knew we had to make the jump across to a Facebook Page.

So that’s what we’ve just done!

Complete with a new name, our ‘Save Our Marine Life (Australia)’ Facebook page has better features (such as twitter feed from Sandy Seal, a blog and videos) and greater ability to get the word out. Simply, it will be a much better way for our online community to create the marine sanctuaries we need to save our marine life.

Please join us as a ‘fan’ at: www.facebook.com/saveourmarinelife.

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End of the Line screens in Fremantle factory

Last Friday night saw another highly successful screening of End of the Line, the acclaimed documentary about global over-fishing.  A highly energetic crowd of about 120 showed up to see the film in an amazing old paint factory and listen to a few short speeches highlighting the importance of marine sanctuaries.  Fremantle's new mayor, Brad Pettit also gave a short speech before the film and voiced his support for the Save Our Marine Life campaign.



There have been many screenings of End of the Line thus far, and it has been inspiring to see so many people engaged.  People seem to understand at a deep level the seriousness of the state of our oceans.  Through this and other events, we’re seeing continued and increasing support for the Save Our Marine Life campaign.  As one of the volunteer team I’m excited to see the campaign expand and gain momentum!

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt talks Fremantle’s about Fremantle’s fishing heritage and ocean sustainability

Photos: Steve Andrews.

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Oil spill petition hits Canberra

When Australia’s third worst oil spill is thousands of kilometres away and spewing millions of litres of oil into the marine environment, it’s hard to know how to help. However during the past month over 4,000 Save Our Marine Life supporters have done just that.

Today senior Western Australian Member of Parliament, Ms Sharryn Jackson (Member for Hasluck), accepted more than 4,000 petitions from Save Our Marine Life supporters on behalf of the Prime Minster. The petitions called for swift action to prevent future disastrous oil spills and for the establishment of a network large marine sanctuaries around Australia to better protect the most important parts of our marine environment.

This is the first installment in an ongoing petition on the Save Our Marine Life web site.

The oil spill started on 21 August 2009. Sixty eight days and up to 4 million litres of oil later, the company responsible is on its fifth attempt to plug the leak. While there is a lack of reliable data on the oil flow, it has been estimated that up to 2,000 barrels a day is being released into the marine life superhighway off the Kimberley coast. A network of large marine sanctuaries would help buffer the most important and sensitive parts of our marine environment from risky and potentially polluting developments.

We’re grateful to Ms. Jackson for listening to the concerns of the local community, to people across Australia and the world, and for taking the matter to the Prime Minister.

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‘End Of The Line’ screens to full houses

Panoramic underwater footage, powerful narration and compelling scientific interviews combine in the acclaimed new film, the End Of The Line, to give audiences an insight into the devastating impact of over-fishing on our oceans.

While this documentary tells a global tale, anyone familiar with Australia’s marine life knows local action is needed too. So it’s no surprise that virtually every screening of the End Of The Line has been packed – most selling out of tickets days in advance.

Accompanied by a presentation outlining the local case for marine protection, the public have expressed overwhelming support at Save Our Marine Life information stalls at film screenings. As a result, we’re pleased to say that a second round of screenings is now locked in place for Sydney, Cairns, Perth and Fremantle. See our events page for more details

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Coastal communities tour uncovers huge support

In August 2009 Save Our Marine Life headed off on a tour of coastal communities throughout Australia's South West.

Screenings of the powerful new documentary, The End of the Line, and presentations about this unique marine environment uncovered a great concern for the future of our marine life.

With less than 1% of South West waters protected, there was also plenty of support for a network of marine sanctuaries - much of it from people that would surprise you. Our short, fun video tells that story.

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Six week success hits the mark in Canberra

While Federal Parliament took a six-week break over winter, the Save Our Marine Life online community sprung into action.

In just six weeks we generated over 2000 messages to MPs, calling for large marine sanctuaries. A great result which caught the attention of both sides of politics.

When Parliament returned we also made sure that Prime Minister Rudd got the message. Amy Hankinson from the Australian Conservation Foundation (part of the Save Our Marine Life Collaboration) delivered to Kevin Rudd’s office a print out of each email sent during the recess. As you can see, its an impressive stack of (recycled) paper! The email copies were accepted on behalf of the Prime Minister by his Environment Advisor, who was impressed by the number of people who had taken time to write. She extended a “thank you” to Save Our Marine Life supporters.

Our six-week success has made a big impact, but we still have a way to go. Please ask 5 friends to send a message to their local MP. If you’ve already ticked that box, please ask your friends to also contact 5 of their friends. If everyone does their bit, we will save our marine life. 

Sandy Seal crowd-surfs Eskimo Joe

Sandy seal, the campaign mascot for Save Our Marine Life, made his debut appearance at August’s Eskimo Joe concert at the Fremantle Arts Centre. It was a lot of fun.

While volunteers staffed the crowded Save Our Marine Life stall, Sandy Seal became a hit with the crowd, bouncing in the mosh pit and hugging everyone. By the time Bob Evans wrapped up and Eskimo Joe warmed up, people were saying “Eskimo who? – we’re here to see Sandy Seal!” What a night for a seal, and what a night for the campaign!

Esperance - Save Our Marine Life sustainable seafood BBQ and film

Taking the show to Albany

Over 100 people packed the Albany Golf Club for a taste of local seafood, a viewing of the End of the Line film, and to hear about the growing call for large marine sanctuaries. It was another great success.

When local seafood processor Bevans provided the seafood free, it inspired our volunteers to cook up a storm. The fish burgers and other tasty delights went down a treat, and then we all settled in to hear about the incredible importance of our marine life and the increasingly overwhelming need for marine sanctuaries.

The Albany Mayor opened the meeting, media reporters scribbled notes, and Tim Nicol of the Conservation Council gave a compelling presentation. The highlight, however, was the gripping documentary, The End Of The Line, which placed our local situation in a rather grim global context.

Thanks again to all the great volunteers from Albany and Perth that made this another success, especially those from the local dive shop and the Albany-based Gondwana Link project.

Bunbury and Busselton sustainable seafood BBQ and film

One of the letters written by a younger supporter at the Busselton gathering.

Our second weekend of public gatherings in South West coastal communities opened to a great reception and a real buzz. The venues at Busselton and Bunbury were both well attended and the call for marine protection seemed to strike a local chord.

Fishers related stories of days gone by when fish like Dhuies were bigger and more plentiful, and how things had to change if we were going to turn things around. A leader of the local fishing fraternity also spoke passionately about the need for marine sanctuaries.

They were both great afternoons, with the film, The End Of The Line, making a powerful impact and lasting impact. As the momentum of our regional tour grows, we move on next week to Albany.

The first Australian preview of the End of the Line - Margaret River

Save Our Marine Life kicked off its regional touring program today with Australia’s first showing of powerful new documentary, The End of The Line, to over 200 people in Margaret River.  With the help of the local Surfriders Foundation, the event was a huge success. The film, which is promoted as the “Inconvenient truth of the oceans”, finished to loud applause. Presentations were also given from Tim Nicol of Save Our Marine Life and Professor Jessica Meeuwig of UWA. They spoke about the global significance of Australia’s South West and the urgent need for greater marine protection.  Over 50 people wrote letters to Kevin Rudd urging him to support a network of marine sanctuaries.

 The End of the Line is an expose of the global impacts of over-fishing on communities and marine life, and the relatively simple solutions to this problem – including the need for large marine sanctuaries.

Peter Garrett gets the message on marine sanctuaries

» Ask your MP to support marine sanctuaries

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Protection for our unique marine environment a step closer

An important step toward securing the future of the globally significant but unprotected south west waters of Australia has been taken by the Australian Government. On 19 May 2009 it released a map of areas to be assessed for possible inclusion in a network of new marine protected areas.

These areas, shown below, comprise 54% of the South West Marine Region – a 1.3 million square kilometre stretch of water extending from Kalbarri in Western Australia to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It is the first region in the country in which new marine sanctuaries may be established by the Rudd Government.

This announcement is a significant step by the Government in recognising the scale and urgency of the need to protect large areas of the Australia’s valuable and unique marine life. » Why are the areas identified by the Government so important?

However the test of the Government’s commitment will be in how much of the region is designated, and therefore protected, in marine sanctuaries.

Check out Sandy's cousin on youtube

University of WA Marine Futures Project - Australian Sea Lion, off Point Anne, Fitzgerald River National Park, South Coast Western Australia

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New report reveals oil threat to whales

Save Our Marine Life today urged the Federal Government to move quickly to protect unique and endangered marine life in WA’s southern waters following a new report on the harmful impact of the oil and gas industry on whales.