Heard and McDonald Islands science report launch
The Southern Ocean, and all the remarkable marine life that depends on it, is under growing pressure from climate change and industrial fishing.
Australia’s Heard and McDonald islands (HIMI) is our very own little part of the Southern Ocean. Right now the Australian Government is making decisions about its future through a ten year review of the marine park surrounding these islands.
This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to increase sanctuary protection for one of the most unique places on the planet!
One of the first key steps is to make sure that the Australian Parliament hears first-hand from leading scientists about the importance of increasing protection for this incredible part of Australia.
So we’re launching a scientific report in Canberra next month and need your help to ensure your Parliamentarians attend.
Add your name to the form on the right and help protect Australia’s Heard and McDonald Islands!
Image: Mawson’s Peak, Heard Island | Inger Vandyke
Heard and McDonald Islands
Lying 4,000 km southwest of Perth, Heard Island and the nearby McDonald Island comprise Australia’s most remote and inhospitable territory – the perfect haven for an incredible array of unique and vulnerable marine life.
These Sub-Antarctic islands’ glaciers, volcanoes, strong ocean currents and weather fronts combine to provide nutrient-rich waters supporting a huge diversity and abundance of wildlife. Heard Island alone supports over 4 million seabirds and penguins!
The report
The report, “Understanding the marine ecosystems surrounding Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) and their conservation status“ was written by four eminent Australian scientists, including Professor Ian Cresswell, the co-chief author of the most recent state of the environment report.
It found that the current HIMI marine park does not adequately protect all of the natural values of the region, and that increased sanctuary protection is required.
It’s vital that our Parliamentarians hear from leading scientists about the threats bearing down on our Southern Ocean wildlife, and the role highly protected marine sanctuaries can play in easing these pressures and giving our marine life a chance to survive and thrive into the future.
Please take 30 seconds to help ensure your local Member of Parliament learns about the importance of protecting Heard and McDonald Islands.
Read the letter
I urge you to attend the Heard and McDonald Islands science report launch in Parliament on 27th March
Dear local MP and Senators,
As Australians, it is our privilege and responsibility to safeguard the health of our World Heritage-listed Heard and McDonald Islands by ensuring they are protected for future generations.
Among the most remote places on Earth, these wild, volcanic islands are home to large populations of threatened seabirds and marine mammals, including seals, albatross, four species of penguin and a shag found nowhere else on the planet.
Recently, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Australian Marine Conservation Society and Save Our Marine Life invited you to the release of a new scientific report, “Understanding the marine ecosystems surrounding Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) and their conservation status“, at the Reps Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, on the 27th March, 2023.
This important report, written by four eminent Australian scientists including Professor Ian Cresswell, the co-chief author of the recent state of the environment (SoE) report, investigates the rich and remarkable marine ecosystem of Heard and McDonald Islands and sets out the measures needed to protect it in the face of a rapidly changing climate and other potential future threats.
The Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park is currently up for its ten-year statutory review. This presents an important opportunity to expand and upgrade the levels of protection for the unique and vulnerable marine life of the region.
As my elected representative, I urge you to attend this important report launch and hear first-hand from scientists about the need to increase protection around Heard and McDonald Islands.
Date: Wednesday 27th March 2024
Time: 6:15 pm start; concluding at 7 pm
Venue: Parliament House Reps Committee Room 1R2
Sincerely
Help make sure that Australian Parliament hears first-hand from leading scientists about the importance of increasing protection for Australia’s Heard and McDonald Islands.