In the late 1990s, Liberal Prime Minister John Howard kick-started the process to create a network of expanded Commonwealth marine reserves. Over a decade later, Federal Labor announced 40 new reserves. It was the world’s largest network of marine national parks, with the jewel in the crown being protection for most of the Coral Sea […]

Australia’s marine environment – already beset by coral bleaching and kelp forest dieback – could face further pressures if the federal government acts on recommendations to wind back protection, green groups say. The results of two lengthy panels set up by the Abbott government to review huge new marine reserves set up by then prime […]

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has slammed recommendations from a Federal Government-commissioned review to reduce marine park protection in the Coral Sea. In 2013, the Abbott government stopped plans for a new national network of marine parks, pending a review. The report, handed down yesterday, shows the protected area for the Coral Sea will […]

Australia’s commonwealth marine parks could be significantly cut back under recommendations that almost 100,000 sq km of the Coral Sea, including important coral reefs, lose their protection from fishing. The network of 42 marine reserves was announced by Labor in 2012 after years of consultation and consideration of more than 8,000 submissions. It was welcomed […]

A FEDERAL Government-led review which recommends reducing marine park protection in the Coral Sea has been slammed by conservationists. The Australian Marine Conservation Society today said the report into Australia’s marine sanctuaries had ignored science-based data in favour of commercial exploitation. The review was released yesterday by federal environment minister Josh Frydenberg and recommended reducing […]

Thanks to overwhelming community support around Australia, we kept our suspended sanctuaries in the spotlight and secured commitments from the main parties in the lead up to the election – an incredible achievement! Now it’s time to get the job done. Australia has a new Environment Minister. Let’s make sure he hears loud and clear […]

As the dust begins to settle after the federal election, we wanted to say a huge thank you for the incredible show of support over the last couple of months. All sides of politics heard loud and clear that Australians want to see our suspended marine sanctuaries restored and the Supertrawler banned. This resulted in […]

This election, tens of thousands of ocean lovers around Australia have written to their local MPs and candidates, asking them to commit to fully restoring our suspended National Network of Marine Parks and Sanctuaries without further delay. There’s been incredible community support. Scientists, fishers, 100 dive operators and more than 1000 businesses have spoken out, […]

http://www.pressreader.com/australia/albany-advertiser/20160623/281672549239994 Locals say scallop dredging a threat to Bremer Canyon The Albany Advertiser By Talitha Wolfe June 23, 2016 The Bremer Bay community and environmental organizations have called on the Federal Government to discontinue scallop dredging in the proposed Bremer Commonwealth Marine Reserve. A proposed Bremer Commonwealth Marine Reserve is being considered by the Federal […]