Today, on World Ocean Day, we can reflect on the unique and diverse marine species and ecosystems that call Australia home.
Over the past 5 years the Australian Government has invested more than $85 million in a range of successful programs aimed at using science to ensure the survival of our most vulnerable aquatic creatures.
The Albanese Government is working closely with Traditional Owners, scientists, state and territory governments, organisations and volunteers to deliver real, measurable results through a range of programs and initiatives.
Meaningful outcomes for marine species over the past 12 months, include:
- The release of thousands of captive-bred White's seahorse babies at Port Stephens, NSW, to increase wild populations - giving the endangered species a more hopeful future. These young seahorses are living alongside endangered cauliflower soft corals that have also been raised in aquaria and transplanted into Port Stephens, thanks to recent science that revealed new techniques. The Saving Native Species project was funded by the Albanese Government and led by the NSW Government.
- The protection of dugongs, dolphins, turtles and other threatened marine species using drones, high-tech tags and aerial surveys across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. This includes completing the first full aerial survey of the Gulf of Carpentaria since 2007.The projects have been undertaken by the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal (MaC) Hub, James Cook University, Charles Darwin University and the Western Australian and Queensland governments, in partnership with Traditional Owners, and have helped to develop a better understanding of these unique species.
- A jointly funded program with the South Australian Government to address key threats and boost resilience and recovery of Australian sea lions. This includes treating sea lion pups with ivermectin to decrease their susceptibility to hookworms, controlling feral cats to reduce the impact of diseases and installing pup shelters at high-risk sites to enhance pup survival.
- Using cutting-edge technology, such as novel genetic techniques, to significantly improve our understanding of the population size and trajectory of Australia's most threatened shark and ray species, including the grey nurse shark, white shark, largetooth sawfish and the Maugean skate. This NESP MaC Hub work, in partnership with CSIRO, the University of Tasmania and state government agencies, provided prioritised guidance to ensure appropriate protections are in place for this vulnerable group of species.
- The first successful breeding event of red handfish at the 'Hands of Hope' captive breeding facility at Seahorse World in Tasmania, with funding from the Australian Government's Ocean Leadership Package. This project is safeguarding the species for generations to come, in collaboration with the captive breeding program at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).
- The protection of olive ridley, hawksbill and flatback marine turtle eggs on Cape York Peninsula in Queensland through the installation of aluminium nest cages fitted with shade cloth to keep predators out, while reducing risk of excess heat exposure. The project led by Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance and Cape York NRM has improved hatchling survival rates, strengthened Indigenous-led practices and enhanced regional collaboration.
- Identifying climate-resilient nesting habitat for endangered loggerhead turtles in Queensland by mapping predicted sea level rise, erosion and temperature changes over time. The project led by researchers at James Cook University has built on the work of local councils and will be an important tool for future climate change planning.
- Giving green turtles that nest on Raine Island, Queensland - the world's largest green turtle rookery - a better chance at long-term viability thanks to ongoing work to overcome the impact of climate change, which is making the sand too warm for male hatchlings to develop. The Saving Native Species program included egg relocation trials and monitoring in collaboration with government and Traditional Owner partners has shown promising results.
- Completion by the South Australian Research and Development Institute of a comprehensive spatial risk assessment and evaluation of critical knowledge gaps to identify key threats for Australian sea lions. This work was supported by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and administered by the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board. It provides a strong foundation to guide recovery actions for the Australian sea lion and prioritise future research into key threatening processes.
- Improved training programs held by the NESP MaC Hub, in partnership with the Western Australian Government and Adelaide University, to help fishers to safely handle sea snakes and gather samples, leading to lower snake mortality rates and increased understanding of bycatch interactions.
- 50 years of southern right whale surveys off the coast of Western Australia, tracking the species' recovery after whaling was banned in 1935. John Bannister, Director of WA Museum, commenced the surveys in 1976 and since 2015 the survey has been supported with NESP funding through the MaC Hub. The long-term data sets provide critical insights into population trends of this endangered species and the impacts of climate change.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said the Albanese Government is committed to the ongoing protection of threatened ocean species.
"Australia is home to some incredibly unique marine species that are often most at risk to the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, overfishing and other human activity."
"This World Ocean Day we're proud to highlight the work being undertaken by researchers, Traditional Owners, volunteers and community groups to protect our aquatic creatures.
"Under the Albanese Government more than 50 percent of Australia's ocean is now under protection, but we're committed to growing the area classified as 'highly protected' to 30 percent by 2030, by expanding highly protected areas within existing marine parks and by adding new areas.
"This year we've also passed legislation to join a landmark international treaty to protect the ocean beyond our country's borders, known as the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty.
"And our Government continues to taking action to safeguard at-risk species and their habitats. With many projects ongoing and new ones beginning in the coming months, we are continuing to ensure Australia's amazing and diverse marine plants and wildlife are here for generations to come."
