CREDITS&CONTACTS From the DIRECTOR OUT OF THE BLUE 4 Australian Marine Conservation Society Darren Kindleysides PO Box 5815 CLIMATE CHANGE AND OUR SEAS 6 WEST END QLD 4101 Ph: (07) 3846 6777 Email: [email protected] FIGHTING FOR THE 8 www.marineconservation.org.au Patron MARINE PARKS NEEDED 10 Tim Winton WINNERS AMCS Board and losers President: Craig McGovern MANGROVE DIEBACK 13 Secretary: Mary-Ann Pattison Since the recent Australian election there has been much talk of winners Treasurer: Rowan Wallace and losers. The subject goes far beyond party politics or ideological TRAWLING THE NORTH 14 General Member: Margaret Harlow preferences of the ‘left’ and the ‘right’. When it comes to our environment, General Member: Dr Jill StJohn we’re all in the same party, and we all suffer if our oceans are dealt the General Member: Dr David Neil General Member: Richard Leck losing hand. GOOD NEWS ON PLASTICS 17 General Member: Alison Johnson The previous government attacked environmental charities like AMCS, General Member: Jason Hincks attempting to hamstring our work and stop us from speaking out to defend

CONTENTS DEVOTION TO THE OCEAN 23 AMCS Staff our seas. They halted ten years of progress on Australia’s widely consulted, Director: Darren Kindleysides overwhelmingly supported national network of marine reserves. They Campaign Manager: faltered when transformative action and investment was needed to save our Imogen Zethoven, AO Great Barrier Reef and tackle the insidious threat of global warming. Great Barrier Reef Campaigners: Cherry Muddle, Dr Lissa Schindler This newly elected Australian government has stewardship of the richest, and Shannon Hurley most biodiverse waters on the planet, and an ocean jurisdiction twice the Fisheries Campaigner: Josh Coates size of our land. Australia has a lot to lose if we don’t manage our oceans Marine Campaign Manager: Fiona Maxwell properly. Our global duty to our unique marine life and future generations Marine Campaigners: Adrian Meder, Ash demands far greater protection and far more effective management of the Mihle, Fiona McCuaig industries which impact our seas. NT Marine Campaigner: Jacqui Taylor Communications Manager: Ingrid Neilson This duty has never been more serious, because our oceans are changing Communications Officer: Kate Simpson right now from the impacts of a warming planet, pollution and development. 4 6 13 18 Fundraising Manager: Amber Sprunt This year alone there has been massive mangrove dieback in the Gulf Fundraising Officer: Jacinta McLennan or Carpentaria following failure of the Monsoon and sustained warmer Operations Manager: Kellie Ireland seas. This month we’ve had reports of entire kelp forests disappearing Administration Coordinator: Loretta Ranieri Supporter Services: Julie Labzin from parts of Australia’s south west coast. And earlier this year, an Finance Officer: Tina Dalby underwater heatwave resulted in the worst coral bleaching on record for Australia’s Reefs. Now almost a quarter of our Great Barrier Reef’s corals TTT Coordinator are dead. This unprecedented environmental crisis formed the backdrop Ingrid Neilson to the federal election, but the pre-election commitments from our new Editorial Committee government fell woefully short. Kate Simpson, Ingrid Neilson In the weeks counting down to voting day, leading reef scientists could not “People ask: Why should I care about the ocean? Because the ocean is the Cover Photograph have been more clear: the next Australian government has the best and (Foreground) Healthy Great Barrier Reef scene, perhaps the last chance to prevent irreversible decline of our Great Barrier photographed in 2010 © Oceanwide Images/Gary cornerstone of Earth’s life support system. It shapes the climate and the weather. Reef. More action and urgency is needed, including sufficient funding Bell and (background) bleached coral at Lizard It holds most of life on Earth. 97% of earth’s water is there. It’s the blue heart of Island, photographed in 2016 © Oceans Agency. commitments to reverse the Reef’s decline and save its wildlife and the Note: This is composite of two images. $6 billion industry it supports. the planet – we should take care of our heart. It’s what makes life possible for us. Graphic Designer The future of our natural world – our life support system - should be above Jacki Stone, Jacstar Design politics. We all need clean air and water, healthy productive seas, a safe We still have a really good chance to make things better than they are. They won’t get climate. Our environment has no left or right, only forwards or backwards. Paper Printed on Recycled paper, FSC Mixed Our oceans, our marine life, our incredible natural places simply can’t better unless we take the action and inspire others to do the same thing. No one is Sources Certified afford another three years of going backwards. without power. Everybody has the capacity to do something.” Printer Whether our environment wins or loses through this term of government Enviroprint Australia remains to be seen. But we do know this – our time is fast running out. Our Dr Sylvia A. Earle. Ocean Elder, National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence, called Her The views and opinions expressed in this publication are Deepness by the New Yorker and the New York Times, Living Legend by the Library of Congress, not necessarily those of the Australian Marine Conservation work to hold our governments to account is more critical now than ever. Society Inc. All written material contained in ‘Turning the and first Hero for the Planet by Time Magazine, is an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer. ’ may be reprinted. Reprinted material must include the I thank you for all you do and all your support. Together we must make name of author (s) and be credited to the AMCS ‘Turning the Tide’ publication. sure we go forwards. We must step up our defence of our oceans. Australian Marine Conservation Society 3 out of the BLUE NEWS from around our shores

Check us out on twitter for live OUT OF THE BLUE updates & news: @AustMarConsSoc News from around our shores AMCS REJECTS Attempts to stifle environmental charities

Decomposing soft coral after the bleaching, near Lizard AMCS has rejected the deeply to be a voice for the environment on Island, Great Barrier Reef © The Ocean Agency flawed recommendations of an behalf of the community,” said AMCS A fish called inquiry into the charitable status Director Darren Kindleysides. of environment groups and called “The inquiry report recommends on Prime Minister Turnbull and WINTON forcing environmental charities our new Environment and Energy to spend at least a quarter of all Scientists have named a newly identified Minster Josh Frydenberg to do supporter donations on “on-ground” fish from the Kimberley after AMCS patron the same. environmental work such as and acclaimed author, Tim Winton. The parliamentary inquiry, initiated planting trees or pest control. This The ‘very beautiful’ freshwater fish by the Abbott Government in March recommendation contradicts the species is golden and silver and belongs Kelp Forests gone from our 2015, released its report in May overwhelming evidence presented to to the Terapontidae family, otherwise GREAT SOUTHERN REEF known as grunters. this year. The report of the Inquiry the Committee, that advocacy and into the Register of Environmental campaigning is essential to protect Although known to local traditional land Great swathes of kelp forests in Australia’s temperate south west have disappeared, and owners, the 30cm long fish is one of Organisations rightly recognises the the environment. their demise is probably permanent, marine huge contribution environmental 20 species new to science that were “On ground action alone is simply scientists say. charities have made to protecting identified in the rivers of the remote not enough to protect Australia’s Kimberley region in North Western The findings come from a 15 year survey of Australia’s natural environment reefs in Western Australia stretching 2000kms natural environment. Nowhere is Australia. but makes a number of dangerous from Cape Leeuwin in the south to Ningaloo in this more evident than in our seas Great Barrier recommendations that would The researchers named the fish after Tim the north. Over that time nearly 1000 square and oceans. Australia’s marine Winton in recognition of his dedication to undermine our work and strangle us kilometres of have been lost. jurisdiction is twice the size of the conservation of the Kimberley region in red tape. Kelp forests are the ‘biological engine’ of our our continent and it is changes to BLEACHING and aquatic systems around Australia. Great Southern Reefs, which stretch around the “This inquiry was initiated by the our policies and laws that ensure In an interview on the ABC’s 7:30 southern half of Australia. They are ‘as critical Abbott Government as an attack on these special places are best to the Great Southern Reef as corals are to the In the first few months of this gas is the biggest threat to the program, Winton said, that the naming Great Barrier Reef’, said Associate Professor environment groups and our ability protected.” year Australia’s Great Barrier continued existence of our Great was a “great honour…when I first heard Reef experienced the worst coral Barrier Reef. about this little fish, you know, the greenie Thomas Wernberg, from the University of bleaching event in recorded in me thought, ‘Well, I wonder what kind of Western Australia, who co-authored the study. AMCS is calling on all political history. As a result, almost a fish it is and I wonder what its habits are Five years on, the kelp forests are showing no parties to urgently put in place quarter of our precious Reef is and what its habitat is.’ Then the redneck signs of recovery and have been replaced by policies that move Australia now dead, tragically in the far in me thought, ‘Well, I wonder what it subtropical and tropical reef communities. The swiftly to renewable energy and SWIMMING northern section which was the tropical fish are grazing the reefs and preventing Just keep stop subsidising Australia’s fossil tastes like?’”. Winton added that we need most pristine. the kelp forests’ recovery. fuel industry to the tune of $7.7 to look after our species and habitats, and Disney’s Finding Dory has been released in Finding Dory’s voice over Ellen DeGeneres has The world has suffered three billion a year. In addition to our that “once gone, (they’re) gone for good”. The loss was triggered by an underwater Australia as a sequel to Finding Nemo. This heatwave in 2011 followed by above average joined the call to better major bleaching events that were warming oceans, pollution from delightful film is about Dory the forgetful protect the Reef. unheard of before now. The first the Great Barrier Reef catchment Scientists have named this newly identified grunter ocean the following years. fish species after AMCS Patron Tim Winton. major event was in 1998, then makes corals more vulnerable to Although there are no documented extinctions blue tang’s journey across the oceans to 2010, and now 2016. This year’s bleaching and makes it harder for as yet, the loss of these forests could spell find her fishy family. event has already become the them to recover. Our governments the loss of abalone and rock lobster fisheries, Finding Dory is showing in Australian longest on record and is predicted must introduce regulations which are some of the most valuable fisheries to last until the end of 2016. to dramatically reduce farm in Australia. Together with reef-related tourism, cinemas at a time when the Great Barrier chemical and sediment pollution they generate more than $10 billion a year. Coral bleaching is caused directly Reef is facing enormous challenges, and and provide a multi-billion dollar by climate change. Our oceans The oceans off Western Australia are warming Disney Australia partnered with AMCS and others to raise awareness of these package to improve farm practices are growing warmer because twice as fast as the global average. With and fund catchment repair. issues. US celebrity Ellen DeGeneres, who gave voice to Dory, called on Australia they’re absorbing excess heat climate change driving warmer waters and from the atmosphere, caused by Experts say that corals can more heatwaves, we can expect more of these to better protect our Great Barrier Reef. dramatic changes in the future. our continued burning of fossil recover, if we give them a chance, Disney gave AMCS some free tickets to the film which we shared with our fuels. The use of coal, oil and but we are fast running out of time. Wernberg, T et al: Climate-driven regime shift of a wonderful Reef volunteers, who have worked tirelessly over the years to protect our temperate marine . Science 08 Jul 2016: Vol. 353, Issue 6295, pp. 169-172 Australian Marine world wonder. We can give our reef a fighting chance if we ‘just keep swimming’. 4 Conservation Society OUR OCEANS are changing OUR OCEANS are changing

By John Turnbull, diver and science educator Every year humans pump almost ten billion tonnes of CLIMATE carbon into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. Most of this carbon is in the form of carbon dioxide CHANGE gas (CO2), which forms a thin blanket around the earth, Pteropods (sea holding in the sun’s energy butterflies) are tiny swimming marine and slowly warming the land, snails which are eaten by animals from atmosphere and oceans. tiny krill to giant whales. Their shells are starting to in our oceans dissolve © NOAA

In Australia, we are facing a warming a single stressor, such as a storm, may The physical changes in There are also actions we double whammy from a combination of not result in mortality, the combination our oceans are driving a can take in terms of marine global average warming with increasing of multiple stressors (warming, storm mass migration of marine conservation. Marine Protected tropical water volumes travelling down damage and run-off) can result in long species towards the poles. Areas provide much-needed both sides of the continent. These term losses. resilience to the effects of cumulative effects, combined Tropical species are turning To compound the problem, climate change; they can’t stop with cyclical factors like up further south, changing only half of the CO2 that we warming and acidification, but El Nino and La Nina, mean the composition of marine pump into the atmosphere they can help marine life to Australian waters are fast communities. We will explore this in stays there. The other half is cope. Reducing other stressors, becoming climate change more depth in our next article – for now absorbed chemically by the let’s just say these tropical visitors aren’t such as chemicals, nutrients hotspots. In March this year, ocean, making it more acidic. always welcome! and sediment in terrestrial run- South East Australian sea surface This creates issues for many temperatures were already 2 °C above off is also important particularly marine organisms, particularly On the positive side, we seem to be average, and in March 2011 South West arguing less and less about whether for our coral reefs. Australian ocean temperatures peaked those that have shells. Many climate change is “real”. But accepting There is no escaping climate change at a whopping 5 °C above normal. So plankton make fine shells or reality is not enough. Action is needed, and our responsibilities; we created this much for the Paris global target not to platelets around themselves and the window of opportunity is closing problem – it’s up to us to fix it. exceed 2 °C warming! for protection, and these fast. At an individual level, we make [Ed: Agreed, John. And it’s also up to our shells become increasingly A couple of degrees may not sound decisions every day that impact on our governments to listen to the will of the difficult to produce. They even like much, but marine organisms are personal carbon emissions. At a political people, who overwhelmingly want action very sensitive to . Whilst start to dissolve if the level of and commercial level, much more can on climate change. Thanks to you and terrestrial temperatures vary in the acidity becomes high enough. be done to encourage sustainable, everyone who writes, lobbies, rallies, order of 20 – 30 °C over a year, ocean renewable energy and move away from Plankton form the basis of the oceanic letterboxes, donates and devotes your time temperatures in a given location vary fossil fuels. and passion to our oceans and climate.] by less than 10 °C. Marine creatures food web which feeds everything from need a more stable temperature regime; fish to penguins, seals and whales. Virtually every living organism is the optimum temperature range for reef affected, either directly through body corals, for example, is from 23 – 29 chemistry or indirectly through reduced °C, and they can bleach with just 1 °C food supply. Projections are that increase. Other marine invertebrates, pteropods (sea butterflies) will be unable fish and even seagrasses can be just as to make their shells in the Southern sensitive, with mortality, range shifts and Ocean by 2050. Krill have declined life stage impacts resulting from as little in parts of the Southern Ocean by as as 1-2 °C warming. much as 80% over 30 years. Whales Global warming has other flow-on and penguins are forced to compete effects. Increasing energy in weather with a growing krill industry for systems leads to more severe, more a declining resource; emperor penguin frequent storms. Floods and cyclones populations have halved over 50 years, are considered to be one of the most and Adelie penguin populations have serious threats to our coral reefs. While halved in a decade.

Australian Marine Australian Marine 6 The world’s emperor penguins Our oceans are changing. Australian sea 7 Conservation Society have halved in the last 50 years. lions © www.oceanicimagery.com Conservation Society Fighting for the REEF Fighting for the REEF

This phenomenal effort succeeded in keeping the Reef the number one environmental issue right through the election campaign, Fighting for the and ensured that local candidates couldn’t ignore it.

Let’s not forget that many MPs are now sitting on a knife edge and the government itself has a very slim majority. Now more than ever, it’s time for the large cohort of marginal By Imogen Zethoven, AO, MPs across all parties to listen to what the Great Barrier Reef Australian community wants. And we can Campaign Director confidently say Australians want a strong climate policy to protect REEFThe six months leading up to the federal election were truly shocking for our Great Barrier Reef: the Reef and the jobs that depend The biggest bleaching event we’ve ever seen, the hottest months in the hottest year on record, on it, and strong action to bring 93% of the Reef affected by bleaching, and now almost one quarter dead as a result. clear clean waters back to our natural wonder. It was reasonable to think that our of a $1 billion Reef loan fund but the one of the biggest fights in major political parties would respond funding over 10 years is already in the environmental history. In a The next few years are critical. Experts are with urgency and vision and pledge Clean Energy Finance Corporation, time of so much uncertainty, warming that the Reef will be in terminal funded policies to secure our World and must now also be spent to achieve it is more clear than ever how decline in five years if we don’t see tough Heritage treasure and the 69,000 jobs action to tackle carbon emissions and water quality improvements. Even the important the Reef is to so that it supports. After all, this was an Canegrowers industry organisation CEO, pollution washing off farms. many Australians. We made international crisis which hit the front in a rare public comment, confirmed sure the Reef was always in We will continue to champion pages of newspapers around the world. that the policy would be unlikely to be strong climate policies to save But even Sir ’s widely accepted by farmers and that it the spotlight. We made our warning that the Reef is in grave danger the Reef because it’s the number appeared designed ‘to get a headline voices heard. due to climate change fell on deafened with a big figure in it’. one threat to its existence. We political ears. Our unprecedented effort put teams in will also do all we can to help During the election campaign, The Labor So it’s back to the people to Townsville, Mackay, Airlie Beach and bring clear water to the Reef. We Party and Greens released climate save our Reef, and we will. Brisbane to work with local volunteers are in the next big phase of the and knock on over 1,500 doors, make and Reef policies we could work with, One of the most inspiring campaign. Your support is needed more than 10,000 phone calls, sharing but the Coalition’s vision fell painfully aspects of the whole more than ever to make sure that short. It’s staggering to think that the the threats and to the Reef and campaign was you. You and we see in these next critical years re-elected Turnbull government has not encouraging people to Vote for our world thousands of like-minded a turning point for the Reef. We committed a single new dollar or new wonder. During the 8-week campaign, climate policy to save the Reef. The Australians came together, we held candidate forums and town can do this together. Thank you Coalition made a big announcement against the odds, and put up hall meetings up and down the coast. for all you do.

Our reef needs us now more than ever © Troy Mayne www.oceanicimagery.com

Australian Marine 8 Conservation Society Marine SANCTUARIES Marine SANCTUARIES

Marine Parks Election Update In the lead up to the recent federal election, tens of thousands of ocean Australia’s seas need lovers around the country wrote to their local MPs and candidates asking them to commit to restoring our national network of marine sanctuaries without delay. So where does the Turnbull Government stand on marine sanctuaries? SANCTUARY Although they have not yet released details of their marine parks review, the Coalition’s 2016/17 Budget has commitments to make our marine In light of the big changes going on in our oceans, our work to create marine parks operational by July 2017. While we welcome this news in principle, parks around Australia has never been more pressing. This year we’ve seen the devil is in the detail. The budget has allocated only $56.1m over four global coral bleaching, extensive loss of mangrove forests across the north years for implementation and management. This is about half of what is and vanishing kelp forests in the south. As the planet keeps warming it needed to fully restore our marine parks and sanctuaries, and indicates is critical to protect the most special parts of our seas to build resilience that our sanctuaries remain at risk. in the face of these threats. Communities from coast to coast have been By Fiona Maxwell, calling on our governments to better protect our oceans. Marine Parks Manager.

Growing community concern about the Coral Sea Our work continues to Businesses around the Seven out of 10 voters in the Far North Queensland electorate of Leichhardt (around Cairns and Port Douglas) country call for our restore our sanctuaries. are concerned the federal government’s review of a Coral Sea marine park is harming local fishing and tourism sanctuaries to be reinstated! Thank you for keeping businesses. New Galaxy research has also found that the majority of local recreational anglers (76%) support reinstating Readers will recall that Australia made history in 2012 by creating your fins up! Whether protection zones in the Coral Sea, east of the Great Barrier Reef. In addition, most Liberal National Party supporters the world’s largest network of marine sanctuaries, protecting you’re a scientist, (71%) believe the federal marine park review is creating uncertainty for local tourism and fishing charter businesses. our sea life and giving our fish populations a chance to rebuild The research conducted in May this year highlighted community concerns about the more than three years of and grow. Australians from around the country were elated and business, fisher, diver, uncertainty for local businesses as a result of the government’s review. proud. After 10 years of science and popular support, we’d made or you simply love our history. These results are significant because the federal government singled out the Coral Sea Marine Park as a oceans, you have joined justification for their review. In the lead up to the 2013 federal election, Tony Abbott promised to suspend the Coral But our sanctuaries have been in limbo since 2013 when they Sea Marine Park and other national marine parks and sanctuaries because he said it was “ … threatening the were suspended by the Abbott Government, pending a drawn out people from all walks livelihoods of many people in the fishing industry and many people in the tourism industry.’’ and costly review. This has left all of our offshore sanctuaries unprotected and at risk. of life to call out for However this survey shows that the people who fish, business owners and the general public share an awareness that the health and future of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea is fundamental to the success of the local economy. So now, in an effort to save our sanctuaries, more than 1000 better protections on businesses across Australia have signed onto statements calling the water. Sanctuaries The federal government must put an end to the uncertainty that is holding back local business opportunities and for the federal government to restore our national network. Time reinstate the balance of marine sanctuaries and also recreational fishing zones in the Coral Sea Marine Park.

and again studies and real life experience show that sanctuaries make sense. They are (L): Val Taylor, AM pioneered SCUBA, bring huge benefits to local businesses and tourism. good for marine life. and cinematography, and is calling for a Coral Sea sanctuary. (R): Honorary Life Member , AM, AMCS President Craig From Busselton in Australia’s South West to Cairns on the north Good for business McGovern (front right) join people in Brisbane to save our sanctuaries. Queensland coast, businesses have signed on in droves. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this initiative. Do you own a and economies. They business and want to express your support? help ensure fish for Contact AMCS today! the future. And they Call 1800 066 299 or email give our oceans the [email protected] best defence against

Businessman and Cottesloe impacts from a resident Andrew Forrest joined Professor Jessica Meeuwig (R) and others in the campaign to changing climate. save our sanctuaries.

Australian Marine 10 Conservation Society Creature FEATURE Top End SEAS

Top End mangroves © Glenn Walker Dead mud welks in Limmen Bight, Gulf of Carpentaria. These are a popular subsistence food for local Indigenous communities © James Sherwood/Bluebottle Films. Northern Australia’s MANGROVE DIEBACK

By Jo Hurford, Northern Marine Campaigner unprecedented

Around 10,000 hectares of mangrove international wetland conference in forests along 700kms of coastline have Darwin. Conference delegates called died along the Gulf of Carpentaria. A for mangrove monitoring efforts to be MANGROVES detailed study is yet to be undertaken, scaled up as a matter of urgency, so but photographs reveal two locations that scientists can establish baseline Squelchy mud. Tangled roots. Hot. Humid. Wet. Mangroves aren’t the most worst hit, at Limmin Bight on the Gulf data and try to isolate and manage inviting ecosystem to the average person, but they’re vital for healthy oceans. of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory dieback events such as these recently and at Karumba in Queensland. witnessed. The dieback is almost Our oceans and coastlines are certainly correlated with an changing. We need the best un-seasonally low Monsoon “Mangrove” refers to both the habitat A species of ant that hides in air much as 50%. Mangrove forests shield Scientists, minds and leaders to take rainfall followed by extreme and plants that live in the intertidal zone pockets as the tide rises, which can our coasts and bear the brunt of the conservationists and stock of these rapid changes warming with sustained high between the land and sea. Be it a tree, hold its breath for 3.5 hours! wrath of cyclones. Their loss has led to commercial fishers and make a swift transition sea temperatures. from a carbon intensive shrub, palm, or fern, all are able to A gastropod that can bore a hole increased flooding and devastation from are deeply concerned economy to one based on tolerate excess salt and air-less soils. through the shell of its prey with its tropical storms. about an unprecedented Mangroves are critical to marine renewable energy, and a truly Together these diverse plants form drill-like vice that then acts as a straw large scale dieback of and our climate. They act Bizarrely, these intertidal sustainable approach to our the mangrove forests that fringe our to ‘slurp up’ its soft-bodied victim. mangrove forests as crucial nurseries for many marine natural world. The solutions coastlines, rivers and estuaries. forests are also ! across northern species, which spend at least some of A mud lobster that, by picking tiny Like elsewhere around the their life spans in the mangrove roots. are clear. We can heal our Mangrove fruits, seeds and pieces of organic matter to eat out of Australia’s coastline. globe, sea levels in the Top They also act as critical carbon sinks, blue planet by creating a seedlings can survive floating the mud, builds a pile up to 3 metres absorbing 50 times more carbon than End are rising, but here by clean, sustainable future. along in the ocean currents high around its burrow! tropical forests by area, according to Watch this space, and take 7mm every year. To counter for more than a year. It is A mangrove snail that because it Professor Norm Duke, a mangrove heart that we are working this, mangrove forests and this skill that saw them doesn’t like getting its shell wet, expert from James Cook University. towards a better brighter By Ingrid Neilson climbs trees one or two hours before their inhabitants are currently future together. migrate out of South East Communications Manager The dieback came to light during an adapting by retreating inland. Asia and take root in India, the incoming tide. Once the water recedes they shimmy down to Africa, the Americas and But will they keep pace with feast upon anything left behind, like An unprecedented dieback of mangrove forests across northern Australia has coincided with the worst Australia. Almost half (42%) the advancing water? In the lead up to the coral bleaching on record. Our leaders must face facts and act accordingly. seagrasses. August 2016 Territory of mangrove forests found With Australia’s Top End mangroves There’s even amphibious fishes election AMCS is calling in Australia are found in the considered among the most pristine in (Mudskippers) that spend so much on both major parties Northern Territory, which has the world we need to ensure they stay time out of the water and are so to pledge funding for 32 species of mangrove. that way; for the protection they offer our adapted to air that they’ll immediate climate and coastline, for the filtering service they Although traditional land owners have drown if held underwater! mangrove research and provide our waters, for the nursery grounds known their sea country for thousands Alarmingly, these critical ecosystems are water quality testing in they provide our favourite fish, and for all of years, our mangrove communities are globally threatened. Around 35% of the response to this urgent the weird and wonderful creatures that call still revealing species new to science. world’s mangroves have already been ecosystem crisis. There our mangrove forests home. Here are some of the things you might destroyed and in some Asian countries, must also be no further find in a mangrove forest: like India and the Philippines, by as clearing of mangrove forests in the Top End. Australian Marine Australian Marine 12 Conservation Society Conservation Society 13 sustainable FISHERIES sustainable FISHERIES

Love dolphins? Who doesn’t? Here are some By Josh Coates, dolphins from Australia’s northern climes. Fisheries Campaigner But did you know the real cost of eating some seafood includes the lives of some of our favourite finned friends?

Cheap meal: Marine predators and scavengers like dolphins and sharks often follow trawlers, feeding on the disturbed, injured or discarded fish around the nets. Here, bottlenose dolphins forage around a trawl net being hauled off north-western Australia.

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins The real cost: Interacting with © Simon Allen, University of Western Australia. trawl nets is a high risk endeavour for marine life. This dolphin, and our northern seas, and it’s got should not be subject to destructive others like it, paid with its life. It was discarded back into the ocean. conservationists, scientists, fishing practices. recreational fishers, tourism We have recently challenged approval businesses and smaller fishing of some of these fisheries for export operators very worried. under our federal environment laws FINFISH There are genuine problems in fish and will continue to work to see these Collateral damage: Target trawl management in our northern fisheries brought up to modern day catch in these fisheries waters, such as a lack of transparency standards of science, with transparent include long lived reef fish, but bycatch includes other and independent science, insufficient management and genuine ecosystem fish and marine life, like this threatened sandbar shark and independent observer monitoring (to based management, which considers TRAWLING these soft corals, sponges, check on catch and bycatch), and big sea fans and more. the impacts from the fishery on the increases in the use of trawl gear. Coral broader marine environment. If they reef and other seafloor habitats are can’t meet these standards, they should at great risk. However there is a Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are in Australia’s North be replaced by the existing sustainable distributed globally and tend to inhabit deeper clear alternative. Smaller and waters off the Australian coastline. They tend fishing methods that can. to be considerably larger than the Indo-Pacific more sustainable operators, bottlenose dolphins (T. aduncus) that inhabit much – out of sight, but do we mind? using hook and line and/or trap of Australia’s tropical and temperate coastline. Together with your support, gear, complain of being pushed we will ensure that this fishing out by larger corporate backed method won’t stay out of sight boats, in some cases using Back in the 1930s when By the 1970s, Australia had really begun that drags or rolls across and nets, and improved fish finding and mind. Our seas belong to all of overseas crews and with an trawlers first fished northern to more deeply consider and understand the seafloor, destroying the technology, mean that significant us and should be managed for all, not impacts can occur in short time frames. ethos of short-term gain over Australian waters, we had fisheries management and, in 1979, the habitat and leaving it much just a greedy few. Australians care about This has led to bottom trawling being long-term sustainability. little understanding of the Australian Fishing Zone was established like a ploughed field, devoid how their fish is caught and whether the commonly associated with overfishing, covering Commonwealth waters. of structure. impacts of trawl fishing on our This fishing method, ecosystem impacts and, in some cases, It’s now clear that big changes have sea has been damaged along the way. Foreign trawlers were then licenced fish populations and seafloor likened to ‘clear-felling’ the ocean, is not fisheries collapse. occurred in Northern fisheries, and Thank you for your active and informed to trawl for fish in our Northern waters habitats. Similarly, few were selective – scooping up the target fish they’re not good. There has been engagement in our fisheries work. If until being excluded from Australia’s When the foreign trawl fishing fleets mindful of the damage done as well as anything else in the way at a 900% increase in the number you want to know more, or want to get Economic Exclusion Zone in 1990. the time. The huge amounts of ‘bycatch’ finally left the waters of Western to non-target species, such of trawl boats operating in the NT further involved in this issue, contact us Australian trawl fishing effort started dragged to the surface by trawling Australia, Northern Territory and as turtles and dolphins. In Demersal fishery since 2011, without at HQ through [email protected]. from about 1985 onward, but to this include large quantities of unwanted and Queensland in 1990, trawl fishing was those days, foreign stern and the significant management review day, these trawl fisheries have remained undersized fish that are simply tossed largely replaced by trap and line fishing that you’d expect with this change. All photos © Simon Allen, University of Western pair trawlers dragged nets in relatively poorly researched and back dead or dying. Other bycatch methods, which are more selective Australia. All trawling photos from north WA fish regulated – despite the increased level Disturbingly trawl fishing is trawl fisheries using single otter demersal trawl, the waters of the Timor and can include Threatened, Endangered and have fewer impacts on habitats or the same method used in the NT and QLD fish of community concern for our fragile currently being trialled in the Arafura seas off the North of or Protected Species (TEPS), such as problems with TEPS bycatch. trawl fisheries. marine wildlife and habitats. ecologically sensitive Timor Australia with little regulation dolphins, sharks and sawfish. However, largely out of sight Reef area. This is a fragile system or understanding of the long- Industrial scale bottom trawl These factors, combined with the and out of mind, finfish seafloor of coral reefs, soft corals and sponge term consequences. fishing uses heavy gear ability to freeze fish at sea, larger boats trawling has crept back into gardens. It is a biodiversity hotspot and

Australian Marine Australian Marine 14 Conservation Society Conservation Society 15 OIL and gas Oceans of PLASTIC

Australian sea lions Oil spill modelling shows By Josh Coates, © Aengus Moran. potential devastation to our coastlines. Fisheries Campaigner GOOD to curb marine NEWS plastic pollution.

Everyone has seen This not only squanders precious resources, $150 million/year boost to the recycling © The Wilderness Society drink containers it harms our sea life too. Once in the ocean, sector! In South Australia, where a similar littered in our plastics slowly break down into smaller and Thanks to all of our supporters scheme has run successfully since 1977, streets and parks, smaller pieces which are mistaken for food charities and community groups have for the amazing response to our caught along creek by animals from microscopic plankton to raised $60 million by returning used emails on this issue. Thanks to banks, lying on the seabirds and whales. drinks containers. BP has no right to risk the you we backed our submission to beach, or floating But now there’s good news for our marine the senate inquiry on this issue The NSW decision paves the way for out to sea. But wildlife, with the New South Wales and other jurisdictions. The ACT Government with over 8000 public submissions did you know that Queensland Governments approving has previously said they would follow and petition signatures to relevant every minute 21,000 Cash for Containers recycling incentive NSW lead. Queensland has just politicians already! The fact that bottles and cans are schemes! Despite lobbying against the committed to introduce the scheme by the regulator NOPSEMA recently littered or sent to initiative from the beverage industry, the 2018. Despite the encouraging news, rejected BP’s Bight plans a landfill in Australia? state governments have backed the Cash Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria BIGHT! second time is evidence that our for Containers model which the community (that’s you) overwhelmingly called for. are yet to make commitments and the The Great Australian Bight is one of the most amazing voice is being heard, but the fight By Michelle Saul Congratulations!! beverage industry maintains its strong marine environments on the planet – wild and unpolluted, is far from over. We will need all of opposition. The Northern Territory’s From July 2017 in NSW, ten cents will it’s home to whales, sea lions, sharks and albatross. your support to continue the fight New South Wales and scheme is still running successfully after be paid for drink containers returned to The Bight is a calving and nursery grounds for the and protect our Southern Ocean. Queensland have made the Territory Government defeated a legal depots or reverse vending machines. endangered southern right whale, and home to some Thank you. the move to follow challenge by Coca Cola in 2012. of our last colonies of endangered sea lions. The scheme will reduce litter, increase * National Offshore Petroleum Safety and South Australia and the recycling, create hundreds of jobs and You can help! If you live in Environmental Management Authority Northern Territory and provide a new source of revenue for Victoria, Western Australia or introduce a Cash for charities and community groups across Tasmania, your government Containers scheme to the state. We expect that with the right needs to hear from you! Visit But all of this could be put at risk if the fishing and tourism industries collapsed. associated with increased shipping and help recycling. design features, a Container Deposit our website to act today Australian Government allows drilling for Alarmingly, BP is one of the main players animal strike, the smothering of sea Scheme will eliminate half of the toxic tide proposing drilling the Bight. life from the disturbed seabed and drill of marine plastic pollution and provide a marineconservation.org.au oil and gas. Offshore and deep-water oil Laysan albatross chick with a gut and gas drilling is already dangerous, cuttings disposal, chemical pollution, full of plastic © Marine Photobank. In the Great Australian Bight the risks discharge of drilling fluids, biosecurity but the remote and harsh conditions of are compounded by its remoteness, and underwater noise. Volunteers from the Underwater Research Group NSW, Nature Conservation Council NSW the Southern Ocean make this a disaster exposure to the wild weather and huge and AMCS sorting rubbish collected from Sydney’s Gordon’s Bay © AMCS/Ingrid Neilson. waiting to happen. Southern Ocean waves. The expansion of oil and gas exploration threatens the unique environment of the AMCS is proud to be part of the Great The impacts of fossil fuels and climate Great Australian Bight and risks Australia’s Australian Bight Alliance, a collaboration change on our marine environments commitments to the Paris climate between Indigenous Traditional must also be considered, as was made agreement. The Australian government Owners, local communities, surfers and clear by the recent coral bleaching must reject outright all oil and gas environmental groups working to prevent events. For the same reasons that development in the Great Australian Bight oil and gas mining in the Bight. we oppose new coal mining we must to protect the region, while creating an also oppose new oil and gas drilling, BP’s tragic 2010 Deepwater Horizon Independent Expert Panel to fully assess particularly the opening up of previously blowout and spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the cumulative threats from oil and gas untouched fossil fuel deposits. one of many examples of how offshore oil and alternative futures for the region. and gas drilling can go wrong. This was As if that is not enough, the loud and the largest marine oil spill in US history, disruptive underwater blasts of seismic Visit our website to learn with oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico for exploration and noise from drilling into more, sign the petition 87 days. Eleven workers and millions of the sea floor would harm our marine and support our work animals died from this disaster, while local life. Then there are the massive risks marineconservation.org.au

Australian Marine Australian Marine 16 Conservation Society Conservation Society 17 Fighting for the REEF Fighting for the REEF

When we first went to Magnetic Island, In 2011, the port expansion was plagued the decision was mooted in 2013 to we saw dugongs. For years we had by controversy following reports of large dredge 3 million cubic metres of seabed no sightings. Then in June 2012, 82 numbers of diseased fish and deformed for expansion of the coal terminal at Abbot The turtles, mostly adult breeding females, frogs with five legs, all blamed on the Point to service the proposed Carmichael were washed up dead at Upstart Bay dredging. Other species also suffered, coalmine and dump it in the waters of the south of Townsville. Eighteen were still including humpbacked dolphins and Great Barrier Reef. It sounded more alive exhibiting neurological symptoms. dugongs. Again, there was an unusually like a skit from The Chasers High levels of vanadium, molybdenum, large number of turtle stranding and than a serious proposal. I iron and chromium and mortalities in Gladstone through 2011 and immediately sent out a media of mercury and cadmium were found early 2012. release condemning such in the blood, liver and faecal samples. Many of these contaminants are used A report found that it was likely that the an idea. REEF in superphosphate fertilisers commonly elevated metal levels found in stranded Our Big Brothers, the regional tourism I booked our honeymoon in the Whitsundays after our neighbour turtles resulted from metals mobilised used in sugarcane farms. organisation, across the water in described his holiday there as ‘one of the best weeks of his through the large scale dredging in Following up the story, Megan Stafford, Townsville counseled strongly against life’. Honeymoons should be about superlatives. Surely. Port Curtis and Gladstone. Between one of my journalism students from James being so outspoken. After all, we January and November 2012, And ours was as spectacular as the neighbour had predicted. Cook University got a quote from Dr Mark would all be compensated I was told. there were 1300 dead and Diving off the deck of a 38-ft bareboat yacht, I was stunned at Reid, manager of Species Conservation Compensated? Paid to shut up while the By Lindsay Simpson, dying turtles stranded on reef’s future hung in the balance. the magical world below. from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park author and owner of Authority: “What we weren’t expecting was Queensland beaches. On my Meanwhile, the reef continued to deliver Providence V some of the material in the samples was daily walks along the isolated beaches its verdict as it battled climate change Thirteen years later, the photograph of My love affair with the Great at a the machines couldn’t of Magnetic Island, I saw several dead and global warming followed by one us beaming from the back deck of the Barrier Reef began that year. handle. In this situation, it occurred turtles. Lack of seagrass due to cyclones local environmental disaster after the yacht is on my bedside table. The blue because a particular metal was at high and floods was the catchcry explanation In 2005, we returned to the Whitsundays other including pesticide, fertilizer and coral, anemone coral, Reef brain corals concentrations,” he told her. but what of the manmade pollution? and bought a 62-ft gaff rigged schooner sediment runoff from farms and more and the teaming fish life: Angelfish and expansion of industry. Butterfly fish; Damselfish and Gobies Providence V. For almost a decade, None of this made it into the What was shocking was how and the turquoise flash of the Parrotfish we took international and national media. quickly the media forgot A 2012 report by UNESCO, delivered as it munched on the coral on the visitors around Magnetic Island. Our first these stories, concerned startling news. It was damning about brochures described the as Some six months after the proposed coastal and port development ocean floor. Each bay offered its own with the daily grind of news, magnificence as though to upstage the ‘magnificent fringing reef’. And it was turtle deaths at Upstart stating it would impact on the ‘Outstanding forever seeking the ephemeral one we’d just snorkeled. My love affair – back then. A decade on, just before Bay, the $33b expansion of Universal Value’ of the site. Referring to but not the substance, not with the Great Barrier Reef THE REEF we decided to leave, the colourful coral Gladstone port scandal made the major dredging program underway on understanding the continued Curtis Island near Gladstone, it noted that by Lindsay Simpson, author, owner of was drained from years of dredging and brief headlines for breaching 70 per cent of these developments were Providence V. poor water quality coupled by the natural government audit conditions on stress on the reef. disasters of cyclones. I learned that the approved in the past decade and that Lindsay and her husband Grant Lewis have owned dredging and dumping spoils in the Gloucester schooner, Providence V, since 2005. I booked our honeymoon zooxanthellae, the algae that produces I was chair and founder of the local the associated infrastructure from them in the Whitsundays after the colours in the coral are susceptible a World Heritage area. tourism group on Magnetic Island when posed ‘serious concerns over the reef’s our neighbour described to increased sediment as they rely on his holiday there as ‘one of light to survive. the best weeks of his life’. Algae covered coral reefs around Lizard Island, One of my last swims on Magnetic Great Barrier Reef, June 2016 © The Ocean Agency. Honeymoons should be about Island was accompanied by a large superlatives. Surely. turtle whose shell was weighted down And ours was as spectacular as the with algae. While algae is of course neighbour had predicted. Diving off the natural, it can create problems covering deck of a 38-ft bareboat yacht, I was up injuries. It was as though unable to stunned at the magical world below. withstand the onslaught of humans, the coral, and its creatures, had given up Thirteen years later, the photograph of their dazzling display. us beaming from the back deck of the yacht is on my bedside table. The blue We had been apologizing to coral, anemone coral, Reef brain corals our guests for some time as and the teaming fish life: Angelfish and to the possible causes of Butterfly fish; Damselfish and Gobies the coral’s demise: global and the turquoise flash of the Parrotfish warming, port expansions, as it munched on the coral on the dredging – manmade ocean floor. Each bay offered its own magnificence as though to upstage the disasters. They would look at one we’d just snorkeled. us in horror. Australian Marine Australian Marine 18 Conservation Society Conservation Society 19 Fighting for the REEF save our REEF

Thanks to you, dredge dumping in the Reef’s waters has been banned since 2015. This photograph was taken in September 2014, and shows a ship dumping dredge material in Cairns Harbour © Xanthe Rivett, CAFNEC, WWF Australia.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is in trouble. It has just experienced its worst coral bleaching event on record and is under ongoing from farm runoff along the coast.

Scientists say we need to act now or the Great Barrier Reef will be ‘terminal’ in five years. Your donation today scientists’ predictions. long-term conservation’. Decisive action counts more than ever. It helps convince our government to switch rapidly to renewable energy and stop was required to reduce that Leading the news in recent might affect the reef’s resilience to adapt months is the evidence from subsidising the dirty fossil fuels. It also helps reform land use to reduce run off dirtying the waters and feeding to climate change. The Great Barrier aerial surveys that 93 per crown of thorns starfish. Please make an urgent tax deductible donation today to help save our global treasure. Reef had been inscribed on the World cent of the reef has been Heritage list in 1981. affected by coral bleaching. Donation Details I was strangely relieved at Extensive field and aerial surveys Make a one-off monthly donation of: $100 $250 $500 My choice $ UNESCO’s condemnation. have revealed ‘severe bleaching’ in the That our reputation as northern part of our Reef, with 22% Personal Details custodian of the world’s coral mortality overall. Our (former) largest living organism – Federal Environment Minister, Greg First Name* Last Name* (L-R): Imogen Zethoven, AO (AMCS), Dr John the Great Barrier Reef – Hunt, was at pains to tell the world ‘Charlie’ Veron, Lindsay Simpson, Cherry Muddle was in doubt. at the Paris Summit that Australia is (AMCS) at Parliament House, calling for political Email* Phone Number* action on climate change during the worst global ‘beating and meeting’ our targets to coral bleaching event on record. UNESCO found that the Queensland reduce carbon emissions. State government, across both sides Address* of politics, has been one of the biggest Bleaching and recent offenders in approving the industrial environmental disasters Town / City* Postcode* expansion. It approved Adani’s lease for were kept well out of his the Carmichael mine. The jobs from the political discourse. As are State* Country * Adani mine number, by the company’s the facts that the Adani own admission, 1,454 not 10,000 as Carmichael mine is reportedly claimed in parliament by our previous Yes, I would like to receive marine conservation news! Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. set to produce more annual emissions than New York Last June, we moved south to the totalling about 79m tonnes Card Details Whitsundays where there was less of CO2 each year. port activity we thought and better reef. Card Type* Mastercard Visa That was before the approval of the So what is the justification exactly Carmichael mine. for continuing the human footprint of Name on Card* Expiry Date /

UNESCO has yet to list pollution? Are we capable of protecting this dazzling jewel on our doorstep? the Great Barrier Reef as Card Number * CVV* Both sides of politics have shown an ‘in danger’. Perhaps it will underwhelming commitment to the task. be influenced by recent So that leaves our own determination. headlines that are fulfilling But we have to act fast. Thank you for all that you do. Australian Marine Australian Marine 20 Conservation Society Conservation Society 21 Shop for the SEAS Devotion to the OCEAN Shop for the Devotion to our OCEANS As a non-profit charity with minimal government support, AMCS relies almost entirely on the financial support from passionate people across Australia. You put wind in our sails and funds SEAS in the kitty to power the campaigns for our precious oceans. Here’s a taste of some of the highlights from the high seas this year. ORIS LIMITED EDITION GREAT BARRIER REEF DIVE WATCH GREAT BARRIER BEER MIA AND FRIENDS AMCS is delighted It’s true; you can to be partnering riding for the Sea Lions help save the Great with Oris for their Mia Powell is back on her bike and riding for the seas! For the third year running, Barrier Reef by Mia has organised another sponsored cycle ride to raise funds for our work. This new Great Barrier drinking beer! year she focused on the Australian Sea Lion and along with her friends, Leila and Reef Limited Olivia, raised over $550! Edition II watch! AMCS is proud to be the first charity in Australia They had a great deal of fun, with a number of other kids and adults coming to show their support as the girls braved the heat and doggedly cycled up and down This design of this with our own beer. Great Riding for Australian Sea Lions. © Jill Gardner the Cooks River in South West Sydney, until they reached their 20km target. beautiful dive watch was inspired by the sea Barrier Beer is crafted Thank you Mia and friends! You’re amazing!! and honours Australia’s precious World Heritage reef. by the Good Beer Co, Australia’s first social enterprise Water resistant to 500 metres, its beautiful coral yellow beer company. At least half of the profits from sales detail enhances its visibility underwater and will help of the Great Barrier Beer help fund our critical work to you time your dive in style. protect our Reef. Proceeds from the sale of these limited edition The beer is a crisp, refreshing mid strength, brewed watches are contributing to our work to protect our with all Australian hops and malt and subtle fruit In memory of Reef. With our Reef under pressure from so many flavours. And it’s brewed in Bundaberg, Queensland, fronts, Oris’s support could not come at a better time. on the Great Barrier Reef coast! So go on, have a DAVE DURLACHER Thanks Oris! coldie for the Reef! A passionate advocate of protecting our ocean

Olivia (L) and Mia (R) after their mighty wildlife & their homes, his love the ocean. SHARK FIN SHORTS KID’S BOOKS cycle for sea lions © Jill Gardner.

Making perfect Kim Toft highlights Dave and a black tipped reef shark off the coast of Umkamas, South Africa, 2015. beach shorts marine and coastal ‘We’re gonna need a for Australians, conservation The Rocks Push through her BIGGER BOAT’ loves our coastal enchanting hand lifestyle and painted and silk Thanks to Liz Hill from Lucky Coq has made a line illustrated in Chapel St, of shorts for children’s books. Melbourne who raised over $1000 in swimming, sporting and socialising while Kim writes about the fascinating helping save our sharks. a pizza fundraiser. creatures that live in our mysterious underwater world, Liz called her pizza and the lush coastal habitats which fringe it. Cut for a short, easy fit and an elasticated drawstring ‘We’re Gonna Need and made from light, quick drying fabric, they’re a great These stunning and original books will amaze, delight a Bigger Boat’ and way to help end the cruel practice of shark finning. and inspire the reader! said, “I have always had a passion for They look pretty snappy too! Liz Hill sharks and raising helping awareness and sharks appreciation for through a pizza these amazing fundraiser. FOR ORDERS VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP creatures.” WWW.MARINECONSERVATION.ORG.AU OR CALL 1800 066 299. Thanks Liz! You’ve got great taste!

Australian Marine Australian Marine 22 Conservation Society Conservation Society 23 Our seas are fragile. So please help us protect them while there’s still time, before all our treasures are just memories.

TIM WINTON, Author, Patron of the Australian Marine Conservation Society

Love our oceans? Join us today seaguardians.org.au

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