© Troy Mayne, oceanicimagery.com

CREDITS&CONTACTS From the DIRECTOR OUT OF THE BLUE 4

Australian Marine Conservation Society Darren Kindleysides WHAT NOW FOR OUR SANCTUARIES? 6 PO Box 5815 WEST END QLD 4101 A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR NSW 7 Ph: (07) 3846 6777 Standing on the Shoulders of Email: [email protected] WRANGLING WITH THE 8 www.marineconservation.org.au GOOD FISH CHEFS’ CHARTER 12 Patron GIANTS Tim Winton TOP END SEAS 13 AMCS Management Committee I have an altitude problem. At half way between five and six feet, my stature President: Craig McGovern has never been statuesque. Perhaps this is why the saying ‘standing on the CLEANING UP 15 Secretary: Mary-Ann Pattison shoulders of giants’ appeals to me – there’s a chance I’ll increase my elevation. LEAVING A LEGACY 16 Treasurer: Rowan Wallace The expression has been at the front of my mind over the past few weeks, but General Member: Margaret Harlow for loftier reasons. To me it means that we are who we are today because of General Member: Dr Jill StJohn the achievements of those who have come before us. We are lifted up from the HON. LIFE MEMBER REFLECTS 17 General Member: Richard Leck gigantic foundations they have laid.

CONTENTS DEVOTION TO THE OCEAN 18 General Member: Dr David Neil As AMCS celebrates our 50th Anniversary, I’ve been looking back through our General Member: Alison Johnson history and speaking to those who have shaped AMCS and the state of marine AMCS Staff conservation in Australia. Director: Darren Kindleysides Back then, under the name of the Queensland Littoral Society, we held our Campaign Manager: founding meeting on May 19th, 1965. Our founders, the original champions of Felicity Wishart Australia’s oceans have left an incredible legacy to our oceans and to Great Barrier Reef Campaigners: and future generations. Gemma Plesman and Cherry Muddle They stopped the Queensland Government (under the infamous Premier, Marine Campaigner: Tooni Mahto Joh Bjelke-Petersen) turning the Great Barrier Reef’s corals into limestone Marine Campaigner: Fiona Maxwell by contesting and defeating an application to mine its coral reefs. Shortly Marine Campaigner: Adrian Meder afterwards they led Australia’s largest sea-based campaign which culminated in Northern Marine Campaigner: Jacqui Taylor the formation of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park World Heritage Area. They 4 12 14 Communications Manager: Ingrid Neilson pushed for anti-pollution laws for our seas, they convinced governments of the 8 Communications Officer: Kate Simpson importance of wetlands and mangrove protection. Office Coordinator: Asia Armstrong In time the Society became the Australian Marine Conservation Society, and we From the PRESIDENT Craig McGovern Supporter Coordinator: Julie Labzin stopped live shark finning in Australia, helped end whaling here and overseas, Finance Officer: Tina Dalby protected Ningaloo Reef and fought for countless other state and territory Welcome to a special weren’t bulldozed and threatened We meet new Top End marine marine parks. We’ve reformed fisheries management around the country, edition of Turning the , species weren’t drowned in every trawl. campaigner Jacqui Taylor, who has TTT Coordinator brought a halt to massive sea turtle, dolphin and seabird bycatch and helped the magazine for those We’ve convinced governments of the much to tell already, despite only being Ingrid Neilson build the foundations for the largest network of marine reserves on the planet, devoted to the ocean, as we celebrate importance of water catchment and in the job less than a year (p 13). the 50th anniversary of the Australian wetlands conservation. We’ve achieved Editorial Committee right here in Australia. Marine Conservation Society. so much more and we celebrate the Throughout these pages are stories Kate Simpson, Ingrid Neilson It’s a legacy that gives us the platform to keep raising the bar for marine achievements of many people in this from our volunteers, fundraisers and conservation. And we continue the legacy each day. Cover Photograph We’ve come a long way since a edition including Honorary Life Member supporters who do what they can to help group of marine science students and early President Des Connell on save the seas in the most wonderful of This edition of Turning the Tide contains an article by one of our earliest Anemone fish by Xanthe Rivett and divers decided to do something page 17. Thank goodness women and ways – from cleaning up beaches to www.xantherivett.com Presidents, wonderful man, and Honorary Life Member, Des Connell. He about overfishing and coral mining in men like him cared enough to speak painting for the oceans and donating the talks about the first battles to save the Great Barrier Reef in the 1960s and South-east Queensland’s Moreton Bay. out in defence of our coasts and seas. proceeds of sale (p18). We were also Graphic Designer 70s. AMCS was instrumental in these campaigns, just as we are today in the We’ve played a key role in shaping the deeply touched to receive donations Jacki Stone, Jacstar Design ongoing Fight for the Reef. Back then our staff and volunteers were physically way Australia manages our oceans, And from our modern day campaigners in lieu of flowers from the funeral of campaigning in particular for a ban on we have updates on the Fight for a special young man who left us well Paper threatened and aggressively attacked in the media. They had their houses oil drilling on the reef and stopping its the Reef campaign – in which the before his time (p18). And on page 16 Printed on Recycled paper, FSC Mixed raided, phones bugged and were followed by security personnel. But they didn’t shrink from doing what was needed to save the seas. corals being mined for their limestone. community is winning against big heavy we hear from an inspiring supporter who Sources Certified industry and development at any cost. shares her motivation to leave a bequest So theirs is also a legacy that came at a personal cost. It speaks to the AMCS has been a pioneer in Read Felicity’s report on pages 8-9. to the oceans in her will. Printer dedication, commitment and endurance that typified those who have worked championing sustainable ocean Fiona Maxwell provides us with an Enviroprint Australia and volunteered for this remarkable organisation over the past 50 years. It is a management; from pushing for the update on the federal government’s Life is precious, and fragile, just like The views and opinions expressed in this publication are quality that endures in our ranks today. first clean water pollution acts, to review of the marine parks network this blue planet. Every year we have not necessarily those of the Australian Marine Conservation making some of the first underwater around Australia on page 6. Tooni the privilege to enjoy our extraordinary Society Inc. All written material contained in ‘Turning the I look forward to sharing and celebrating more of their stories, the stories of surveys of reef fish in Australia. We Mahto tells where the sustainable oceans so every year we must do what Tide’ may be reprinted. Reprinted material must include the name of author (s) and be credited to the AMCS ‘Turning giants, in our next edition of Turning The Tide, which will be our special 50th drove fisheries reforms so that habitats seafood program is at on page 12. we can to protect them for the future. the Tide’ publication. Anniversary edition. 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

Dolphins like these were caught and drowned in the Geelong Star on its first and second fishing trips. News from around our shores COMING soon To celebrate our 50th anniversary, Minke whale in the Coral AMCS is launching our first ever Sea © John Rumney Amazing Oceans Photography Competition. This competition will enable all marine lovers to share Geelong Star Factory Trawler their passion and connection with the sea through the powerful medium of KILLS DOLPHINS AND SEALS photography. (just like we warned it would)

WORLD The judging panel will be chaired by one of Australia’s leading wildlife We’re troubled to report that our worst for longer and cover greater distances photographers Steve Parish and there fears have been confirmed with the than seen before in this fishery. It can Ocean will be thousands of dollars’ worth of Geelong Star’s very first fishing trips in fish for jack mackerel, blue mackerel, prizes up for grabs for the best entries. Australian waters. The factory freezer Winning images will also feature in redbait and Australian sardine off the Summit trawler has killed eight dolphins and our 2016 Amazing Oceans calendar. western, southern and eastern coast four fur seals in just two fishing trips. The competition launches in June of Australia. AMCS has always been extremely The World Ocean Summit brings 2015, so keep your eyes on our social concerned about the impact this There is limited information available together more than 250 global media channels and website for more vessel will have on our threatened about where the catch will end up, leaders from across different information soon. marine life, like Australian fur seals, but it’s most likely it will be exported sectors to identify realistic sustaining our oceans in the face dolphins and seabirds. to Africa as a low cost protein source. to tensions between economic of increasing economic use and The irony of this is that super trawlers development and environmental In 2012 we stood side by side with declining ecosystem health. have historically depleted fish stocks, recreational fishers and convinced sustainability in our seas. WHALE particularly off West Africa, which has the Australian Government to ban a AMCS Director Darren Kindleysides affected local fishers ability to find fish The Summit, first convened in previous super trawler, the Magiris from will be attending and will bring in local waters. 2012, has become influential in an Australian perspective to the fishing in Australian waters. identifying and driving international, international debate. Stay tuned for of a Fail This new factory freezer trawler was Industrial-scale factory freezer trawlers responses to the challenge of updates from the field. permitted into Australia by the Abbott just don’t belong in our fragile oceans. Despite defeat in the International Court Government, and while not quite as Please sign our petition to ban these of Justice, late last year the Government large, it has the ability to do just as giant trawlers on our website of Japan announced plans to return to much damage to Australia’s wildlife. www.marineconservation.org.au or Antarctic whaling. Under this plan they The Geelong Star is now the largest write to the Fisheries Minister at: would kill almost 4,000 minke whales over vessel fishing in Australia, with its size Hon. Barnaby Joyce, PO Box 6022, SEAFOOD 12 years for ‘scientific research’. and freezer capacity allowing it to fish Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600. However, the Japanese Government’s Nudibranch © Aengus Moran whaling campaign has been dealt another Labelling major blow. An Expert Panel of the International Whaling Commission has When a handful of Australians contracted Hepatitis A from imported, frozen rejected the whaling plan, finding Japan berries it made news headlines, and as a result the Australian Government has had failed to demonstrate the scientific set up a task to work on improving food labelling. But what about seafood GONE TO MUD need to kill whales in order to study them. labelling, which has for too long left us in the dark about our seafood choices? Nightcliff Island proposal Japan’s whaling has failed the test of AMCS is part of the Label My Fish alliance, working with Greenpeace, Sealife international law, and it has now failed the Darwin locals were outraged when the The Environment Centre NT and residents 415 species of fish, endemic dolphins, sea Trust, Taronga Conservation Society and Zoos Victoria, to improve national test of science. is building on NT Government granted development snakes, sea turtles, and the world’s highest seafood labelling. Australia’s labelling laws are currently weak. They must be are extremely happy with the findings, and Japan. If Japan proceeds with resuming company Halikos a lease in Ludmilla diversity of mangroves, Darwin Harbour improved so that we know what fish we’re eating, where it’s from and how it we are calling on the government to revoke Southern Ocean whaling at the end of this Bay to explore opportunities to develop a was caught. the lease. faces greater pressure than ever. year without the scientific justification they residential island off the Nightcliff foreshore. As a result of our advocacy, seafood labelling has been included in the will be in clear breach of the ruling of the Geotechnical investigations found only Although Darwin Harbour has been Join the Top End Sea Life Government’s current review, which is a step forward. We’ll keep the pressure International Court of Justice and will risk mud, with no solid foundation to build upon. identified as a hotspot for biodiversity, only mailing list to get involved on until we get labelling laws that don’t leave us eating in the dark. international censure. Following large community protests, AMCS, 3% of the catchment is protected. Home to www.sealife.org.au Australian Marine Australian Marine 4 Conservation Society Conservation Society 5 Marine PARKS Marine PARKS

Eastern fiddler ray © John Turnbull There is enormous community support for marine sanctuaries around Australia. Perhaps the By Ingrid Neilson, federal government wasn’t Communications Manager, Sydney aware of this when it announced a review of our national marine park network. These protected areas were introduced with great public excitement in 2012 - but were suspended by the Abbott Government What now for our shortly after it was elected. MARINE NATIONAL A brighter future for marine conservation in By Fiona Maxwell, Marine Campaigner PARKS? NEW SOUTH WALES © Troy Mayne Oceanic Imagery

There is widespread public and scientific and its amazing offshore canyons from marine sanctuaries have been in place for Now that the dust has This turn around in the Coalition and the waters from Port Hacking to concern about the motivations behind this destructive fishing and oil development. up to 20 years, the film shares success settled after the New Government’s approach is mostly due Pittwater. AMCS will be campaigning review, particularly with recent revelations On the up side, there is no stories of world-class conservation and South Wales election, to the awareness that great fishing, strongly to ensure the Baird Government that seismic testing has been allowed recreation and conservation are going doubt that the review panelists recreation working hand in hand. the future for its sea life follows through on this commitment, and inside our new marine sanctuaries off the hand in hand in our marine parks. The Sydney’s astonishing marine life and and the government are If you missed out you can watch it on our looks a little bit brighter. West Australian coast. This includes an Shooters & Fishers Party’s retrograde Full protection has now iconic coastal lifestyle is protected for area that is an important migratory habitat hearing the overwhelming website http://www.marineconservation. views about marine protection are now been restored to two future generations. for humpbacks, blue whales and sea lions. message that Australians org.au/pages/marine-parks.html or if you’re supported by only a tiny minority of If the Government hadn’t put our marine support their sanctuaries. interested in hosting a local screening thirds of the marine NSW recreational fishers, who believe This will be done by creating more sanctuaries on hold, mining exploration AMCS and our conservation please email us [email protected] sanctuaries. These were marine parks are some sort of attack on marine sanctuaries like the one prized would never have been allowed in these colleagues are now working There is incredible momentum around the the sanctuaries that their rights. by the community at Cabbage Tree biologically important areas. hard to make sure they act were opened to fishing in Bay, which AMCS played a major role country to defend our sanctuaries and it’s Thankfully the Shooters The Government’s Review Panel has now accordingly to retain, increase the Baird Government’s in protecting through our project the entirely thanks to you and our inspiring & Fishers Party lost the finished their public consultation rounds. and implement our world class network of supporters. AMCS has been last term. The re-elected Marine Coastal Community Network, in They’re now tasked with evaluating over balance of power in the national network of sanctuaries attending review panel meetings around the government seems to conjunction with the Manly Environment 13,000 detailed written submissions and NSW Upper House. This is to protect the forgotten country and we prepared our own extensive have acknowledged the Centre, Friends of Cabbage Tree Bay 18,000 online survey responses and will not surprising given that treasures that were left out. submission. We were extremely heartened overwhelming ecological and other dedicated locals. report their findings to the Government. 40% of our support base to see thousands of our supporters making benefits of marine We will also need to tackle the Over the last few months we’ve seen a Meanwhile we have recently wrapped up for the campaign to restore submissions of their own! sanctuaries as well as considerable pollution impacts wave of support for our sanctuaries from a national tour of our new film The Sea marine sanctuaries comes This should be a reminder to the their benefits to our associated with a major city. We look scientists, divers, snorkelers, fishers, & Me after 12 full house screenings in from recreational fishers. tourism industry, small business owners coastal communities around Australia. The government, that Australians love our seas coastal communities. forward to working together with ocean- and people like you who speak out for our Sea & Me explores the extraordinary seas and want them better protected for today’s There was bipartisan support during the loving Sydney-siders and supporters oceans. In the small community of Bremer surrounding Australia and the inspiring and future generations. It now falls on the election campaign for a Sydney marine across NSW to create a fantastic legacy Bay in Western Australia, over half of the communities, business owners, fishers, Marine Reserve Review panels, and the park, including our prized harbour for our precious coastline. resident population made submissions divers and researchers who look after Abbott Government, to demonstrate that

in favour of protecting this beautiful bay them. Looking at communities where they are listening. Big bellied Seahorse living Red morwongs grow bigger among kelp at Jervis Bay in marine sanctuaries Marine Park. © John Turnbull © John Turnbull

The crowd at Sea in Me at Fremantle, Western Australia

Australian Marine Australian Marine 6 Conservation Society Conservation Society 7 Fight FOR THE REEF Fight FOR THE REEF

© Christy Harrington Murdoch University. Reef 2050 long term SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

Wrangling In March, Prime Minister Tony Abbot visited Hamilton Island to launch the Government’s Reef 2050 Plan. with the Developed to address concerns raised by the World Heritage Committee, this joint state and federal plan has some positive initiatives but falls well short of the decisive action needed to save the Reef.

Members of AMCS and Whitsunday REEF Residents against Dumping managed to bump into the Prime Minister while By Cherry Muddle, Gemma he was on Hamilton Island. They raised Plesman and Felicity Wishart recent concerns expressed by coral science guru Prof Terry Hughes that we can have a healthy Reef or we can mine the Galilee Basin for coal, but we can’t have both. Disappointingly, Mr Abbot “The battle for the responded “yes we can”. Clearly we Reef will never be have some more campaigning to do. The Reef 2050 plan can be seen here: At AMCS we are While the Greens and Environment Minister. They plan to Thank you for the amazing www.gbrmpa.gov.au/managing-the-reef/ constantly moved by ALP delivered strong dump the dredge spoil at the site of support you have given quite over. That reef-2050 and the AMCS and WWF the passion of the commitments, the LNP under T2, an area of port land sandwiched AMCS in our fight for Campbell Newman did not. between the existing terminal T1 and Australia critique is available here: people for our treasured splendid stretch of In an unprecedented election a new T3 terminal area, all adjacent the Reef these past few www.fightforthereef.org.au/resources natural wonder. From outcome, at least 2% of the to the internationally significant Caley years. We are making huge the Queensland coast tropical far North swing against the Newman Valley wetlands. waves, and we will be Government that saw a Labor Queensland to the The Environmental Impact Statement calling on you again in the is an enrichment of halls of parliament, Government elected, can be attributed to people who voted (EIS) is yet to be prepared but an coming weeks and months communities are approval is likely before the end of “for the Reef”. to keep the pressure human experience creatively fighting the the year – that is, unless we can The first of the Palaszczuk on the Queensland latest battle for the bring enough pressure on state and government Reef promises, federal governments. government to deliver of the beauty of the Reef. We’ve rocked, to withdraw plans to dump its Reef promises, and to world that is without raged, rallied, ridden, dredge spoil in the Caley Valley Notably a global investment advisory run, walked, written, Wetlands, has been delivered, agency, RepRisk, has released a fight this third proposed along with the set up of a Reef report on the most controversial incarnation of the Abbot swum, sung, danced, development projects in the world parallel. The battle taskforce to advise on the best Point dredging and fundraised, paddled, way to reduce farm chemical for 2014. The Abbot Point port dumping plans. for the Reef stands to and voted, all for the pollution flowing into the Reef’s expansion came in at third place! waters. There is more to Volunteers helping the community love of our Reef. vote for the reef. © Cherry Muddle/AMCS the credit not just of come when the Queensland And we are succeeding. government introduces the © Steve Parish Australians but the The election of a new Ports Bill to Parliament, which government in Queensland has is expected to include a ban on QLD ELECTION 2015: Voting for the Reef heralded a significant shift in the dredging spoil dumping in the human race” fate of the Reef, although we Reef’s World Heritage waters, Two years of solid campaigning for the Queenslanders from Cairns to Mackay, are far from safe waters yet. limits on port expansions and Reef culminated in a frenetic start to ran ads on television and made the increased protection for the 2015 after Premier Newman called the Reef the number one environment Judith Wright 1996 In a fast and furious election Greater Fitzroy Delta. campaign AMCS and other groups Queensland election for 31 January. issue and a top issue in the election. called on all parties to deliver a What hasn’t been seen from the AMCS urged all parties to deliver strong Reef protection package: new Queensland government is AMCS Reef staff and volunteers were strong Reef policies and prepared ban dumping and curtail dredging; a rejection of port expansion at out in force, collecting thousands of Abbot Point and the fight to stop an assessment to enable voters to protect precious wetlands; stop pledges from Queenslanders to vote for this unnecessary and damaging know where the parties stood. As a farm pollution into the Reef’s the Reef. We held a Reef State Election development just got hotter. testament to our efforts, the newly waters; restore native vegetation Forum in Brisbane, organised dozens and river protection laws; bring In April, the Queensland elected Labor Government has of market stalls across SE Qld, knocked back our dugongs, turtles and government referred their new appointed Mt Coot-tha MP Steven wildlife; turn down the heat and plan for Abbot Point dredging on hundreds of doors, called thousands Miles as State’s first Minister for the support renewable energy. and dumping to the Federal of supporters, mobilised regional Great Barrier Reef. Australian Marine Australian Marine 8 Conservation Society Conservation Society 9 Our glorious Great Barrier Reef © Gary Bell, Oceanwide Images

www.marineconservation.org.au Sustainable SEAFOOD Saving our TOP END Good Fish CHEFS’ Saving our Project CHARTER TOP END SEAS Hi, I’m Jacqui Taylor, the new AMCS Northern Campaigner! When it comes to seafood, we expect chefs I’m a Darwin born local and really excited to return to to plate up works of culinary genius. But the Top End to join AMCS in raising awareness of our By Tooni Mahto, increasingly diners want chefs to consider the largely unprotected Top End sea life. Marine Campaigner sustainability of the seafood they serve as well. By Jacqui Taylor, AMCS Northern Campaigner Chefs get most of their information from their suppliers, who may not always have the health of the ocean on their minds. Our Good Fish Project provides chefs and catering professionals with some independent tools to tread lightly on our seas when serving seafood. I have worked, sailed and dived around But the waters of Northern the globe fuelling my adventures with Australia are also rich Through extensive market research, we’ve found that chefs a colourful career in marine science in minerals, oil and gas are looking for practical help on serving sustainably. They and management, film and tourism. I and according to the NT need a voice on the end of a phone to discuss which fish are have worked across Northern Australia Government, are “open for sustainable from which parts of Australia, what alternatives in various jobs, researching coral, exist and who they can work with to be part of a community of surveying cetaceans, and working business”. As the quality like-minded chefs cooking with tomorrow’s oceans in mind. closely with Indigenous people for of tropical marine habitats The Good Fish Project Chefs’ Charter is an industry-inspired sustainable management of their decline around the globe, minerals are often dumped back into the initiative designed to engage chefs and catering professionals marine resources. it is more important than sea, smothering important fish breeding in the sumptuous world of sustainable seafood. The Charter is habitats. The remote tropical waters of northern ever to safeguard our a three tier program, initially guiding and educating chefs on Australia remain healthy, and relatively seas against destructive, The moratorium on seabed mining serving and sourcing sustainable seafood. The second level untouched. The outstanding diversity was due to expire in March. After a helps chefs refresh their menus with ‘better choice’ fish, as well extractive activities. of marine ecosystems are rich in long community campaign against this as better engaging staff, suppliers and customers. And finally, marine life. Extensive seagrass beds, Seabed mining is a hot issue in the destructive practice, Chief Minister there’s the Ambassador level - an awarded status for chefs and mangroves and corals support six of Territory. Seabed mining destroys the Adam Giles announced an extension of Executive chefs Matt restaurants that actively promote sustainable seafood and are the world’s seven species of marine seafloor by dredging large swaths of the the moratorium for another three years. Dempsy from Gladioli leading the industry towards a greener future. turtles, a significant number of dugongs benthic habitat, crushing coral, seagrass Although this decision is welcome, we and Tulip, Victoria AMCS knows about sustainable seafood, (below) and Chris and dolphins and highly valued fish and mangroves, the foundations of our will continue calling for a permanent ban Irving from The Gantry but our expertise doesn’t extend into the populations. healthy Top End seas. Sediments and on seabed mining. Restaurant & Bar, Pier restaurant kitchen, so we’ve engaged Richard One, Sydney (top) Webb, who owned the highly successful and are Good Fish Project Ambassadors. truly sustainable Swampdog Fish and Chips, in South Brisbane.

Richard is working with AMCS to run the Good Fish Project Chefs’ Charter and engage restaurants to sign up. We’re delighted to announce that the Surf Coast Shire on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is working with AMCS to roll out the project across the shire. Working with respected Victorian chef Matt Dempsey as a regional Ambassador, the first restaurants to sign up work within the council region, and are shining bright as leaders in the field of sustainable seafood. Executive Chef Chris Irving from The Gantry Restaurant & Bar is also leading the charge as an Ambassador. It is exciting to have these world class chefs on board.

If you own a restaurant and want to get involved, visit www.goodfishproject.com.au to find out more.

Australian Marine Australian Marine 12 Conservation Society Diving in Arnhem Land © Xanthe Rivett Conservation Society 13 Plastic POLLUTION Clean UPS

© Troy Mayne, Oceanic Imagery Give Frank a CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY By Kate Simpson, Communications BREAK Officer in Williamstown, Victoria AMCS has joined with Australian comedian This day highlighted the problem of Frank Woodley to launch a campaign against one plastic pollution, but also how groups of our ocean’s biggest killers. and individuals can work together to achieve positive outcomes. Throughout the world, it lurks silently. recycle it, but we must also break Of course, cleaning up our beaches It will outlive us, outswim us, and our dependency on it, and reduce shouldn’t just be a once a year threatens to undo us. The predator our plastic use. activity. is plastic and it’s floating in an ocean Our campaign also calls on the near you. Every year, Australians buy Australian, State and Territory 600 million litres of bottled Our public awareness campaign calls Governments to support cash for water and use 3.9 billion on everyone to do their bit to ‘Give containers schemes, which places a 10 plastic bags. Frank a Break’ by reducing plastic cent fully refundable deposit on drink pollution. We’ve got to reuse and containers, to reduce plastic pollution. Plastic pollution travels easily from land to sea. It blows in from bins and garbage dumps, or flows Watch the video and learn how you can give through stormwater drains into our Frank a break: www.givefrankabreak.org.au waterways and eventually the sea. Give Frank a Break © Nick Fletcher Once in the ocean, it slowly breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces A big thanks to Shannon Hurley and James Cordwell and our incredible volunteers. which are eaten by animals at the We can’t contain our bottom of our food chains. excitement! New South The latest on Wales is on board to get a Larger pieces of plastic floating at the Working with other By Shannon Hurley, cash for containers scheme! surface are readily mistaken for food CASH FOR CONTAINERS local groups on Clean Victorian VolunteerCoordinator by seabirds and turtles, while plastic Up Australia Day, AMCS Wader Beach was the scene of the bags and fishing lines can wrap volunteers collected over crime for all of this plastic debris. As it’s around marine life and kill them. 600 recyclable bottles normally closed to the public to protect Millions of tonnes of rubbish enter Australians consume Premier Mike Baird announced earlier The impact plastic pollution has on our and cans, 486 straws, 310 migratory birds, the plastic debris most the world’s oceans each year. This almost 15 billion drinks this year that the state would be next in ocean wildlife is shocking. Throughout plastic bottle lids, 32 six likely washed up after being pushed plastic pollution rides the ocean’s line for the scheme, which can increase the world, around one million seabirds along by the currents. This is an in containers each year. pack holders and 60 large currents and reaches the furthest plastic recycling by 80%. and 100,000 marine mammals are killed example of how currents and the climate bags of litter. corners of our seas. Plastic is now every year by plastics, either entangled can move plastic around our oceans. The ACT may follow, with Environment even in the Antarctic wilderness. and strangled or choked and starved. Only 40% of these are Minister Simon Corbell publicly As the name suggests, recycled. The remaining You can help reduce plastic expressing support for a uniform cash for Unfortunately the announcement by Wader Beach is home to a 60% goes into landfill or containers scheme. Premier Baird led to the Victorian large flock of waders. Birds pollution by supporting a is littered. cash for containers scheme, Cash for containers is a Government all but ruling out introducing are often hardest hit by great way to cut plastic cash for containers in their state. plastic pollution, with up to saying no to disposable, pollution, clean up our 85% of Australian sea birds single-use, unnecessary Almost 90% of the However South Australia and the beaches, increase recycling thought to be affected by plastic items, using marine debris found on Northern Territory already have and provide income for plastic through ingestion or reusable water bottles and Sydney’s beaches is successful cash for containers schemes, community groups. entanglement. bags, and picking up litter. plastic, mostly bottles, and the results are dramatic. caps and straws. This shearwater chick died from If your state or territory is lagging, ingesting too much visit givefrankabreak.org.au to catch up! plastic that is floating givefrankabreak.org.au in our oceans. We’ve got to break Australian Marine the plastic addiction. Australian Marine 14 Conservation Society © Jennifer Lavers Conservation Society 15 creature FEATURE sea GUARDIANS

The intriguing and threatened Leafy Seadragon © Troy Mayne www.oceanicimagery.com The early crucial battles for THE GREAT Leafy Seadragons are one of the ocean’s most BARRIER REEF intriguing creatures. Des and other ALS members One of only three* in the field in the 1960s. But built up slowly and has many obvious deficiencies. Many species of seadragons, steadily over the next few years. The toxic components in the oil dissolve in these uniquely marine environment in Queensland the underlying water and the important

beautiful fish are was under intense pressure, from intertidal zone becomes coated with oil. LEAFY SEADRAGON By Des Connell, water pollution and developers Birds become coated with the oil and endemic to Australia’s Former AMCS turning wetlands into real estate. suffer agonising death in enormous southern waters. Unfortunately little was known about numbers. (Phycodurus eques) President the environmental effects of these At this time the orange red stickers developments or how to manage them. with Save the Reef letters in black The founding of the I was elected President in January became ubiquitous in Queensland. Australian Marine Closely related to seahorses and invisible among their surroundings pollution and habitat loss caused by 1969 at a meeting attended by over They were on cars, letters, bikes, and . I believe these were pipefish, Leafy Seadragons are a slow due to their leaf-like appendages and coastal development. Their appearance Conservation Society, 50 members. Between the founding in the most effective method to bring the moving intriguing species that grows to colouration. Tiny, translucent dorsal has also made them a target for marine then known as the 1965 and 1969 our society had grown issue to public attention. Our policy 45 cm. They are carnivorous feeders, and pectoral fins enable them to glide in all respects. It was now being called collectors. Queensland Littoral at this time was that the Reef should sucking up tiny mysid shrimps or sea graciously through the water, resembling on by the media to give comment Society, was a very low be set up as a marine park and a lice with their fused pipe-like snouts. nothing more than a floating piece of Rarely seen by divers, these majestic on stories affecting the marine commission organised to manage it. Similar to their seahorse relatives in stray seaweed. beauties are the lucky charms of the key affair in 1965. I environment. While there was a positive reproductive behaviour, the males bare sea, treasured by those fortunate can recall a handful response from some quarters to the I was under heavy personal The Leafy Seadragon’s knack for the eggs on pseudo pouches until live enough to spot one. Society’s comments, often government camouflage is so baffling to natural of people, mainly post attack in the media by the juveniles are hatched at 4-6 weeks. officials and others were hostile and predators that they are rarely at risk *The Ruby Seadragon was recently graduate students, at the saw this as the intrusion of a mob of State Premier, Joh Bjelke- Leafy Seadragons are the ultimate of being eaten. Sadly though, this discovered in deeper waters (51m) off University of Queensland young inexperienced students into Petersen, his ministers and masters of disguise, becoming all but species is increasingly under threat from Western Australia. sitting in a lecture their affairs. There was also numerous various industry officials. media attacks on the Society from theatre discussing diving various politicians and their supporters. But the media and the spots. Eddie Hegerl was public were generally The first major issue the driving force for the supportive of our campaign. concerned the Great society and chaired the Conservation organisations LEAVING A LEGACY Barrier Reef in 1967 when to the oceans meeting. There was no from other states and at mining was proposed for AMCS was recently notified does not occupy the same prominence in connect more deeply and understand urgent pressure from the a national level as well as Ellison Reef, a supposedly that we have been included our hearts and minds. more about the oceans and their role in political and social forces international bodies were dead . Eddie led in a will. Leaving a bequest to It is too easy to over harvest, discard the complex climate system. To make up at work in Queensland now involved. our detritus into, pollute, dynamite and for this I thus wish to leave something of a successful campaign our charity is one of the most and Australia. It was trawl the oceans without being aware myself to AMCS.” to prevent this from The crisis came to a head on the first enduring ways to support our of the true consequences of our actions principally a skin diving day of 1970 when the Courier Mail Thank you so much Annalisa. happening. work and contribute to the and how they will come back to bite us group with an interest in announced that the Japex self-propelled (or currently are). I have lived in places We are honoured to be oil rig Navigator was preparing to drill off type of world in which we where dynamite fishing has been used, conservation as well. Then, towards the end of 1967, included in your legacy. the North Queensland coast. This made want our grandchildren to coral turned into jewellery and all manner another crisis was developing for the of shells and marine life harvested and Great Barrier Reef. The Queensland front page news all over Australia with live. We asked the wonderful consumed, where shark fin soup is seen and Australian Parliaments passed The Australian newspaper commenting Annalisa Koeman if she would as a status meal, and fishing line and Des on a joint legislation calling for exploratory that ‘the Great Barrier Reef had been plastic kills turtles, seabirds and other dive survey petroleum oil drilling. Forty companies the object of a shameful exercise in buck share her motivations here. in the 1970s. marine life. applied, some backed by giant passing and political dereliction…despite the most sustained public campaign in “I give regularly to a number of non-profit In some ways the ‘out of sight out corporations, and a major part of organisations including those with an of mind’ scenario also applies to the the Reef went under lease. A debate memory on a conservation issue’. environmental and species conservation atmosphere and how we are changing largely carried out in the media Decisive events were to follow. Key focus, one of which is AMCS. The oceans its composition…and thus global climate ensued. Government scientists, and unions such Transport Workers, action remains slow and insufficient. At are so often discounted and, despite their supporters in the oil industry, said Waterside, Storemen and Packers a critical point in my life - choosing my being beach lovers and surrounded by drilling would not be a problem in the university degree - I chose to not do a threatened a total ban on the Japex oil oceans, we as a nation, let alone as a Bachelor of Marine Science. This was an case of an accident, because the oil rig. The contractors of the rig, Ampol, world community, do not prioritise their ill-informed decision, as was my decision would float on the surface and leave announced suspension of the drilling health as we do terrestrial. The health of to turn down a PhD in Atmospheric Annalisa Koeman the underlying reef intact. Such a glib operation and asked the government oceans and what we are doing to them Science. Both would have led me to at the tip of and superficial response to this issue Con’t on page 19 Australia, on Australian Marine Cape York Australian Marine 16 Conservation Society Peninsular. Conservation Society 17 Devotion to the OCEAN Devotion to the OCEAN

REEF SURVIVAL is more important than coal Devotion to our OCEANS By Paul Sterling, AMCS Supporter As a non-profit charity with minimal government support, AMCS relies almost entirely on the The coral reefs of the world and so much that lives on the reef owe their survival to a financial support from passionate people across Australia. You put wind in our sails and funds microscopic algae, known as zooxanthellae. in the kitty to power the campaigns for our precious oceans. Here’s a taste of some of the [This includes] most of the corals, the giant highlights from the high seas this year. clams, sponges, and the list goes on, but research has probably only scratched the surface. Another similar algae lives and thrives under ice flows in the high latitudes, but unlike zooxanthellae, it is not symbiotic. This high latitude algae’s importance lies in that it is the main food source for isopods ART and other marine life to feed on which in for Oceans turn are eaten by krill. Krill in turn are eaten directly or indirectly by just about every bird, Thank you to Byron Bay artist Nitsua for donating fish and seal all the way up the food chain the proceeds of these beautiful beachy paintings to the largest animal that has ever been in the world, the blue whale. Any change in towards our conservation work. We think they , oil, chemical contamination or are gorgeous and would like one in our office. overfishing of krill would have a disastrous effect on our marine life. But the next best thing is to be able to use the funds raised towards our critical campaigns. This generation does not have the VALE Thanks Nitsua, from the team at AMCS. right ot destroy all that, no matter what excuse is conjured up. The same excuse goes for any extra coal Luke James Woodland ports off the Queensland coast. Queensland has all the coal ports it needs. It is not 23 April 1986 – 11 November 2014 imperative that all the Queensland coal is shipped out this century. Coal has been there for a few million years. It will keep! AMCS staff were deeply touched late last year to receive a donation from Rita Nelson in memory of her family friend Luke Woodland. Rita asked his family Under no circumstances should any to send a few words about this young man, whose life was cut short in a government be allowed to give the OK to motorbike accident. This is what they wrote. pollute the Great Barrier Reef or anywhere near it. Dump all dredging, be it maintenance “Luke was a talented and creative guy with his own dredging or new dredging, on land where it can be contained. Coral reefs cannot survive individual sense of style. Luke was passionate about sediment plumes created from dredging many things, in particular acting, music and the causing eutrophication which is limiting the environment. He had a warm and generous nature and sunlight that is needed for zooxanthellae and the symbiosis process to work. always made time for others. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with friends and family and lived life to the fullest. It is terribly sad that his life was cut short so suddenly as he had so much to give. We all feel very privileged to have known Luke and to have shared part of his short, yet beautiful life.”

Con’t from page 17 actions led to the formation of to institute an inquiry. Prime the Great Barrier Marine Park Minister John Gorton welcomed Authority in 1975, to wide national this approach but Joh Bjelke- and international acclaim. This final Petersen opposed it. A Royal outcome was in accord with the Commission was set up amd policy of the Society, formulated subsequently advised against oil in the 1960s, for which we fought drilling on the Reef. a long and hard battle. It remains a major national achievement and The outcomes of this Royal a landmark for conservation on a Commission and subsequent global scale.

Australian Marine If giant clams could talk, they’d be fighting Australian Marine 18 Conservation Society for their homes in the Great Barrier Reef. Conservation Society 19 save it Become an AMCS Sea Guardian today. Call 1800 066 299 www.seaguardians.org.au