There are intense pressures on our global and local marine wildlife, with fish populations being plundered until collapse, more than half the world’s coral reefs either dead or dying, and millions of birds, fish and mammals killed as by-catch. We are fast realizing that contrary to past popular belief, our oceans are not an infinite resource.

Many threats such as invading marine pests like the long spined urchin Centrostephanus, warming waters and ocean acidification from climate change, recreational and commercial fishing, coastal development, pollution and lack of protection, are compounding to create huge problems in our marine environment. In Tasmania, they are wiping out kelp forests, degrading habitat for important commercial species such as rock lobster and abalone, endangering our unique wildlife like the Handfish, and making it hard to find old recreational fishing favourites like the Trumpeter.

This page is being updated, for more information please contact ocean.planet.tas@gmail.com