The first confirmed death of an Australian mainland mammal from H5 bird flu is a stark warning of the growing threats facing Tasmania’s marine wildlife, Environment Tasmania’s Senior Marine Campaigner Rebecca Howarth said today.

A long-nosed fur seal found dead in South Australia has tested positive for H5 bird flu, with a second seal also testing positive. Scientists are now warning that the virus could have devastating consequences for Australia’s seals and sea lions, which gather in colonies alongside seabirds that can carry the virus.

Tasmania is already experiencing the impacts of the outbreak, with H5 bird flu detected in wild birds on King Island and Tasmania’s north-west coast. More than 50 little penguins have also been found dead on King Island.

“This is a frightening development for Australia’s marine wildlife, and a reminder of just how quickly a new threat can move through our ecosystems,” Ms Howarth said.

“Scientists have seen what H5 bird flu can do to marine mammals overseas, including catastrophic mortality among seal populations.

“We don't yet know what the impact will be on Tasmania’s marine mammals, but we do know that many of our species are already under pressure from warming waters, habitat loss, changing food webs and other human impacts.

“That makes building resilience more important than ever.

“Healthy marine ecosystems are better equipped to withstand shocks. Protecting important habitat, reducing pollution and other cumulative pressures, and ensuring our marine environment is managed as a whole can give wildlife the best possible chance of surviving new threats we cannot control.

“This is why Tasmania urgently needs a comprehensive Marine Environment Act that puts the health and resilience of our marine ecosystems at the centre of decision-making.

“We cannot prevent every threat from reaching our shores, but we can make sure our oceans are as healthy and resilient as possible before the next one arrives.

“With Tasmania’s waters already warming rapidly and El Niño conditions adding further pressure this summer, the case for stronger marine protections has never been clearer.

“Right now we have an opportunity to put the foundations in place for healthy, resilient oceans. We need to move quickly.”

Environment Tasmania is calling on the Tasmanian Government to progress its commitment to a comprehensive Marine Environment Act and strengthen protection for Tasmania’s marine ecosystems.

MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Howarth, [email protected], 0493 395868