The ABC reports today that world sea surface temperatures hit 21.1℃ last Friday
and Saturday, breaking the record set in March 2024, due to the super El Niño and
human caused climate change.
Concerningly, scientists warn that the temperatures are likely to reach
unprecedented levels, peaking between November and January - which is a change
from the usual pattern of highest annual temperatures being reached in March and
April.
Scientists quoted in the ABC article have warned
● An ocean this warm destabilises weather patterns and threatens food security, economic prosperity and marine life.
● As the ocean warms it carries less oxygen
● Warmer temperatures change ocean currents and cause storm surges to be bigger - creating extreme weather events.
What does this mean?
Environment Tasmania campaigners warn that current measures which are
supposed to protect our waterways aren’t fit for purpose to give both our marine and
freshwater ecosystems the resilience that is required to sustain such events, which
are likely to become more common due to climate change.
With environmental licenses for salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour still not
renewed, there is time for the regulator, Tasmania’s EPA, to make a decision in line
with conservation advice which would effectively reduce salmon, and oxygen
demand on Macquarie Harbour, giving the Maugean Skate a better chance to
survive this summer.A comprehensive Marine Environment Act, properly implemented, would build
resilience into our waterways by reducing pollution and nutrient impacts, protecting
vulnerable marine habitats, and giving reef ecosystems and the species that depend
on them a better chance to withstand extreme weather and warming waters.
As an island state, it is imperative that we get water management right. A failure to
adequately monitor the health of our rivers, along with growing extraction pressures,
means managing our freshwater resources will be a massive challenge. Real-time
monitoring of pollution events is a bare minimum to ensure Tasmanian’s can safely
engage with our waterways as we face this El Niño.
“These temperature readings are our canary in the coal mine. Threatened species
already at risk in Tasmania’s waterways require adequate responses from regulatory
bodies to ensure that the best safeguards are put in place to get animals such as the
endangered Maugean skate through this summer of extreme weather.” - Jess
Coughlan, Save The Skate campaigner, Environment Tasmania.
“During the last super El Niño event Tasmania had its driest spring on record. For our
freshwater systems, low flow events will exacerbate pollution risks, algae blooms
and put our freshwater species under increasing pressure. Sewage pollution adds
more pressure to these already stressed systems. It is critical we have real-time
monitoring of sewage pollution events so Tasmanians have clarity over where and
when these risks exist, as we head into this extreme season.” - Lucy Tremain,
Freshwater Campaigner
“Record-breaking ocean temperatures are another warning that Tasmania needs to
act now to strengthen the resilience of our marine environment. While we can’t
control warming waters, we can control how well we protect the ecosystems that
support marine life. The Tasmanian Government must move quickly to progress the
Marine Environment Tasmania Act and deliver stronger protection for our oceans,
giving Tasmania’s marine life the best possible chance of resilience in a warming
world.” - Rebecca Howarth, Marine Campaigner
Rebecca Howarth - Marine Campaigner Ph: 0493 395 868 Email: [email protected]
Lucy Tremain - Freshwater Campaigner Ph: 0480 263 258 Email: [email protected]
Jess Coughlan - Save the Skate Campaigner Ph: 0431 684 741 Email: [email protected]