Australia’s marine parks protect ‘places no one goes’ rather than fragile coastal zones, scientists say

More than 270 leading marine scientists from 84 research groups have written to the environment minister, Murray Watt, asking for better protection of Australia's seas. They say too many protected marine parks sit in remote waters that people rarely use, while fragile coastal zones stay open. The letter comes just as the government begins a once-a-decade review of its marine parks.

Australia's oceans are full of life, with six UNESCO World Heritage Areas and over 33,000 marine species. But they face growing pressure from warmer oceans, fishing, and mining. For years, the way the parks were set up has placed the strongest rules in far-off, quiet regions. The coasts that people actually live near and rely on have been left largely unprotected. The current review is the chance to move the focus towards those fragile places.

Healthy oceans support food, jobs and climate. If protection stays far away, fragile coastal life suffers.