Marine wildlife faces an imminent threat from deadly H5N1 bird flu virus

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Dear Prime Minister Albanese, Environment Minister Plibersek and Agriculture Minister Collins,

I am writing to thank you for recently announcing an additional $95 million in funding for bird flu preparedness, including for wild bird surveillance and protective actions for threatened species and priority biodiversity. I am deeply concerned about the impacts on Australian wildlife when the deadly new H5N1 strain of bird flu reaches our shores.

When this virus arrives, Australia could face a potential wildlife disaster on the scale of the black summer bushfires.

When this virus arrived in South America last year, 40 per cent of Peru’s pelicans, over 30,000 sea lions, and 17,000 elephant seal pups were killed. Millions of wild birds have died worldwide, and research suggests our black swans could face local extinctions.

Australia urgently needs to identify and prioritise at-risk species and high-value sites and develop detailed response plans.

Options to reduce wildlife deaths and prevent extinctions include preventing disturbance of affected wildlife colonies, swiftly removing carcasses and possibly vaccination.

I am therefore asking that you:

1. Strongly support local and regional preparations, and conduct priority research on H5N1 impacts.

2. Identify and prioritise at-risk species and high-value sites and develop urgent, detailed response plans to protect them.

3. Establish a national wildlife preparedness task force, co-led by the Agriculture and Environment departments and non-government experts, to drive collaboration and readiness.

4. Ensure H5N1 preparedness is a top priority on the Agriculture ministers' agenda.

Scale up public communication efforts, collaborating with non-government organisations like AMCS, Biodiversity Council, Invasive Species Council, BirdLife Australia and the Australian Land Conservation Alliance to raise awareness and ensure effective preparedness.

Research indicates that September, October, and November will be high-risk periods for birds arriving in Australia from the northern hemisphere.

Time is running out to take meaningful action to prepare for the potentially devastating impacts of deadly bird flu.

I look forward to your response and swift action on this issue.

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Australia’s marine wildlife faces an imminent and devastating threat from the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.

Already, this virus has wreaked havoc on marine species worldwide.
In South America, the virus killed 30,000 sea lions in just six months and wiped out 95% of elephant seal pups in some regions.¹

As migratory birds arrive in Australia this spring, scientists warn that the virus could soon reach our shores, threatening iconic species like Australian sea lions, penguins and pelicans.

Species like the endangered Australian sea lion, with only 12,000 individuals remaining, are found nowhere else. A bird flu outbreak could cause mass mortalities, potentially pushing this species to extinction.

The government has recognised the urgency of the situation by committing an additional $95 million to combat bird flu, $35.9 million of which has been allocated to protect threatened species and priority biodiversity.

We cannot prevent bird flu from arriving, but we can take action now to prepare.

The Australian government must urgently:

Establish a national wildlife preparedness taskforce, co-led by the Australian government’s agriculture and environment departments and non-government experts, to drive collaboration and preparation.
Ensure that H5N1 preparedness and response remains a priority issue for agriculture and environment ministers.
Scale up public communication, including working with non-government partners such as AMCS to achieve this effectively.
Identify and prioritise at-risk species and high-value sites and urgently develop detailed response plans.

The window to act is rapidly closing. As the last continent free of this virus, Australia must not wait for disaster to strike. Our marine wildlife is invaluable and irreplaceable; we must act quickly to prepare for the arrival of bird flu.

Our marine wildlife is invaluable and irreplaceable; we cannot afford to let inaction lead to its destruction.

Our call for action is clear and urgent. With greater focus and investment, we can prepare for this looming threat and protect our precious marine species.

Please add your name to email the Prime Minister, Environment, and Agriculture Ministers to urgently prioritise a comprehensive marine wildlife preparedness.

Reference:

Biodiversity Council, 2024, Deadly bird flu found to spread between mammals, raising risk to Australian sea lions, seals and dolphins, URL: https://biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/deadly-bird-flu-found-to-spread-between-mammals-raising-risk-to-australian-sea-lions-seals-and-dolphins

Australia’s marine wildlife faces an imminent and devastating threat from the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.

Our call for action is clear and urgent. With greater focus and investment, we can prepare for this looming threat and protect our precious marine species.

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