Thirty years ago, Australia and France led the world to ban mining in the Antarctic – a monumental achievement that should make every Australian immensely proud. Now Antarctica and its incredible Adelie penguins desperately need our leadership again.
Industrial fishing by distant nations is expanding into this Antarctic wilderness. Combined with the ever-advancing menace of rising global temperatures, marine life like these penguins are increasingly under threat. In the East Antarctic Adelie Penguins are already suffering horrific recent die-offs, with only two chicks surviving in one colony!
Australia, France and the European Union have been leading the charge to create a marine park for the East Antarctic, and it will either succeed or fail over the next few months. Australia’s leadership will be critically important now to ensure it succeeds.