An alliance of 27 environmental groups* today welcomed the expansion of Australia’s Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve near Antarctica, but said the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had missed a rare opportunity to protect globally important feeding grounds for penguins, seals and albatross.
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ national oceans manager, Fiona Maxwell, said: “We welcome the government’s decision to quadruple the size of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve and to expand fully protected sanctuary zones within the park.
“Today’s announcement by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek ensures that the bulk of Australian waters around these spectacular wildlife havens will be free from mining and the introduction of new, damaging pelagic fisheries. We note the government has increased sanctuary protection for a small part of the Gunnari Ridge, an important aggregation area for mackerel icefish as well as globally significant foraging grounds for king and macaroni penguins, albatross and Antarctic fur seals.”
Mackerel icefish and Patagonian toothfish are the two commercially harvested fish in the waters around Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
Ms Maxwell said: “However, the government’s decision to leave important undersea canyons, highly biodiverse seamounts and the Williams Ridge outside of sanctuaries will disappoint the tens of thousands of Australians — including leading scientists — who made submissions calling for stronger protection of these critical habitats.
“Even the government’s own science report said there was inadequate protection for a range of seafloor habitats, foraging areas for albatross and macaroni penguins, and areas supporting an abundance and variety of fish. The report also highlighted the global significance of these Southern Ocean waters and the threats posed by climate change, pollution, fishing and invasive species.”
Australian Marine Conservation Society Chief Executive Darren Kindleysides said: “Climate change is affecting life across the Southern Ocean, with everything from krill to whales struggling to adapt. Marine sanctuaries play a crucial role in building resilience in our marine ecosystems.
“These remote islands and their waters, 4,000 km southwest of Perth, support large breeding populations of seabirds and marine mammals, including threatened seals and albatross, four species of penguin, and two species of birds found nowhere else.
“They also feature Australia’s only active volcanoes, including Heard Island’s ice-covered Big Ben, which rises nearly 3 kilometres above the ocean, making it taller than Mt Kosciuszko—the highest mountain on Australia’s mainland.
“The government should have heeded the science and community sentiment and increased the marine sanctuaries around the most important conservation features to help ensure the future of our Antarctic marine life. Last year, the government listened to the science and community opinions and showed global leadership by significantly expanding the marine park and sanctuaries around Macquarie Island, Australia’s other sub-Antarctic territory.
“While today’s announcement is notable, the government has missed an opportunity to do the same for Heard and McDonald, as the next review of the marine park is not due until 2035.”
* The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Australian Marine Conservation Society lead Save Our Marine Life, an alliance of 27 environmental organisations.