Turning the Tide Magazine Marine Parks

80,000 km2 Sanctuary

Summer '25 Newsletter
April 3, 2025

Turning the Tide Newsletter – Summer 2025

80,000 km2 Sanctuary

The Australian Government has just revealed their final South-east marine region plans which include 80,000 square kilometres of new marine sanctuary protections – that’s an area larger than Tasmania!

Thank you to everyone who submitted a letter, signed a petition, attended an event, or shared important news on social media – these are your wins!

Key highlights include:

  • 11 new offshore marine sanctuary areas
  • New protection for little penguins, endangered pygmy blue whales, albatrosses, ancient black corals, aggregations of Port Jackson sharks, seamounts, underwater canyons and golden kelp forests
  • A ban on all new oil, gas, carbon dumping (CCS) and seismic blasting titles
  • Finalisation of the expanded marine park around Australia’s sub-Antarctic territory of Macquarie Island

There are still a few parliamentary hoops to jump through, but we’ll be there every step of the way.