Supporting healthy marine parks in Tasmania and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island region

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water  
The Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator for the Northern Territory 
The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Member for Franklin

The Albanese Labor Government has committed over $2 million towards improving the health of marine parks surrounding Tasmania and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. 

The South-east Marine Parks network is made up of 14 Australian Marine Parks off the coast of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

It is home to a diverse range of fish and other creatures, such as crabs, coral, sea urchins and sponges.

Iconic species such as southern bluefin tuna and blue whales also roam through the south-east.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation will receive $350,000 for a First Nations-led project to improve understanding of the culturally important Yula (short-tailed shearwater) in the South-east Marine Parks Network and identify actions that can help to future-proof the species.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will receive $284,267 to work with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation to investigate the resilience of the South-east Marine Parks Network in the face of climate change and increase the capacity of First Nations people to manage Sea Country.  

The University of Tasmania will receive almost $1.4 million for 4 projects to improve understanding of the species that call our marine parks home, and the pressures they face:

• $271,000 to survey fish and invertebrates in Zeehan Marine Park.
• $324,098 to track and collect dietary data for priority species including seabirds and seals in the Macquarie Island Marine Park. 
• $308,341 to identify handfish species in the Huon and Tasman Fracture Marine Parks and build capability of Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation Sea Rangers to undertake monitoring activities.
• $489,465 to assess the effects of climate change and marine heatwaves on deep reef ecosystems across the Temperate East Marine Parks Network.

Through Round 4 of Our Marine Park Grants program, the Albanese Labor Government is investing a total of $8.6 million nationally to support projects that tap into the expertise and enthusiasm of a diverse range of marine experts and users, to deliver practical outcomes that improve the health and resilience of our oceans.

The program supports projects that enhance the management, research and monitoring of Australian Marine Parks.

Australia is a world leader in the creation and management of effective marine parks, with over four million square kilometres – or 48 per cent – of Australia’s waters under marine park protection.

With recent initiatives to strengthen sub-Antarctic protection, the proportion of Australian waters within marine parks is set to increase to 52 per cent. The 60 Australian Marine Parks comprise the majority of this network.

Quotes from the Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:

“Australia now protects more ocean than any other country on earth and we are committed to make our waters healthy and sustainable.

“The Our Marine Park Grants program not only protects our precious oceans but supports First Nations peoples’ connection to sea Country and helps to boost jobs.”

Quotes from the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:

“This program presents a fantastic opportunity to empower First Nations organisations to protect and manage Sea Country in Tasmania, while improving the health of our precious marine environment.

“With this investment, we will gain valuable insight into the issues affecting our Australian Marine Parks and be better able to protect the species that call them home.

“I’m particularly pleased to see some of this investment go to Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation Sea Rangers to build their monitoring activities as they help care for sea Country.”

Quotes from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins:

“This is just another example of the Albanese Labor Government delivering for Macquarie Island and its important marine environment. 

“I know this is critical for the health of our oceans and sub-Antarctic regions, which I’m proud to represent.”