The Australian government aims to declare 30% of the country’s ocean as “highly protected” by 2030, which has raised expectations from conservationists that fishing and drilling activities may be banned in nearly a third of the country’s waters.
Australia’s Minister for the Environment, Murray Watt, declared this commitment at the UN Ocean Conference in France. He stated that a review of 44 of Australia’s marine parks would lay the groundwork for the expansion of the country’s ocean area with higher levels of protection.
Currently, 52% of Australia’s ocean area has been declared as marine parks since the late 1990s, with different levels of protection for wildlife and habitats. However, only 24% of these marine parks have levels of protection that prohibit all forms of fishing and extraction. The term “highly protected” means a ban on all extractive activities, including fishing, drilling, and mining.
While conservationists have welcomed the commitment, they have also emphasized that the ocean is under threat from global heating, and called for more ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Watt has also confirmed that the government will introduce legislation before the end of the year to allow the ratification of a high seas biodiversity treaty, which Australia signed in September 2023.
Marine sanctuaries are important for the health of the ocean as they provide breeding and feeding grounds for marine life.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/09/australian-government-to-declare-almost-a-third-of-its-oceans-highly-protected-in-the-next-five-years
