Australia’s Environment Minister, Murray Watt, has unveiled plans to expand areas of the country’s oceans where fishing and drilling are prohibited to meet an international conservation pledge: protecting 30 % of Australia’s marine estate by 2030. At present, about 24 % of the nation’s ocean waters are highly protected, meaning extractive industries are excluded.
Watt has begun consultations with conservation groups, fishing industry representatives, and stakeholders from tourism, oil and gas, and offshore wind sectors to review the management of 44 national marine parks. The aim is to expand existing sanctuaries or designate new ones, addressing rollbacks in protections made in 2018 while balancing environmental and economic concerns.
Environmental organisations such as WWF and Pew Charitable Trusts have welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the need for robust protections in the face of climate change. The updated management plans are expected to be completed between 2027 and 2028.
