Marine Sanctuaries provide protection for wildlife and habitats, just like our national parks on land, so that we can ALL enjoy them for generations to come.

Sanctuaries are vital to the survival of the marine world. They:

• are incredibly important for protecting marine biodiversity 
  increase the size and number of fish and other marine life within the sanctuary areas 
  and help boost fish numbers outside of the sanctuaries.
• The science is clear: sanctuary areas are good for fish and good for fishing. The extent of such “green zones” is crucial, the science says they are the engine room of conservation. Fully protected marine national parks – with no fishing, no mining, and no oil and gas drilling – deliver far more benefits to biodiversity than other zone types.
• The government has ignored science and thought nothing of the future of our oceans.

It is important to note that:

• Australia has the third largest marine jurisdiction in the world, with an Exclusive Economic Zone covering 8.2 million square kilometres. 
• These oceans are home to 11 per cent of the world’s known marine species, and support over 5,000 species of fish, and about 30 per cent of the world’s sharks and rays. 
   

Yet our government is only protecting a fraction of that. They don’t see the bigger picture. We have reached a cross roads. Either we make a change and save the ocean or we stand by and watch it die. 

Partial protection never works! Our oceans are overused and under protected! Now is not the time for the bare minimum! Now is the time to put the future of our oceans at the front! We may not be allowed to vote but our voice should still be heard. Sign the petition and make your voice heard. The government must listen to the coming generations. We are the future!