Australia Exceeds UN Target For Ocean Protection

Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water

From today, Australia now protects more ocean than any other country in the world.

The Albanese Labor Government's proposal to quadruple the size of the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Parks has been signed off by the Governor General, formalising a massive 310,000 km2 expansion of the protected area.

In 2022, the Albanese Government signed up to an internationally agreed target of protecting 30 per cent of our oceans by 2030. Now, we've exceeded that, protecting an impressive 52 per cent.

This builds on the Government's decision to triple the size of the Macquarie Island Marine Park in 2023. It cements Australia's role as a global leader in marine conservation.

The new marine park design adds an area larger than Italy to the Heard and McDonald Islands marine reserve - and will provide greater protections for an environment unlike anywhere else in the world.

These Islands are home to glaciers, wetlands, Australia's only active volcanoes, and diverse and significant populations of penguins, seals and albatrosses.

This decision comes after extensive consultation with researchers, conservationists and the fishing industry. The design supports the sustainable, well-established fishery in the region.

The Albanese Government has invested over $1 billion in Antarctic research and management, including funding the first research expedition in 20 years to Heard and McDonald Islands in the upcoming 2025-26 Antarctic season.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:

"I'm proud that Australia now protects more ocean than any other country on earth.

"This is a huge environmental win for Australia, and it's a huge environmental win for the world.

"From the Great Barrier Reef to sub-Antarctic wildlife wonderlands like Heard and McDonald Islands, there are so few places on earth that can be described as truly pristine wilderness. Heard and McDonald Islands is such a place. Humans have rarely set foot on these islands, so they are pristine - protected from introduced weeds and feral animals and most diseases that could affect the unique ecosystems that exist there. These areas are truly wild and need to be protected.

"Nature thrives there without us. Not only do the islands contain Australia's only active volcanoes, but huge populations of marine birds and mammals call this area home.

"Quadrupling the size of the Heard and McDonald Islands marine park protects more of our oceans around the island and the seals, albatross and whales that call the waters home."

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