The Greens are calling for an urgent response to the shocking decline of Tasmania's east coast little penguin population.
As stated by Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
"The unprecedented and shocking decline of Bicheno's little penguin population is a wakeup call to all communities along the Great Southern Reef that the impacts of climate change are with us here and now.
"Marine heat waves generated by the burning of fossil fuels impact our oceans in so many ways, and these changes to ocean currents, biodiversity and habitat will only become bigger and more dangerous to endemic Tasmanian marine wildlife into the future.
"Nobody wants to see marine wildlife seemingly vanish along our coastlines, especially not when the species is celebrated by a coastal community and is a crucial part of its identity, economy, and environment - as is the case with Bicheno and its little penguins.
"There is reason to hope Bicheno's little penguins will ultimately survive this setback and return, but the science tells us their future will only become more bleak if governments continue to open new fossil fuel projects and fail to address the climate crisis."
As stated by Tasmanian Greens MHA and member for Lyons, Tabatha Badger:
"The Premier needs to reconvene Tasmania's Penguin Advisory Group as a matter of urgency, and provide the community with advice and an understanding on exactly what is going on.
"Tasmania's Penguin Advisory Group was established in 2021 to oversee research and strategies relating to the multiple threats facing little penguins - however it has been inactive now for some time, and it is unclear if it has been disbanded.
"Communities can learn lessons from this summer's setback and the Penguin Advisory Group would play a critical role in recommending future adaptation strategies. For example, how to look after abandoned and sick penguin chicks when their parents fail to return to feed them Tasmania's Penguin Advisory Group
"Penguins' key food source is sardines, and the community has also expressed concerns about future potential impacts on little penguins from a proposed sardine fishery off Tassie's coast. This is understandable given the last thing our little penguins need is more pressure on their food sources and foraging behaviour at such a difficult time.
"I urge both the federal and state government to welcome scrutiny in relation to this proposed trial and operate with the utmost transparency."
