Protect Our Coral Sea
Australia’s Coral Sea is one of the last places on Earth where large ocean fish still dominate a near natural array of marine wildlife.
The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) is calling for the protection of Australia's portion of the Coral Sea. At around one million square killometres, a no-take reserve of this size would form the world's largest protected area, providing a safe haven for globally threatened species. The Coral Sea Heritage Park would help secure a sustainable future for marine tourism and fishing operations along the tropical East Coast.
The Federal Government has placed a temporary protection zone over the Coral Sea, but unless there’s overwhelming public support, they won’t create the world’s largest fully protected marine reserve required to ensure the permanent survival of this global treasure.
Click here for great new Protect Our Coral Sea website
END OF THE LINE screening brings the desperate plight of the world's oceans to Cairns
Over 200 people attended the once only Cairns Screening of this original and important film that brings the plight of our oceans into the public spotlight like never before. The film highlights the "war" we are fighting against fish, in which we are throwing our industrial might and technology at a declining populations of marine wildlife (or seafood), and that we are winning. Already the abundance of large fish globally has declined around 90%.
Given the decline in global seafood catches and the increases in fishing capacity, we are able to seek out and virtually empty our oceans of fish. Chilling example include that the world’s longlining industry sets 1.4 billion hooks every year, said to be set on enough line to circle the globe more than 550 times, the mouth of the biggest trawling net used in the industry today is able to accommodate thirteen 747 jets.
There is hope through better fisheries management and the creation of a global network of Marine Protected Areas covering around 30% of our oceans. The Coral Sea Heritage Marine Park represents our opportunity to help ensuere a future for our oceans.
View chapters of the film here:
This campaign to protect the Coral Sea is supported by:
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Marine Conservation Society
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre
Pew Environment Group - Australia
The Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council;
The American Australian Association
The Australian National Maritime Museum Former Naval Commanders:
Vice Admiral (Rtd) David Shackleton AO (Chief of Navy 1999-2002);
Vice Admiral (Rtd) Chris Ritchie AO (Chief of Navy 2002-2005)
Australia’s leading tropical marine scientists: Professors Terry Hughes,
Hugh Possingham, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Helene Marsh and John Pandolfi.
