A large group of marine scientists is calling on the Australian government to significantly strengthen protection for the country’s ocean ecosystems, warning that some of Australia’s most biologically important coastal waters remain insufficiently protected.

The call comes as Australia undertakes a once-in-a-decade review of its Commonwealth marine parks. More than 270 marine scientists from 84 research institutions have backed a scientific consensus statement urging the government to expand highly protected marine areas and improve the way existing parks are managed.

Scientists Seek Stronger Protection

The scientists are asking Australia to place at least 30% of every marine bioregion inside highly protected, no-take sanctuary zones. They argue that protection should be prioritized in waters surrounding mainland Australia, where important ecosystems face substantial human pressure.

They are also calling for industrial activities such as bottom trawling, longline fishing and mining to be removed from marine parks.

The researchers say existing highly protected areas should not be weakened, reduced in size or removed from the marine park network.

A Gap Between Remote and Coastal Protection

Australia already has one of the world’s largest marine protected-area networks. However, scientists say the amount of protection varies considerably depending on location.

About one-quarter of Australia’s Commonwealth waters are currently classified as highly protected, while the proportion around mainland Australia is below 10%. Many of the strongest protection zones are located in remote offshore or territorial waters.

Scientists argue that this geographic imbalance matters because many productive coastal ecosystems are closer to population centers, where fishing, coastal development and other activities create greater pressure.

Australia’s Marine Biodiversity

Australia’s surrounding seas contain an extraordinary range of habitats, stretching from tropical coral environments to cold Antarctic waters.

The country’s marine ecosystems support thousands of species and play important roles in fisheries, tourism, recreation and coastal livelihoods. They also provide natural systems that help communities adapt to environmental changes.

Researchers warn that some Australian marine species occur nowhere else in the world. If those species disappear from Australian waters, there may be no alternative population elsewhere capable of replacing them.

Climate Change Adds to Existing Pressure

The debate over marine protection comes as Australia’s oceans face increasing environmental stress.

Marine heatwaves, habitat degradation, pollution and fishing pressure are affecting ecosystems in different parts of the country. Recent research examining 60 Australian marine bioregions found significant increases in marine heatwave exposure, with more than 95% of the studied bioregions experiencing longer marine heatwaves.

Scientists therefore argue that marine parks need to do more than simply exist on maps. They say effective management, monitoring and enforcement are essential if protected areas are to deliver meaningful conservation benefits.

Why No-Take Zones Matter

The researchers point to decades of international scientific research showing that highly protected marine areas can produce stronger biodiversity outcomes than zones where extractive activities remain permitted.

No-take sanctuary zones can allow fish populations and marine habitats to recover while improving ecosystem resilience. Scientists also argue that healthy marine ecosystems can provide longer-term benefits to fisheries and tourism.

The group is therefore asking policymakers to focus protection on areas where biodiversity and human pressures overlap rather than relying heavily on remote locations that experience relatively little direct use.

Government Is Also Expanding Marine Protection

The scientists’ campaign comes alongside government action to increase marine protection.

The Australian government has proposed expanding highly protected marine areas around Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island, adding approximately 671,500 square kilometres of ocean to strict no-take protection if the proposals proceed.

Australia currently reports that 52% of its waters are covered by marine protected areas, with around 24% classified as highly protected no-take areas. The government has committed to achieving highly protected status for 30% of Australia’s marine environment by 2030.

However, scientists say meeting a national percentage target is not enough if important ecosystems remain poorly represented.

A Rare Opportunity for Long-Term Change

The current marine-park review provides an opportunity to reconsider where Australia’s strongest protections are located and how those areas are managed.

Scientists want the review to incorporate the latest ecological research and give greater priority to biodiversity-rich mainland waters.

They also emphasize that stronger marine protection should be accompanied by adequate funding for research, enforcement, monitoring and engagement with communities and Indigenous groups.

Protecting Oceans for Future Generations

Australia’s marine ecosystems support both nature and people, making their long-term health an environmental and economic concern.

The scientists’ message is that effective marine conservation should focus not simply on the total number of square kilometres protected, but on whether the right ecosystems receive strong and lasting protection.

With ocean temperatures rising and human activity increasing across marine environments, the decisions made during Australia’s current review could shape the condition of the country’s seas for decades.