Study Finds Gaps in Australia's Marine Park Protection Despite Its Size

Australia holds one of the world's largest marine park networks, spanning ocean ecosystems from tropical coral reefs to Antarctic waters, but a study published in Conservation Letters found substantial declines across many marine species and ecosystems despite this. The research, led by Carissa Klein and involving about 50 researchers from the University of Queensland, examined whether Australia's reputation as a marine conservation leader matches the evidence, and found declines driven by climate change, habitat degradation, unsustainable pressures and management gaps.

The study found that protection within marine parks varies widely: some zones prohibit extractive activities such as commercial fishing and mining, while others permit a range of industrial uses. Across hundreds of studies worldwide, the strongest evidence of ecological benefit comes from areas with the highest protection level, "no-take" sanctuary zones, which the research links to greater biodiversity, healthier ecosystems, larger fish populations and stronger resilience to climate impacts, as well as economic benefits for fisheries and tourism.

Currently, about one-quarter of Commonwealth waters are highly protected, but the figure is under 10% around mainland Australia, with most sanctuary zones located in remote offshore waters rather than the most productive marine ecosystems. A recent expansion at Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands will lift total Commonwealth protection to about 31%, while the mainland-waters figure remains at roughly 10%.

In a consensus statement titled "Securing a Resilient Future for Australia's Oceans," more than 250 marine scientists called for protecting at least 30% of each Australian marine bioregion within highly protected no-take sanctuary zones, removing industrial extractive activities such as trawling, longlining and mining from marine parks, and adequately resourcing marine park management, monitoring and enforcement. The statement was issued as a once-in-a-decade review of Commonwealth marine parks is underway.