The Australian Government has committed more than $2 million towards improving the health of marine parks surrounding Tasmania and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.
The South-east Marine Parks network is made up of 14 Australian Marine Parks off the coast of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
It is home to a diverse range of fish and other creatures, such as crabs, coral, sea urchins and sponges. Iconic species such as southern bluefin tuna and blue whales also roam through the south-east.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation will receive $350,000 for a First Nations-led project to improve understanding of the culturally important Yula (short-tailed shearwater) in the South-east Marine Parks Network and identify actions that can help to future-proof the species.
“This program presents a fantastic opportunity to empower First Nations organisations to protect and manage Sea Country in Tasmania, while improving the health of our precious marine environment,” said Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy.
“With this investment, we will gain valuable insight into the issues affecting our Australian Marine Parks and be better able to protect the species that call them home.
“I’m particularly pleased to see some of this investment go to Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation Sea Rangers to build their monitoring activities as they help care for sea Country.”
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will receive $284,267 to work with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation to investigate the resilience of the South-east Marine Parks Network in the face of climate change and increase the capacity of First Nations people to manage Sea Country.
“Australia now protects more ocean than any other country on earth and we are committed to make our waters healthy and sustainable,” said Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek.
“The Our Marine Park Grants program not only protects our precious oceans but supports First Nations peoples’ connection to sea Country and helps to boost jobs.”
The University of Tasmania (pictured) will receive almost $1.4 million for four projects:
• $271,000 to survey fish and invertebrates in Zeehan Marine Park;
• $324,098 to track and collect dietary data for priority species including seabirds and seals in the Macquarie Island Marine Park;
• $308,341 to identify handfish species in the Huon and Tasman Fracture Marine Parks and build capability of Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation Sea Rangers to undertake monitoring activities;
• $489,465 to assess the effects of climate change and marine heatwaves on deep reef ecosystems across the Temperate East Marine Parks Network.
Through Round 4 of Our Marine Park Grants program, the Government is investing a total of $8.6 million nationally to support marine projects.
The program supports projects that enhance the management, research and monitoring of Australian Marine Parks.
“I know this is critical for the health of our oceans and sub-Antarctic regions, which I’m proud to represent,” said Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins.
