WCC 2020 Res 025 - Activity Report

As a member of the Global Ocean Alliance and High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, Australia is advocating for strong global targets to protect at least 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030. Australia exceeds this target domestically, with 45 per cent of our waters in marine protected areas.

Australia already has one of the world’s largest networks of marine protected areas, covering around 4 million square kilometres. The largest component of this national system, 60 Australian Marine Parks, are managed to protect the natural, cultural and heritage values of the parks while allowing ecologically-sustainable use and enjoyment of the parks.

In March 2022, the newest Australian Marine Parks were established in Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories. The new Christmas Island Marine Park and Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park protect 744,000 square kilometres of unique marine environment around these remote islands. The marine parks were co-designed with the local communities of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands to ensure that they also support important local marine activities, such as recreational and subsistence fishing, boating, diving, snorkelling and marine tourism.

As part of managing Australian Marine Parks, the Australian Government is implementing the $28 million Our Marine Parks Grants program which supports organisations to engage in the management and conservation of Australian Marine Parks. The Australian Government is also implementing the $15 million Ocean Discovery and Restoration program that is seeking to co-contribute with partners to deliver discovery and ecosystem restoration projects important to science, industry, traditional owners, park managers and the community, to improve understanding and sustainable management of our Australian Marine Parks.

As a member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Australia has committed to sustainably manage 100 per cent of the ocean under our national jurisdiction, guided by a Sustainable Ocean Plan, by 2025.

Australia is actively engaged in negotiations for a new international treaty under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Australia is committed to securing a treaty that delivers real conservation benefits for our oceans – including new high seas marine protected areas – and sets strong environmental protection standards.