Big Blue Army pushes for marine conservation promise

by Bridget Thwaites 5 May, 2011

The 20,000-strong Big Blue Army is challenging the federal government to fulfill a 2010 election promises to conserve Western Australia’s southwest marine life.  

The purpose of the Big Blue Army is to make sure the government carries out its promise to designate areas for bioregional marine planning in coastal regions across Australia. 

The Big Blue Army’s campaign has been running for three years and is supported by Save Our Marine Life, an alliance of Australian and international conservation groups that have come together to seek the establishment of large marine sanctuaries.

“We should see some drafts for new marine sanctuaries in a few weeks time,” said Tim Nicol from The Conservation Council of Western Australia.

Currently less than one percent of W.A.’s marine life is protected.

The southwest region extends from the Eucla to Kalbarri with up to 90 percent of species unique to Western Australia.

“We are aiming to get a network of marine sanctuaries over about 1.4 million square kilometres which recognises the level of unique marine life in the area and shows that the southwest region is just as important as more well known sites such as Ningaloo or the Great Barrier Reef,” said Mr. Nicol.

Not everyone agrees with the proposal for marine sanctuaries.

“I think that fishing is becoming harder to enjoy with so many restrictions in place and a marine sanctuary would just be another issue for fishermen like me to deal with,” said recreational fisherman Mark Westlake.

 “This is great, the more marine sanctuaries the better because they will help with the preservation of our precious marine life as well encourage tourism in the southwest region,” said supporter Isabella Borshoff.

A report released in 2009 by Save Our Marine Life, showed that 75 per cent of West Australians thought that a lack of conservation and marine sanctuaries could lead to local fish populations becoming endangered.

Tony Burke, the federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communications, proposed bioregional planning for five marine regions around Australia in the 2010 elections.

The marine regions include the southeast region, southwest region, northwest region and the north region.