Rare and Endangered - Marine Life at Risk

Seen from outer space, Earth really is a beautiful, living, blue planet. However, you would literally have to be living in outer space to not be aware of the dangers facing life on Earth through changes in its climate and environment. Australia’s maritime regions form some of the richest and most diverse habitats on Earth. International and local studies have revealed that our warm northern maritime areas form some of the last remaining healthy tropical seas in the world. Research indicates that our cool, southern oceans, are home to an incredible 80% of marine species that occur nowhere else on Earth. This means that if we lose them from our waters, they are lost from the world forever.

Australians love their sea creatures, especially marine mammals such as dolphins, whales, seals and dugong. However, many species are under threat from commercial fisheries and damage to habitat caused by factors such as increased rainfall and runoff, increased storm activity, rising seawater temperatures and increased levels of CO2 in the ocean. There is nothing new about this situation. Much of our marine wildlife has suffered from historical exploitation going back as far as the 1700s. Today, many species of seabirds, turtles, sharks and marine mammals are recognised as being threatened, and have subsequently been declared ‘protected’. However, their future remains at risk. So, who is going to rescue them? The answer is- us. Everyone can help and together we will do it.