New grants to support protection of marine parks

by | Apr 29, 2022 | Portfolio Media Releases | 0 comments

The Morrison Government is investing $8.6 million from its Oceans Leadership package to support innovative projects to protect Australia’s world leading network of Marine Parks.

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the successful projects identified under Round 3 of the Our Marine Park Grants program include the protection of threatened species, from sea snakes to humpback whales, and the satellite mapping of marine habitats.

“These grants will deliver up to 30 projects, supporting 24 organisations that include regional community groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, the tourism sector, research and commercial fishing organisations,” Minister Ley said.

“The projects deliver strong partnerships with marine park users and those industries who rely on a healthy marine environment and who are prepared to invest in greater understanding and better management of our unique marine environments.”

The funding will:

  • Work with organisations such as the University of Adelaide, OceanWatch Australia and Birdlife Australia to help in the recovery of threatened species that call Australian Marine Parks home, such as research of the Gould’s Petrel, Humpback Whale and Sea Snakes.
  • Enable Traditional Owners across Australian Marine Parks to have greater involvement in managing, mapping and recording knowledge of Sea Country, along with employing and training Indigenous Rangers.
  •  Invest in tourism attractions to connect the public with otherwise inaccessible offshore Marine Parks, with installations at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and Cairns Aquarium.

The Morrison Government has provided $19.6 million through Rounds 1 to 3 of the Our Marine Parks Grants Program since 2018. By targeting projects that deliver mutual benefits to organisations and marine park conservation, the program has attracted in-kind contributions from partners valued at over $21 million.

Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (made up of Australian, state and territory government marine parks) comprises one of the world’s largest networks of marine parks, spanning 45 per cent of Australia’s waters.

A full list of grant recipients is available at the Australian Marine Parks website.