OCEANS BLUEPRINT CALLS FOR SHIP SPEED LIMITS TO PROTECT WHALES

Mandatory speed limits to reduce the risk of ship strikes on whales is one of a suite of proposals in a new plan released by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia.

A Blueprint for Australian Oceans Leadership sets out more than 50 recommendations to the Australian Government to reduce the human pressures severely impacting our oceans, in the hope we can reclaim our international reputation as a trailblazer in oceans protection.

The plan also calls for elevating First Nations leadership by doubling the area of Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas, employing 5,000 Indigenous rangers by 2030 and adequately funding both measures. Gender equity among Indigenous Rangers should be achieved by 2026.

Other recommendations include better protection for turtle migration corridors, stronger action on plastic pollution, and locking in full protection of at least 30% of Australia’s oceans.

“Australia has long been regarded a global leader in oceans conservation. But over the last decade, our reputation has slipped. To regain our global standing requires strong action on multiple fronts,” said Richard Leck, Head of Oceans, WWF-Australia.

“Importantly, the Blueprint looks beyond our shores and sets out a vision for Australian leadership on oceans within our part of the world, and internationally.

“Conserving our oceans and supporting international efforts to build global protection should be front and centre of the Albanese Government's priorities.

“The eyes of the world are on Australia this week as it hosts the Global Nature Positive Summit. It’s critical that tangible, concrete actions are pledged that make a difference to the health of our oceans, marine species, and all of us as we must regenerate nature,” Mr Leck said.

Chris Johnson, Global Lead, WWF Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative, pointed out Australia is a global hotspot for whales and dolphins, with 45 species found in our waters.

“Although the recovery of humpback whales has been a conservation success there is trouble ahead.

“They face increasing danger where they feed, breed and right across their migratory pathways.

“Whales face serious injury or death when they are hit by ships or accidentally caught in fishing nets and ghost gear. Whales are harmed or killed by pollution, often by ingesting plastic. Overfishing and climate change threaten their food supplies.

“CSIRO modelling shows the full recovery predicted for humpbacks is likely to be strongly reversed by 2050 due to climate change impacting krill, unless emissions are substantially reduced.

“The Australian Government needs to raise its game to better conserve and protect whales and dolphins in our waters and collaborate with other governments on bold solutions to safeguard their journeys across their blue corridors,” Mr Johnson said.

“The ship strike wounds on whales like Bladerunner and Moon are gut wrenching,” Mr Leck said.

“It’s incredible that Bladerunner survived but she must have endured a lot of pain before her wounds healed. The last chapter of Moon’s life was brave and in the end utterly tragic.