News & Media
May 2012
- 18 May: It's official, the Federal Environment Department received a massive 487,435 submissions on the Coral Sea, during its recent 3-month public comment period. And 99.9% called for a higher level of protection than the government’s draft plan! A decision on the Coral Sea is just around the corner. Please take a minute out of your day to send a new letter to your federal MP, ALP cabinet Senator in your state and Environment Minister Tony Burke urging them to protect this natural wonder.
- 17 May: This report, prepared by Professor Bruce Prideaux, discusses the tourism potential of the proposed Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve - read it here.
- 10 May: Protect our Coral Sea Ambassador Tim Winton was guest speaker at a national marine event at Parliament House, Canberra today. Tim spoke about our country’s unique coastal lifestyle and how the coming sea-change in marine sanctuaries and reserves around the nation’s coast could leave a historic legacy.
- 4 May: It has been 70 years since the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea took place, in Australia, an event that turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific. Protect our Coral Sea is asking the federal government for a highly protected marine park in the Coral Sea for both its historical and ecological significance. Special thanks to veterans Tommy Simms and Ted Simpson and their families and naval historian Dr David Stevens and everyone else involved with this documentary for their contribution. To learn more about this battle, watch Protect Our Coral Sea’s short documentary, Battle of the Coral Sea: Lest We Forget.
April 2012
- 24 April: Tim Winton, Protect our Coral Sea Ambassador, speaks about his support for marine issues including Australia's Coral Sea in a recent edition of the Goodweekend magazine – read his inspiring words here.
- 23 April: Check out this story from ABC's Landline, broadcast on 22 April, about the proposed Coral Sea Marine Park: here.
- 20 April: The Coral Sea: Our Ocean Paradise: The iconic beauty of the Coral Sea has been captured in this 25-piece exhibition of works by Jürgen Freund, Mark Spencer, Xanthe Rivett, Nicola Temple, Tyrone Canning and Lucy Trippett. Each of these photographers has visited and is inspired by the Coral Sea. This exhibition is part of a group exhibition showing at the Sydney Children’s Hospital from 20 April – 8 June. Ground floor (level 0), High St entrance, Randwick. We hope the kids their family and friends enjoy a visual trip to our Coral Sea!
Nautilus - Mark Spencer
Protect our Coral Sea staff and volunteers attended the opening night on 19th April, which was a huge success. A big thank you to the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation for including The Coral Sea: Our Ocean Paradise in their group exhibition.
Wonderful volunteer, Eva, with Elise Hawthorne, Protect our Coral Sea Communications Manager, at the exhibition opening.
- 18 April: The Protect our Coral Sea coalition would like to welcome The Wilderness Society as our newest member, bringing us to 15 organisations calling on the federal government to protect Australia’s precious Coral Sea. It is unique in the world, yet the government's proposed plan leaves 90% of its coral reefs unprotected. You can view a full listing of the organisations involved in the campaign here.
- 9 April: The Protect our Coral Sea coalition is happy to announce that 15 well known and highly respected Queenslanders have written an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging for greater protection of the iconic Coral Sea. Former Premiers of Queensland Peter Beattie and Mike Ahern AO, actor Michael Caton, Immunologist and 2006 Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer, campaign Ambassador, singer-songwriter John Williamson AM, and wildlife photographer Steve Parish OAM are amongst the highly acclaimed Queenslanders to support greater protection of the Coral Sea - read the letter here.
Coral Sea Beauty - Lucy Trippett
- 3 April: A big congratulations go to David Gordon from Underwater Sports Diving Centre who has taken the winning photo in the Protect our Coal Sea logo competition - it is an amazing image of man and shark and logo! David wins a set of custom designed t-shirts for his dive club thanks to www.diveshirts.com.au, and his photo will appear in the May edition of Dive Log - www.divetheblue.net. Thank you to these organisations for their generous support and to everyone who entered, helping to increase awareness of the magical underwater world that exists in the Coral Sea and the need to protect it as a global icon.
March 2012
- 23 March: The fate of our Coral Sea is to decided in 2012 – you can read more in The Weekend Australian magazine article, here. (548KB pdf)
- 13 March: Scientists discover critical breeding sites for black marlin in the Coral Sea, read more
February 2012
- 25 February: Submissions to the government’s Coral Sea draft plan closed on the 24th February. A huge thank you to the many thousands of supporters who sent off a submission – a massive effort! Now we’re into the sharp end of the campaign - when the federal Environment Minister makes a decision and takes it to Cabinet. Now more than ever, we need your help! Please remind your federal Member of Parliament to properly protect this natural wonder by sending a letter now.
- 24 February: Today is D-Day for the Coral Sea, Australia's blue heart. The Coral Sea is home to hundreds of thousands of our marine mates, but they can't speak for themselves, that's why they need you to send a submission to Environment Minister Tony Burke telling him to properly protect this marine icon, including its spectacular coral reefs. Please send a submission now - and ask your friends to as well! http://www.protectourcoralsea.org.au/act-now. Read our latest e-alert here.
- 23 February: More than 300 eminent scientists from Australia and from 21 other countries around the world today released a statement identifying six main reasons for extending the level of protection in the proposed Coral Sea marine reserve. They said that,
“... Based on a scientific appraisal of the plan, we conclude that the reserve proposal has significant shortcomings. In particular, the representativeness of the no-take reserve is poor, with inadequate protection for key habitats in the west and south, contrary to the Australian Government’s own principles for marine conservation.”
They congratulated the government for recognising the global significance of the Coral Sea however believe that much more could be achieved at negligible, or no, net cost. The full media release, coordinated by the ARC Centre for Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, can be found here. - 23 February: A mega huge thank you to Avaaz for calling for proper protection of Australia's Coral Sea and its spectacular coral reefs. There are only 36 HOURS LEFT to speak up for our marine Australians, please send a submission to Environment Minister Tony Burke now: http://www.protectourcoralsea.org.au/act-now. You can also read our latest e-alert here.
- 22 February: Read our latest E-Alert: 2 Days Left to Protect the Coral Sea!
- 20 February: Read our latest E-Alert: You're yet to send a submission - only 5 days left!
- 17 February: Listen to this fantasic interview on ABC Radio with Professor Terry Hughes, Director of the Centre for Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. He discusses the government's draft plan for the Coral Sea, and the consensus statement signed by more 300 scientists around the world highlighting the shortcomings of the plan and how it could be improved.
- 14 February: This Valentine's Day show your love for the Coral Sea! Watch this inspiring short music clip created by Protect our Coral Sea Ambassador Isabel Lucas and her musician boyfriend Angus Stone - it also features beautiful song 'In the City of Lights' by Julia Stone, and then help out by sending a submission to Minister Burke, it takes less than 20 seconds! You can also read a Coral Sea Valentine's Day message from Isabel Lucas in our latest E-Alert, here.
- 13 February: Brisbane’s Queen St Mall had an underwater theme on the weekend with mermaids and sand sculptures filling the busy streets. Thanks to our mermaids who spent the day out of the water, and to Dennis the Sandman for his stunning creation!
- 3 February: Join with us and ask the federal government this obvious question: Why protect our Coral Sea but not its coral reefs? Visit the Act Now Page to send a rapid submission if you haven't already!
- 1 February: I fish and I support protecting our Coral Sea! Read our latest E-Alert here.
January 2012
- 31 January: Recently our very own Xanthe Rivett, Protect our Coral Sea Outreach Manager in Cairns, joined a team from the Australian National Maritime Museum and Silentworld Foundation on a tour to the Coral Sea - check our her blog and spectacular photos here.
- 30January: The Protect our Coral Sea coalition welcomes The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society as its newest member. WDCS is a global charity dedicated to the conservation and welfare of all whales and dolphins. This brings the number of organisations campaigning for a highly protected marine park in Australia’s Coral Sea to fourteen. Welcome WDCS!
- 25 January: Check out our latest E-Alert, an Australia Day message from Barry Wrasse asking you to help protect his home, the Coral Sea.
- 19 January: Check out our latest E-Alert, a message from a young Australian about the importance of protecting our Coral Sea.
- 18 January: Kids celebrate the amazing shark life in the Coral Sea by creating one of their own for the Protect our Coral Sea sea creature sandcastle competition at Manly Cove last week.
Manly Sandcastle Competition - 18 January: Thanks Gmagazine again for covering our campaign – you can check out underwater legend Valerie Taylor narrating a short film showcasing the beauty of the Coral Sea on G-TV - a great film shot by Undersea Productions. Check out the video here.
- 11 January: Underwater legend Valerie Taylor urges protection of the Coral Sea — while we still have time. Valerie has narrated a stunning short film showcasing the beauty of the Coral Sea; urging Australians to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conserve it. Watch the film here. You can also read our media release.
- 10 January: Check out the spectacular photo exhibition, The Coral Sea: Our Ocean Paradise, now on at Oceanworld in Manly. Read The Australian article here.
- 6 January: DialAFlight, one of the UK's leading travel operators believes the that the Australian government’s plan to establish the world's largest marine national park in the Coral Sea, shows a positive step towards protecting a fragile area from degradation and could even strengthen tourism along Australia's Queensland coastline - read the article here.
- 3 January: Protect our Coral Sea volunteers had lots of fun at Peats Ridge Festival over New Years. They made some amazing marine lanterns to go in the New Year's Eve parade, and as an added bonus, Barry Wrasse was runner up for 'best male costume'! (the winner was a Starfish - can you believe it?!) Oh, and over 1,000 people sent a Coral Sea submission to Minister Burke, have you sent one yet? Click here to send one now!
Peats Ridge Festival
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