China muscles into Pacific marine reserve

The Kiribati government is removing protection from a vast marine reserve to rake in fishing revenue from China.

Big fish thrive in protected oceans

Big fish are harder to find in areas sprawling with human activity, unless you’re looking in no-take marine reserves, according to a new study led by marine scientists at The University of Western Australia.

Climate change spells trouble for tuna-dependent Pacific Island economies

Tuna fishing is vitally important for the economies of many Pacific Small Island Developing States such as the Cook Islands and Tokelau, including 10 which are “tuna dependent”. However, climate change is driving tuna further to the east, and could cut tuna numbers by a fifth by 2050.

Artificial reefs boost estuary fish numbers

In a boost for both recreational fishing and the environment, new UNSW research shows that artificial reefs can increase fish abundance in estuaries with few natural reefs.

How Australia can help curb illegal fishing

Australia’s status as a trusted ‘middle power’ can help it combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Pacific waters.

The rafts wiping out Pacific tuna damage the wider environment too

Fishermen exploit tuna’s natural attraction to floating objects to lure them near GPS-equipped rafts. However, these rafts are also attracting increasing concern around the Pacific for their impact on tuna stocks and the wider environment.

Marine reserves help fishermen as well as fish

Properly observed marine sanctuaries for fish around Australia could benefit fishermen as well as the ocean’s dwindling stocks of wild fish by helping to boost fish numbers.

The backflip over Sydney’s marine park is a defiance of science

The New South Wales government has turned its back on plans to create sanctuary zones covering 2.4% of waters around Sydney, despite evidence that these ‘no-take’ areas are crucial for protecting fish.

Australian fish stocks are not in decline

Recent reports of a crash in Australian fish stocks are not supported by figures from the Commonwealth agencies which work hard to ensure catches remain at sustainable levels for the future.

Australian fish stocks plunge by a third in ten years

Over-fishing is devastating Australian fish stocks, with the numbers of larger fish falling by a third over the last decade. Fish stocks only remain healthy in marine reserves, but the government plans to open them to fishing as well.

Marine protection zones help fish populations survive

An international study led by Monash marine ecologists has found that larger fish are much more important to feeding the planet than previously thought.