Join us for our official launch - Wednesday 25 March
Middle Harbour, Sydney
A community working to conserve and restore our marine environment through the establishment of the Wyargine Aquatic Reserve in Sydney Harbour. This Marine Protected Area would help to protect biodiversity and support marine science, recreation and education for future generations.
In this video, Duncan outlines why we're working to establish the Wyargine Aquatic Reserve.
This is an early diagram of of the intended Reserve. The final boundaries of the proposal will be informed by scientific advice, including from the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS).
Sign the change.org petition to show your support - every signature makes a difference.
Help us document the marine life in the proposed reserve by recording your sightings.
When we protect marine life, we also protect the industries, communities and cultures that rely on it across the State for generations to come. The purpose of marine Aquatic Reserves is to protect marine biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystems from environmental damage or over-exploitation, often acting as "living museums" for research, education, and public appreciation.
Acting like national parks in the ocean, Aquatic Reserves set aside areas for marine life to be protected from extractive activities like commercial and recreational fishing, while remaining open for other activities like swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. Marine sanctuaries are backed by Australia’s marine science community as a tried and tested way to protect biodiversity, restore fish populations and provide resilience to ecosystems.
There have been no new Aquatic Reserves established in NSW since 2002.
The role of sanctuary zones in the marine environment
Source: Creating a world class Marine Protected Area system - David J. Booth and Giglia A. Beretta
NSW's coastline is renowned for its spectacular natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and world-class surf breaks. Beneath the waves, coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and seaweed-dominated rocky reefs support an incredible diversity of marine life, from tiny invertebrates to iconic species like dolphins, turtles and fish. These ecosystems are not only critical for marine biodiversity, but also underpin recreational activities such as surfing, diving, and fishing, as well as local economies reliant on tourism and sustainable fisheries.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), including sanctuary zones like Aquatic Reserves, play a central role in safeguarding these ecosystems. Sanctuary zones, where no extractive activities (including fishing) are permitted are particularly important for allowing habitats to recover and thrive. Despite this, many sanctuary zones in NSW are small, fragmented, or inadequately enforced, leaving critical areas of the coast exposed to ongoing threats and impacts.
