The Albanese Government has finally announced their next steps on nature law reforms, but is it too little, too late for the critically endangered Maugean skate? For years, we’ve been campaigning for stronger national nature laws, specifically the reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). It’s a tough fight, as law reform can be complex and dry, and big businesses have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Stronger nature laws are crucial for protecting and restoring Australia’s diverse ecosystems, which extend beyond the iconic koalas and tr ..read more

We are truly honoured once again to have been the recipient of the Renewable Energy Yacht Cup Race Challenge 2024, organised by Climate Challenge Events. The Renewable Energy Cup is an opportunity for the industry and its supporters to get together, meet new people and raise money for a worthy cause. Committee Chair Hamish Wall and his committee as ever pulled off a seamless event. He said, “Our race entrants and event sponsors are always excited to support the AMCS, and the very important work they undertake. The values of our industry and the AMCS are very well aligned.” It was great to ..read more

Our Ocean Conference Hot on the heels of the Ocean Decade Conference, AMCS championed Australia’s magnificent marine life at a second significant international gathering of the ocean community in as many weeks.  The Our Ocean Conference took place in Athens 15-17th of April. This is a different kettle of fish. Started a decade ago by US Secretary of State John Kerry, Our Oceans exists to fill gaps in ocean protection by providing a platform every year for decision-makers to announce big action for our big blue backyard.  Ten years ago, Our Ocean was conceived as an attempt to draw a ..read more

Ocean Decade Conference We are approaching the middle of the critical decade for the future of our oceans.  The devastating mass bleaching that is gripping our precious Great Barrier Reef, the 5th in just 8 years, paints a stark picture of the challenges facing marine life here and around the world right now. Global concern about the gaps in the action and science to ensure we protect our oceans, and global recognition that now is the time we must act, led to the UN declaring this the Ocean Decade. Stepping up to meet the importance of this current decade, over the next 12 months there is ..read more

It’s World Oceans Day! Oceans Day was first declared on the 8th June 1992, and it was designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day” in 2008 – a day to raise global awareness of our oceans. For World Oceans Day, on 6th of June 2024, we are celebrating our life-giving oceans by holding a Giving Day. For one day only, your donation will unlock a matched amount – doubling your impact to protect our oceans. Every dollar raised will be matched. For every $1 given, AMCS will receive $2.  $50 becomes $100 $100 becomes $200 $250 becomes $500 $500 becomes $1,000   Our oceans are crit ..read more

In 2024 AMCS launched a stunning collection of undersea headwear in a collaboration with Headsox to celebrate our oceans and their diverse ecology. It’s a product for your head that comes directly from the heart.  When we had the pleasure of meeting Phil Stammers, founder and owner of Headsox,  to explore a potential collaboration, we were absolutely captivated by  his energy and enthusiasm for our shared vision for the oceans.  A surfer and snorkeler himself, based on west coast Victoria, Phil lives and breathes oceans. It’s impossible not to be caught up in his exuberance ..read more

Turning the Tide Newsletter – Summer 2024 Endangered Blue Whales Blue whales are the largest animals to have ever existed. They are migratory, ranging from polar to tropical waters. There are no reliable estimates of blue whale population numbers as they range over such large areas making surveys difficult. There are four subspecies of blue whale – two of which, the Antarctic blue whale and pygmy blue whale, are found in Australia. Aggressively hunted to the brink of extinction for their blubber and oil, they finally came under protection in 1966 globally, but they’ve only seen a minor recover ..read more

Turning the Tide Newsletter – Summer 2024 Protect Ningaloo Our Protect Ningaloo campaign has received strong support to stop the massive K+S saltworks. Over 15,000 ocean-lovers have sent an email to WA’s environment minister asking them to say no to the project, and to protect the Gulf. International industrial corporation K+S wants to build a giant saltworks on the eastern side of Exmouth Gulf, Ningaloo, over an undeveloped, nationally listed wetland. An industrial development of this massive scale poses unacceptable risks to the sensitive environment here, which supports many threatened spec ..read more

Turning the Tide Newsletter – Summer 2024 High Seas Treaty Australia became a founding signatory of the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty last September. The Treaty will enable the establishment of marine protected areas in the high seas, which are critically important to protect our global marine life and build resilience in the face of climate change. This paves the way for meaningful protection of the high seas which make up nearly two-thirds of the global oceans, yet less than one percent of this enormous area is currently highly protected. These vast areas of our blue planet that lie beyond t ..read more

Turning the Tide Newsletter – Summer 2024 Connected By The Sea “Our ocean and wondrous planet deserve our best efforts to preserve and look after it for future generations,” states Phil Stammers, owner and founder of Headsox Flexible Headwear. A surfer and snorkeler himself, based on west coast Victoria, Phil lives and breathes our oceans, and is animated when he speaks to connections built around the sea. Phil tells us of his childhood snorkelling trips with his father and two brothers at Table Rock on Mentone Beach, Victoria. Right through to adventures exploring the ocean with his wife and ..read more