In October 2023, more than a dozen of the nation’s leading marine scientists and associated experts wrote to then-environment minister Tanya Plibersek not so much asking for help, but pleading.

Anticipating upcoming marine heatwaves in the nation’s southern waters, the scientists requested $40 million in funding across 10 years to be able to better monitor and assess the impacts of the changes – which also have grave implications for the fishing industry – and where possible, take mitigating action.