Australia's ocean protection plan revealed as sea temperatures soar

As Australian waters hit their hottest levels in history, the government has announced bold new measures to step up protection.

Climate change affects everyday Australians.

We call it Earth, but it's really more ocean than land.

Last week, Australia joined other countries at the United Nations Ocean Conference to discuss how to better protect this massive, shared resource.

Ahead of the event, Australia's federal Environment Minister, Murray Watt set a bold target: to ensure 30% of Australian waters are 'highly protected' by 2030.

That means a ban on all fishing, drilling and mining in those areas.

Right now, more than half of our marine areas have some kind of protection, but many still allow commercial activity.

This new goal would take things further.

But protecting our patch is only part of the picture.

The ocean doesn't recognise borders – water, marine life, and pollution flow with the currents and what happens elsewhere can still wash up on our shores.

That's why it's not just about what we do here, global cooperation matters.

Covering over 70 per cent of the planet's surface the ocean connects us, produces more than half the oxygen we breathe, and is the main source of protein for over a billion people.

Seas set the forecast

Oceans are more than just providers of resources or a scenic holiday backdrop, they shape the weather we wake up to and help keep the climate in check.

Even 1000km from the coast, conditions are often driven by what's happening out on the water.

Oceans soak up around 90 per cent of the extra heat produced through rising emissions, helping prevent Earth from overheating.

But their capacity isn't unlimited.

These days the global ocean is absorbing heat at a rate fast enough to boil Sydney Harbour every eight minutes.

That ocean warming helped drive the planet's hottest year on record.

We're feeling this warmth here in Queensland, with around four more unusually warm June nights now than we had 50 years ago.

Zooming in on Australian waters, sea surface temperatures have ranked first or second highest on record every month since July last year, sitting up to 1.1C above average.

And just in the last week we've seen temperatures 2-3C higher than usual.

A couple of degrees has significant knock-on effects.

For example, warmer seas lead to more evaporation, which means more moisture in the air to fuel heavy rainfall and powerful tropical storms.

How can we help?

There's no silver bullet for protecting the ocean, but there are lots of simple things we can do that will make a real difference.

Choosing locally caught, sustainable seafood supports responsible fishing, while using reef-safe sunscreen and cutting back on single-use plastics helps keep marine life safe.

Using energy-efficient appliances and switching to renewable energy sources like solar also make a difference by reducing the emissions that are warming the oceans.

If you live near the coast and want to get involved, mangrove and seagrass planting is a hands-on way to help.

These coastal plants act like natural defences – protecting shorelines from erosion, providing nursery grounds for fish, and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

Community programs, like those run by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in Queensland, offer a great chance to pitch in and connect with others in your area.

Girt by sea and rich in marine life, Australia has a special connection to the ocean, and collaboration between communities and countries can help make sure it stays that way for generations to come.

Want more information on how your climate is changing? Check out the last article in this series.

Amelia Pearson is the Operations Manager at the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub.

This column is part of a collaboration between Monash University and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.