Subject: Mr. Burke, I Want A National Network Of Marine Parks and Sanctuaries

Dear Minister Burke,

I worked for the Queenscliff Marine Science Laboratories in Victoria setting up a Marine Pollution Monitoring Program to monitor for petroleum hydrocarbons and was then was Chief Analytical Chemist and Head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Quality Laboratory for the State of Victoria.

For this background and expertise, I humbly request that you take seriously your role in protecting Australia’s unique and beautiful marine resources, especially our living resources, which can only be truly protected if there are sufficient marine sanctuaries along Australia’s coastline to ensure continued reproduction of these valued species, and freedom from pollution particularly from petroleum hydrocarbons and their effects on reproduction and their overt toxicity to many marine species!

I personally studied an oil spill in Massachusetts the results of which were published in the primmer journal Science that conclusively showed effects on bottom dwelling invertebrates, the bottom of the food chain, including reduced reproductive rates and death of immature juveniles that are more sensitive to these hydrocarbon toxins that lasted over seven years following a single oil spill!

I agree with WWF-Australia's message that these animals and places are totally unique to our country and are in desperate need of protection.

I am asking you to urgently create a network of sanctuaries that can protect our oceans and coasts.

The Gulf of Mexico clearly shows that there is no such thing as a totally safe oil well, and is shadowed by the Montara oil spill off the coast of the Kimberley confirmed that environmental disasters can and do happen here in Australia. For 73 days oil spilt into a pristine region that is home to whales, dolphins, turtles, fish, sea snakes and much, much more.

Because of the ever-increasing need for petroleum and natural gas, each week more proposals to drill for oil and gas off our coast become public.

Healthy oceans and coasts underpin healthy communities through employment opportunities and active lifestyles. A responsible approach to managing our oceans includes creating a network of marine sanctuaries to protect and sustain marine biodiversity, as well as implementing measure that ensure that fishing is carried out in a way that is sustainable and profitable.

The best way to protect fish nurseries and critical habitats for species like whales and dolphins is through systems of marine sanctuaries.

WWF-Australia proposes that the best thing we can do to protect Australia's oceans and coast is to create a network of marine sanctuaries and I agree.

Marine sanctuaries protect our unique wildlife and fragile environment by creating areas that are free from oil and gas exploration, industrialisation and fishing.

By protecting these special places, we will safeguard the lifestyle we love for future generations of Australians.

Yours sincerely

Dr. Charles T Krebs