It’s predicted that if overfishing continues at the current pace, all the world’s fisheries will collapse by the year 2048.
Eighty percent of global fisheries are already considered fully exploited or over-exploited. Rising seas and stronger storms threaten 40 percent of the world’s population. Mangrove forests sequester four times more carbon than rainforests, yet they are disappearing at a pace three to five times faster. These ecosystems provide crucial resources and protection to coastal communities and their economies.
Without urgent measures we may be the last generation to catch food from the oceans. But all is not lost. There’s still time to reverse decades of damage to the world’s oceans before we hit the point of no return — the time to act is NOW.
Key strategies
Restoring shellfish reefs
Shellfish reefs are Australia’s most critically endangered marine ecosystem. Made up of billions of oysters and mussels, they once thrived in Australia’s bays and estuaries from Noosa in Queensland right around Australia’s southern coastline to Perth in Western Australia. Now less than 10% remain.
Victoria's lost reefs rediscovered
Getting shellfish reefs back into Port Phillip Bay which once covered 50% of the Bay's seafloor before being wiped out.
South Australian Reef Reviving the Gulf
Windara Reef - the largest shellfish reef restoration project ever attempted in Australia.
Shuck Don't Chuck: shell recycling project
How we're making good use of a previously wasted product.
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