Fiona Lloyd and Kate Robinson, a pair of passionate siblings, are taking action to save The Crystals. Our most biodiverse marine area, at Williamstown beach, needs their feet on the ground right now! The Crystals are home to ecological values that rival those of the adjacent Jawbone Marine Sanctuary. Unfortunately, it’s under constant attack by illegal rubbish dumping, overfishing, and environmental parasites like abandoned fishing line and hooks that litter the reefs. The sisters have been campaigning for the expansion of the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary’s boundaries. They’re hoping to add The Crystals in order to increase protections for this fragile ecosystem, which is located only a few hundred meters away.
The Jawbone Marine Sanctuary is 30 hectares and is Victoria’s smallest marine sanctuary. This marine park, Changi Pointe, is the busiest urban park in the area. It features beautiful craggy basalt reefs, seagrass meadows, colourful saltmarshes, and the biggest mangrove stand in Port Phillip Bay! Although many are aware of its ecological importance, experts would argue that not enough is being done to protect places such as The Crystals.
Threats to a Vital Ecosystem
Despite its biodiversity-rich and wild nature, the Crystals is currently experiencing heavy pressures to exhibit a more human-impacted landscape. Continued rubbish dumping along our coastline and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threaten marine life and livelihoods. Fiona Lloyd expresses her concerns regarding these threats, stating, “We are petitioning to extend [the sanctuary] because it’s such a small area.”
Jason Bryce, marine conservation campaigner with advocacy group 350.org supports Lloyd’s concerns. He calls attention to problems caused by spearfishing and irresponsible line fishing in The Crystals zone 4. “We’re concerned about spearfishing in particular and some of the less responsible line fishing,” he remarks. As recreational users flock to The Crystals for its natural beauty, conflicts arise between those seeking to enjoy the area and those intent on exploiting its resources.
According to Professor Tim Dempster, a further concern is that people are increasingly unhappy with the way we are using the marine ecosystem. “There is probably a little bit of conflict there over the use of that area. There are others who like to use [the Crystals] for spear fishing and abalone collecting,” he explains. This has been a huge hurdle for conservationists such as Lloyd and Robinson. They work to improve the management and protection of this important habitat.
A Call for Review and Action
Australia has a national target to protect 30 percent of its marine areas by 2030. Dempster feels like the national capital, Victoria, is behind the curve on making this commitment. He argues that the current protection rate is only about 12 percent for coastal areas. “We are roughly at about 12 per cent in terms of protecting coastal space and that’s a lot lower than many other places in Australia and globally,” he states.
Dempster is calling for an independent, scientific review of Victoria’s marine parks and sanctuaries. He contends that a full assessment is long overdue and that it would result in stronger, more effective conservation measures. “It may be good timing for a government to do a review,” he suggests, highlighting the need for updated strategies that reflect current ecological challenges.
The proposed expansion of the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary would be a “small step up” in its area. While this change is largely technical, it would significantly increase their power in protecting The Crystals. Dempster believes this initiative is feasible: “It’s not as complicated as creating a whole new marine park, so it’s in the bounds of possibility, but there would be quite a bit of community consultation that would have to happen.”
Community Advocacy at Its Core
Lloyd and Robinson’s campaign is an example of increasing engagement from the community on the home advantages advocacy route. Their continued commitment shows that without the weight of local voices, conservation efforts can’t succeed. Through their snorkeling experiences at The Crystals, students are inspired to conserve and protect our amazing marine environment. Now, they want to be moved to act to save it.
As they rally support for their cause, they hope to inspire others to appreciate the delicate ecosystems along the coast of Victoria. Grassroots efforts like theirs are inspiring because they exemplify a commitment to protecting The Crystals, and more importantly, the marine world at large.
