april 2025
In this issue: White Rock hits the road! With a sold-out Hobart launch, our Em-urchin-cy Tour is officially underway. Dive into updates on school resources, lobster recovery, sea lion science, climate-fuelled fish kills, and citizen-powered species tracking. Plus, new research reveals not all reef species are heading south. Let’s get into it.
The Em-urchin-cy Tour is here!
Kicking off this week with our sold out launch in Hobart, White Rock is officially on tour as part of our National Em-urchin-cy Tour. We’re excited to bring this urgent story to communities around Australia, with each screening featuring a unique post-film panel with leading experts. Some events will also include urchin tastings, live music, prize raffles and more.
Interested in a community screening near you? Fill out this quick form now to register interest here for community screenings.
Are you an educator keen to be among the first to trial the White Rock schools kit? Educators, register your interest here.
overwhelming Public Support for Urchin Action
Thanks to everyone who completed the Ocean Film Festival post-screening survey! With almost a thousand responses collected as part of our campaign with Surfers for Climate, the message is loud and clear: 98.9% of people support government funding for the Centro Task Force to help tackle the longspined urchin crisis.
This level of public backing sends a powerful signal. As we push on with our tour, the voices will only grow louder. Read more in this new article in the Tasmanian Times about the push to turn this ecological issue into a nature-positive solution.
After watching White Rock, these audience members shared why they believe government funding for the Centro Task Force is urgent and essential.
Xanthe Project Expedition
GSRF co-founder Dr Scott Bennett recently returned from a research expedition to southwest Tasmania, alongside SARAH & SEBASTIAN’s Creative Director (and fellow diver) Sarah Munro. The expedition's goal was to survey fragile reef ecosystems and document the urgent effects of climate change.
In this article, Scott reflects on the importance of protecting the Great Southern Reef, the power of creative partnerships, and what it means to witness rapid ecological change firsthand. It’s a compelling read that brings the science—and the emotion—of this expedition to life.
Lobsters Booming in Victoria’s Marine Parks
A new 10-year study led by Deakin University and Parks Victoria, which tracked the health of southern rock lobster populations inside and outside Victoria’s network of no-take marine parks and sanctuaries, has revealed striking results.
Between 2013 and 2023, researchers used baited pots to sample over 2,000 lobsters across six MPAs and nearby fished areas. The study found that on average, protected sites held more than double the number of lobsters (3.05 per pot) compared to fished sites (1.4 per pot). Lobsters inside MPAs were also larger, averaging 127 mm in length compared to 121 mm outside.
The benefits were strongest for male lobsters, but both sexes showed increases in size and biomass within protected areas. Importantly, the study also controlled for differences in reef structure, depth, and ocean conditions using advanced spatial models—and still found that protection status was a key driver of lobster abundance and size.
Deep, complex reefs in the western parts of the state—such as those in Discovery Bay and Merri Marine Sanctuary—showed particularly high numbers of large, legal-sized lobsters.
The results demonstrate that MPAs help both conserve marine life and may also support nearby fisheries. "It’s a clear sign that MPAs are helping to protect and restore marine ecosystems and could also benefit populations outside parks too” explained Michael Sams.
Inside the Hunting Mind of a Sea Lion
When University of Adelaide and SARDI Aquatic Sciences PhD student Nathan Angelakis first reviewed the video footage collected from cameras mounted on wild Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea), he was struck by just how specialised their hunting styles could be.
This new research offers a rare window into the foraging lives of an elusive and endangered species. Learn more and see the footage in this new article.
Toxic Algal Bloom in South Australia
Widespread concern is growing among South Australia's coastal communities as hundreds of dead fish continue to wash ashore across parts of the state.
A bloom of the toxic microalgae Karenia mikimotoi is currently affecting marine life along the Fleurieu Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, and Kangaroo Island. This species is known to cause mass deaths of fish and shellfish by damaging gill tissue, leading to suffocation—particularly during calm marine conditions.
This event is being linked to an ongoing marine heatwave, with sea surface temperatures in some areas more than 2.5°C above average. Combined with light winds and low swell, these conditions are ideal for bloom formation and persistence.
As Easter and school holidays draw visitors to the coast, authorities are advising people to:
Avoid swimming at beaches with discoloured water or sea foam
Stay off beaches if you’re experiencing respiratory or skin symptoms
Do not collect or consume dead or dying fish or shellfish (such as cockles)
Report marine animal deaths to FishWatch on 1800 065 522
Take photos of any fish kills or unusual marine conditions and upload them to iNaturalist to help scientists track the bloom
For those interested in understanding the broader context, OzFish has published an overview of how marine heatwaves are contributing to this crisis and what it could mean for local fisheries and biodiversity. The Wild South and Rising Tide are also putting on an event of food, film and guest speakers. For those in SA wanting to learn more get down to the Middleton Pioneer Hall on Thursday 24th of April.
Mapping Marine Species on the Move
A major national study led by Barrett Wolfe has confirmed what many in the dive, fish, and marine science communities have been observing: marine species are on the move. The researchers merged and verified over 76,000 out-of-range observations collected from:
Redmap Australia – focused on range extension sightings
iNaturalist (Australasian Fishes Project) – broad public biodiversity observations
Reef Life Survey (RLS) – rigorous diver-based ecological survey.
For the Great Southern Reef, notable movers included the Old Wife (pictured, image: Mike Jones), Rock Blackfish, Pearl Perch, Eastern King Prawn, and the Gloomy Octopus—all now being spotted well beyond their previously known southern limits.The study detected 76 poleward range extensions across Australia’s coastlines. Most shifts were observed in the southeast and southwest—regions already recognised as ocean warming hotspots. On average, the documented range limits extended 318 km poleward, with some species now occurring more than 1000 km beyond where they were previously known.
This study underscores the power of citizen science in detecting early ecological change, highlighting the role we can all play in shaping better conservation responses across the Great Southern Reef. Keep your eyes open and your camera ready. Your next sighting could be a new data point.
Not All Species Head South
While many Aussie reef species move locations with changing water temperatures, new research reveals many haven’t shifted south with warming seas, challenging assumptions about climate-driven range shifts.
Lead author Yann Herrera Fuchs from the University of TasmaniaThe study led by Yann Herrera Fuchs from the University of Tasmania, analysed how more than 650 shallow-water reef species responded to warming seas over a decade marked by extreme climate events.
While some species are indeed expanding southwards, others are contracting or even rebounding towards the equator.
Tosia australis, one of several temperate sea stars found shifting northwest in Tasmania, possibly seeking cooler refuges.Why aren’t more species shifting poleward? Part of the answer lies in geography. Australia’s southern coast meets the cold Southern Ocean, which acts as a natural barrier. In places like Tasmania, there’s simply nowhere further south to go, especially for species tied to shallow reef habitats.
In these cases, species might instead retreat westward into cooler water brought by upwelling systems, or move deeper if suitable habitat exists. But that’s not always an option. As Yann puts it, “Not all species can just shift. Some are already at their limits and if the habitat isn’t there, they can’t survive.” [read more]
Thank you
Thanks for being here and for reading all the way to the end. As a small non-profit, the GSRF depends on the generous support of our community to keep driving impact.
Right now, we’re raising funds for the White Rock impact campaign, including engaging community screening events, strategic campaign and advocacy work, educational resources for schools and so much more. If you’d like to support this important phase of our work, tax-deductible donations can be made via our Documentary Australia crowdfunding page.
more gsr news
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FEBRUARY 2025
Welcome to the February 2025 Newsletter. Packed with exciting updates, inspiring stories, and opportunities to get involved, this edition has something for everyone passionate about the Great Southern Reef.
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January 2025 news
Packed with exciting updates, inspiring stories, and opportunities to get involved, this edition has something for everyone passionate about the Great Southern Reef.
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december 2024
This issue includes an exclusive look at our collaboration with artist Amok Island, spotlighting a spectacular limited edition print featuring iconic GSR species.
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november 2024
In this issue, we celebrate the long-awaited launch of WA’s South Coast Marine Park, share important updates on the South-east Marine Park Draft Management Plan, and dive into research exploring cancer-fighting compounds in temperate sponges.
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October 2024
In this issue, we celebrate the launch of our new Teacher’s Guide for Ocean Literacy, share major milestones from Project Restore, and highlight recent developments in kelp restoration across Australia.
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september 2024
This month, we're offering a sneak peek into one of the Great Southern Reef’s most unique environments - Bathurst Channel. Plus and an exciting opportunity for teachers to trial some new school resources.
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august 2024
Exciting updates from from the final days of filming our urchin documentary White Rock, to the latest research, sealion mounted camera footage and insights from our GSR Research Partnership meeting in Hobart.
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july 2024
This month we are thrilled to share with you Sea Country stories, spider crab science, monitoring updates plus a sneak peek of our new documentary White Rock.
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june 2024
In this month's issue and to celebrate the arrival of the Southern Right whales, we're thrilled to announce the release of our new film, Eye to Eye.
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may 2024
In this issue, we explore some urgent challenges facing the GSR as well as highlight promising developments and opportunities to get actively involved in caring for our precious kelp forests.
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The longspined sea urchin is native to New South Wales and eastern Victoria. But in 1978 the first animal was detected in Tasmania where it has since increased dramatically in numbers. The urchin arrived in Tasmania due to changes in ocean climate and ocean current conditions, specifically an increase in strength of the East Australian Current.
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White Rock is a 45-minute documentary uncovering an overlooked impact of the climate crisis: the explosion of longspined sea urchins which are devastating Australia's kelp forests. With stunning visuals and impactful storytelling, the film captures the urgent threat to these ecosystems and presents tangible solutions to save them.
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Looking to deepen your knowledge on the rich biodiversity found in Australia's temperate reefs? This space is designed for you.
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Australian researchers are working at the global forefront of marine habitat restoration, with projects underway in every state along the Great Southern Reef. Habitat restoration is a resource intensive exercise used as a last resort for areas where vital habitats have been lost or are in decline and natural recovery is not occurring. Currently there are active restoration projects on the GSR working to restore seaweeds, seagrasses, and oyster reefs.
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Every month, we feature a creator from around the Great Southern Reef (GSR), showcasing their unique connection, creative expression, and passion for this extraordinary marine ecosystem. Through photography, art, storytelling, and film, these creators highlight the reef’s beauty, biodiversity, and the critical challenges it faces.
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What is the Great Southern Reef? What is unique about it? and how is climate change affecting it? Find out answers to these questions and more in our FAQ page.
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Associate Professor Ling has been instrumental in discovering the complex factors contributing to the urchin problem, casting new light on how climate change, predatory interactions, and ecological balance play into the crisis.
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The Great Southern Reef Research Partnership is a collaboration between universities, management agencies, and NGOs from across Australia, is taking a whole-of-system approach to safeguard the critical functions, fisheries, and biodiversity of the Great Southern Reef.
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The Great Southern Reef Foundation has partnered with Fremantle-based multidisciplinary artist Amok Island to create a stunning limited edition print, Iconic Species of the Great Southern Reef. This artwork showcases 18 unique species found along this extraordinary marine ecosystem.
