The Need for More Marine Conservation Volunteers in Australia

We’ve all had conversations around Australian wildlife, right? They’re often full of delight, charm, and… terror. First focusing on adorable furry land creatures (quokkas, koalas, kangaroos!), the convo almost always then turns to the alarmist topic of “every-animal-is-trying-to-kill-me.” Rarely, though, does the conversation give proper credit to the amazing marine life off of Australia coasts. As the only truly island continent/nation, it’s important to remember the vast ocean surrounding—literally—the land down under.

Make a splash & get involved with marine conservation projects in Australia—there's great need!

The sheer diversity of marine wildlife in Australia is breathtaking. Seals, whales of different stripes and spots, dolphins, sea turtles (#righteous), porpoises—and those are just the sea mammals! If you wanna waddle, you’re not alone. You can smile at a crocodile, get up close and personal with the world’s most complex coral reef system, and spot every shade of the rainbow in hundreds of tropical fish.

You don’t need to stay on land to enjoy Australia’s incredible wildlife. But, unfortunately, Australia’s marine life is increasingly threatened. Climate change, oil spills, overfishing, marine debris, and ocean acidification loom ominously, and the delicate ecosystems can’t escape impact. There’s increased demand for help to stop this growing problem—and that’s why you should consider becoming a marine conservation volunteer in Australia.

What’s going on under water down under?

So, what major challenges are facing marine conservation in Australia? According to Padi.com, the Great Barrier Reef is home to an impressive amount of marine life. More than 1,500 fish species, 17 species of sea snake, and at least 330 species of ascidians live on the reef. What's more, six species of sea turtles come to the reef to breed and 30 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been recorded swimming in these parts. Incredible, no?

Marine conservation in Australia can protect sea creatures great and small.

The Great Barrier Reef has been under environmental pressure for decades. While a more concerted effort was launched in 2009 to undo damage, the Marine Park Authority believes the greatest risks to the reef remain unchanged. Our oceans are being hurt by global warming—coral reefs in particular are sensitive to changes in temperature which can lead to mass coral bleaching. This results in the starvation and ultimate death of the corals that support the many species that live on coral reefs. 

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, oceans today absorb about one-third of the carbon dioxide humans send into the atmosphere, about 22 million tons a day. Higher acidity in the ocean’s waters negatively impacts certain species’ ability to use use calcium carbonate to form their skeletons and shells. Bye bye, coral.

More negative impacts that are human-lead include over-development of coastal land areas and over-fishing of certain species. As more fish migrate towards the poles to overcome changes in water temperature, entire ecosystems are interrupted.

It is essential that the global community comes together to fight marine habitat destruction and joins forces to support marine conservation in Australia. As an individual, you might feel a little powerless to have a major impact and reverse the devastation. But it is only with the collective work of individuals like you that we will be able to make a change. And there are dozens of marine conservation projects in Australia just itching for your helping hands.

What you can do

Get involved in marine conservation projects in Australia for volunteers abroad! There are a variety of organizations to choose from depending on your skills, timeline, and interests. 

Tracy Leske, the managing director of Oceans2EarthVolunteers, shares: “These volunteer projects are important because there are a number of serious assaults on the marine environments in Australia. We have had natural events, such as cyclones and king tides, as well as higher water temperatures as a result if climate change—PLUS, chemical run off and marine debris are all detrimental to the environment. Certain organizations recognize the need to make change and undertake proactive initiatives to try to stem the tide before it's too late.”

Here are some of the most effective ways to volunteer in marine conservation in Australia.

1. Beach clean ups

Beautify a beach for your marine volunteer work.

All you need is two hours of picking up litter and trash along our beautiful coast to transform your own mindset. Organized beach clean ups provide a fun environment that fuels an awakening towards the need to examine our consumer lifestyles. Part of marine wildlife conservation is realizing harsh truths about your human impacts on the lives of these ecosystems.

2. Rehabilitation

Re-building destroyed habitats or reconnecting sick and injured sea creatures—like sea turtles—to their natural habitats is incredibly meaningful work. With Oceans2Earth volunteering, you can lend a helping fin (er, hand). “Animals are brought in suffering from disease, starvation and/or injuries caused by boats, discarded fishing gear or ingested plastic that is mistaken for food. Many of the turtles brought in from the Great Barrier Reef are suffering from 'floaters disease.'” Get more project details here.

3. GPS tracking of marine wildlife

What are the migration patterns of certain species? Where do they go for feedings and inbetween? Collect data on marine wildlife through GPS tracking not only to help researchers and scientists, but to also spend time observing the wildlife we see around us.

Marine life volunteer opportunities often include GPS tracking animals.

4. Gathering data on & monitoring coral reef life

There are other ways to gather data on marine wildlife than just GPS tracking. What habitats are they living in? What are they eating? View and monitor robust marine life at the coral reef to gain a better understanding of just how intertwined the lives of these thousands of species are. Sometimes, you don’t need a snorkel or fins for marine conservation in Australia—just a pencil, a piece of paper, and a watchful eye.

5. Recording damage to the coral 

What does coral bleaching look like? Just how much damage has the coastal reefs incurred in recent decades? Get a grasp of the impact on climate change with these kinds of marine conservation projects in Australia. The impact is not just hearsay—it’s real. 

6. Environmental education activities

You can find marine life volunteer programs abroad that focus on teaching and educating local communities about the ways their habits, behaviors, and activities impact ongoing marine wildlife conservation efforts. Host events at local elementary schools or nearby community centers where people affected by marine wildlife devastation, like fishermen and biologists, share their personal stories. Make action plans and inspire others to make change!“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” —Barack Obama

Tips for choosing a marine conservation volunteer program in Australia

Where will YOU find marine conservation projects in Australia?!

Now that you have the inside scoop on where to volunteer with marine animals in Australia, it's time to choose who you want to volunteer abroad with! Choosing a program isn't as hard as it sounds.

Leske shares, “When choosing to volunteer in marine conservation in Australia, potential volunteers should research organizations to ensure that the activities they are undertaking are not tourism, but are genuine volunteer or research programs that actually directly benefit marine conservation and further the research of NGOs that are committed to such efforts.”

Doing a deep-dive into possible host organizations is worth the effort. Let’s take a closer look at Oceans2EarthVolunteers’ programs in Australia. O2E operates under strict ethical governance when seeking to partner with conservation organizations. In 2018 & 2019, volunteers with O2E can protect the Great Barrier Reef, save marine turtles, monitor humpback whale populations. They also offer participants the chance to become a marine scientist for a week or more, to learn from world renowned marine researchers, and to make significant contribution to the fields of marine environmental and animal studies. 

Awesome, right!?

“Because of our relationships with organizations that recognize the need to undertake proactive initiatives to stem the tide before it's too late, we can offer unique, meaningful volunteer opportunities that are not available anywhere else not by any other marine volunteer organization,” adds Leske. Dive deep (#butactually) into your research for marine life volunteer programs and choose ones that are ethical, sustainable, and working in alignment with marine conservation initiatives already well under way.

[Read Reviews of Volunteer Programs with Oceans2EarthVolunteers]

You’re ready to support marine wildlife conservation down under!

Sign up for marine life volunteer programs today!

Becoming a marine conservation volunteer in Australia is a worthwhile pursuit. Volunteering fosters the feeling of connection, and who better to connect with than our great mother earth? Work alongside like-minded people with one mission in mind and enjoy deep friendships and relationships that extend beyond hashtags and instagram stories. Give to others (even scaly others), share your light, and in return, feel a sense of porpoise. Er, purpose.

Get Matched with 5 Wildlife Conservation Projects in Australia for FREE

This article was written with support from Oceans2EarthVolunteers, an organization that arranges ethical marine wildlife conservation projects in Australia.