Tasmanian Ocean Summit 2023 calls for urgent government action

The second Tasmanian Ocean Summit, hosted by the Australia Institute on Friday, 17 November 2023, called for urgent action by the Tasmanian Government to implement wholistic, integrated management in Tasmania’s coastal waters/Sea Country.

Held at Spring Bay Mill, the Ocean Summit brought together a diverse array of marine community members to address Tasmania’s dual crises of conflict over marine resources and climate change impacts. Representatives from across Tasmania’s marine sectors, scientists, economists, management experts and Tasmanian Aboriginal communities issued a statement to the Tasmanian Government:

Participants at the Tasmanian Ocean Summit 2023 call on the Tasmanian Government to urgently implement wholistic, integrated management in Tasmania’s coastal waters/Sea Country, that:

• includes comprehensive stakeholder consultation;
• is informed by (assessment of) a diverse range of values;
• recognises/acknowledges the sovereign rights of Tasmanian Aboriginal People; and
• has a transparent evidence base.

Bringing coastal communities together

The Tasmanian Ocean Summit 2023 considered how to better protect biodiversity in a changing ocean, emerging and competing uses for space in our coastal waters, and moving Tasmania towards Australia’s new national vision and commitment to ocean sustainability. Speakers at the Summit included representatives from across Tasmania’s marine sectors, scientists, economists, management experts, Australian Government representatives and Tasmanian Aboriginal communities.

Opening remarks

Dr Richard Denniss | Executive Director, The Australia Institute

Keynote addresses

Andry Sculthorpe | Land and Heritage Unit, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre

“Sea Country: Rights and Interests for Aboriginal People” | Presentation

Belinda Jago | Branch Head, Oceans and Wildlife, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water

“Development of Australia’s Sustainable Ocean Plan”

Polly Hemming | Climate and Energy Program Director, The Australia Institute

“Blue carbon, net zero or natura positive? Climate policy beyond the buzzwords” | Presentation

Speeches

Jess Holgersson | Senior Associate, Equity Generation Lawyers

“Not a single fish, nor a single job: saving the skate in a captured state”

Jess Trezise | Assistant Manager, Offshore Renewables Implementation Team, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water

“Bass Strait Region proposed area for offshore wind development” | Presentation

Panel Sessions

Panel 1: What does marine protection look like in a changing ocean?

• Professor Gretta Pecl | Director, Centre for Marine Socioecology and IPCC lead author | Presentation
• Associate Professor Neville Barrett | Marine and estuarine ecologist, IMAS | Presentation
• Fiona Maher | Senior Sea Country Women’s Ranger, Pakana Rangers | Presentation
• Zoe Cozens | Sea Country IPA Coordinator, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
• Rebecca Howarth | Marine Campaigner, Environment Tasmania
• Dr Larelle Bossi | Regenerative ethicist, UTAS | Presentation

Chaired by Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director of The Australia Institute

Panel 2: Emerging and competing uses in a sustainable ocean economy

• Angela Williamson | Blue Policy & Planning Director, Blue Economy CRC
• Polly Hemming | Climate and Energy Program Director, The Australia Institute | Speech
• Joey McKibben | Chair, Divers Sector Sub Committee of the Tasmanian Abalone Council
• John Stanfield | Secretary, Tasmanian Amateur Sea Fisherman’s Association | Presentation | Speech
• Matt Grudnoff | Senior Economist, The Australia Institute | Presentation

Chaired by Professor Jan McDonald, Environmental and Climate Law, University of Tasmania

Panel 3: Moving Tasmania towards the new ocean paradigm

• Professor Jan McDonald | Environmental and Climate Law, UTAS | Presentation
• Dr Beth Fulton | Domain Leader, Integrated Ocean Stewardship, CSIRO
• Dean Greeno | University of Tasmania
• Dr Emily Ogier | Leader, FRDC Human Dimensions Research Coordination Program, IMAS | Presentation
• Eloise Carr | Director, The Australia Institute Tasmania | Presentation 

Chaired by Dr Dirk Welsford, Science Convenor, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and 2020-2023 Chair, Scientific Committee of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Identifying shared objectives for the ocean we want

Summit participants were invited to complete a survey, Identifying and prioritising shared objectives for the ocean we want. The survey asked participants to firstly identify their strongest connection to the ocean, and then rank a list of 13 objectives in order of priority. The aim of this exercise was to discuss potential shared objectives for Tasmania’s coastal waters and gain an understanding of priorities.

Most survey participants identified their strongest connection to the ocean as recreational, followed by research, culture and commercial fishing. Food, tourism and renewable energy were also identified.

The highest priority objective was identified as protecting and enhancing the marine environment. This was followed by recognising Tasmanian Aboriginal peoples’ rights, promoting resilience to climate change, adopting integrated management, building scientific understanding, engagement and participation in management, followed by sustainable use and increasing marine protected areas, among others.

Objectives were drawn from existing integrated ocean management legislation in NSW and Victoria. Further information about the objectives used can be found in It’s TIME: A proposal for a Tasmanian Integrated Marine Estate Act.