Letter to Senator the Hon Murray Watt: Ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty (8 August 2025)
8 August 2025
Senator the Hon Murray Watt
Minister for the Environment and Water
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600
By email: senator.watt@aph.gov.au
Dear Minister Watt,
Ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty
We are writing to request that the Government shows commitment to ocean conservation by ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty.
As you know, the Global Ocean Treaty aims to establish a legal mechanism to create protected areas in international waters. This is an essential step in global efforts to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
We commend the Australian Government for signing the treaty and we urge you take the final steps required for ratification. As you would be aware, 51 countries have ratified the treaty and 60 are needed for the treaty to come into force.
Ratifying the treaty at this point represents an opportunity for Australia to reinforce its reputation as a leader in marine conservation and a leader in the Indo-Pacific, and establish influence over future conservation measures decided under the treaty.
Most importantly, it represents a step towards protection of the incredible biodiversity, economic potential and intrinsic value of our international waters.
Australians are calling on the Government to take action to protect our oceans. As a nation “girt by sea”, the ocean forms a crucial part of the identity of so many Australians. It also forms a significant part of the Australian economy, supporting shipping, tourism, fisheries, energy production and beyond.
Despite our reliance on the ocean, only 1% of international waters are protected. Like so many Australians, we have been shocked by the visions of over-extraction and over-exploitation in David Attenborough’s Ocean documentary, occurring in oceans around the world. We want Australia to do more to protect our precious oceans.
We urge you to take immediate steps to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty as quickly as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Kate Chaney MP
Member for Curtin
Zali Steggall MP
Member for Warringah
Nicolette Boele MP
Member for Bradfield
Allegra Spender MP
Member for Wentworth
Andrew Wilkie MP
Member for Clark
Dr Monique Ryan MP
Member for Kooyong
Helen Haines MP
Member for Indi
Senator David Pocock
Senator for the Australian Capital Territory
Dr Sophie Scamps MP
Member for Mackellar