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We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the sovereign Traditional Owners of Australia and thank them for their stewardship of this Country, its lands, waters and skies. We respectfully acknowledge their culture and customary practices, and pay respect to their Ancestors, Elders and future leaders.

For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.

Click to view the State of the Environment report

Due to technical issues, graphs, maps and tables are currently not displaying within the main content, however, are available via the chapter resources navigation bar. We are working on a solution to resolve the issue.

Marine

Written by Dr Rowan Trebilco, Mibu Fischer, Dr Cass Hunter, Dr Alistair Hobday, Linda Thomas and Dr Karen Evans.

Ngana ngulkurrduku kujinka kuljinga minya. Ngananga jalun bana ngurrkurr bajaku. Ngananga wawu ngulkurrduku kujil ngananga yarrka-yarrkangka kudamun kangkaday. Kaday nganjinandamun binalmangka bamandamun. Nganjin wawu-jirray kanbalanji binalbungka 

We got to protect the reef and the animal’s life.  It’s important, our Sea Country. We need to look after it for the next generation. Come learn our way of life, the Indigenous way. We love sharing that with others.

Lizzie Olbar and Marie Shipton, Dabu Jajikal Elders
Our oceans are home to a great diversity of species and marine ecosystems, from the nearshore to the abyssal plains, and the vast open-ocean habitats between the surface and the sea floor. Our oceans provide ecosystem services that underpin our wellbeing, support valuable marine industries, and hold deep meaning for all Australians and especially the Traditional Owners of Sea Country.  
Woven Water by Maria Fernanda Cardoso
Key Findings
Find out the main messages of the report. Each chapter has 10 key points that summarise the findings of the chapter.
Start with Key findings
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Outlook and impacts
Where are we headed? Understand the outlook of our marine environment, based on how it is tracking now and how we are managing it. Also find out how recent changes will affect our health and wellbeing.
Start with Outlook and impacts
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Environment
How are the different aspects of our marine environment tracking? Explore the condition of Australian marine habitats, species and ecosystem processes.
Start with Environment
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Pressures
What are the pressures on our marine environment? Identify the main climate, human and industry pressures on our oceans and find out how they are affecting environmental health and our own wellbeing.
Start with Pressures
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Management
How effective is our management of the marine environment? Discover the main environmental management interventions and actions, and how well they protect our environment and minimise the impact of pressures.
Start with Management
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Chapter resources
Find out about the chapter authors and their analysis approach, the artwork appearing in the chapter, and the available supplementary material.
Explore Authors and acknowledgments
Explore Assessments
Explore Graphs, maps and tables
Explore Case studies
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Explore findings from Marine
Climate change is affecting fundamental aspects of our oceans and increasing the impact of other pressures
Many Australian marine habitats are healthy, but our reefs are declining
Better monitoring and marine management are needed
Even the best management will not stop environmental decline if we do not address climate change and cumulative impacts
Infographic showing that the Blue Economy – that dependent on the oceans – is very valuable and growing in value faster than the rest of the economy, but we must ensure that oceans are sustainably managed. This includes better monitoring, and the empowering of Indigenous-led management that uses traditional knowledge alongside current scientific best practice.