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To the east of the Great Barrier Reef lies a tropical marine jewel: the Coral Sea. Its crystal clear waters are home to huge fish that dominate the ecosystem, like lions of the African plains. The pristine islets and cays are both breeding ground and nursery for turtles and seabirds. It is home to a diversity of species from majestic humpback whales to dainty reef fish. Once the arena for the Battle of the Coral Sea, this iconic region now remains a refuge for marine wildlife.

In late 2008, a campaign was launched to protect this near pristine environment in an Australian Coral Sea Heritage Park. At one million square kilometres, it would be the world’s largest marine park. With less than 0.1% of the world’s oceans highly protected, this would be an unparalleled contribution to global marine conservation.

This visionary proposal already has tremendous support with the worlds leading tropical marine scientists, international, national, and regional environmental organizations, former Chiefs of Navy, the Battle for Australia National Council, and an increasing number of prominent public figures behind the campaign. In the last few weeks, the campaign has become very public with the launch of the website http://www.protectourcoralsea.org.au/, and a new television ad featuring a charismatic spokesfish by the name of Barry.
With lips that rival those of any Hollywood starlet, Barry, the humphead wrasse, is asking the public to send a letter to their MP calling for the permanent protection of the Coral Sea. Fewer protected areas exist in the pelagic ocean than any other ecosystem on Earth, yet it constitutes 99% of the biosphere volume, supplies >80% of the fish consumed by humans, and accounts for nearly half of the photosynthesis on Earth. There are only a handful of places left in the world where the political will and public support could be generated to secure a large fully protected marine park. The Coral Sea is one of those places. Visit Barry on the website and lend your voice to the campaign. Can you make a difference? You bet your wrasse!