S2 E17: Trawl Wars: The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park vs. The Fishing Industry

The 1990s was a wild west era for fishing on the Great Barrier Reef. Even after being declared a Marine Park and a World Heritage area, more than 95% of the Great Barrier Reef was still being fished, and things were heading downhill fast. Then came a bombshell report that exposed what was really going on beneath the surface -- and all hell broke loose. What followed was a fierce battle known as the ‘Trawl Wars,' and unfortunately, it did not happen in a galaxy far, far away.

In this episode, we’re joined by legendary conservationist Imogen Zethoven, who was made Officer of the Order of Australia for her groundbreaking campaign to create the largest network of no fishing zones, also known as Green Zones, in the GBR Marine Park. Imogen shares how the fight was won -- and why the battle to protect our oceans is far from over.

Thumbnail Image: Imogen Zethoven in front of a van owned by a Mackay local at a meeting in the early 2000s.

Glossary of Australian Terms for our International Listeners

• Prawns = what we call shrimps in Australia!
• Tucker = a slang term for food
• Canberra = our capital city, where Parliament House is located (we know you've never heard of it)
• GBRMPA = Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (also known as the Reef Authority).
• CSIRO "Sigh-Row" = Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Australia's national science agency).
• AFMA = Australian Fisheries Management Authority

Take Action on Overfishing:

• Australian Marine Conservation Society (Fisheries Campaign)
• WWF (GBR Campaign)

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Chapters

• 3:22 Imogen's incredible career
• 8:19 No-fishing ('Green') Zones on the GBR
• 13:59 Wild West: Fishing in the 1990s on the GBR
• 23:39 The Battle for the Green Zones
• 29:46 The Tourism Industry to the Rescue
• 32:11 People Power saves the Day
• 37:19 Favours and Payouts
• 41:05 The Final Showdown
• 42:52 What can people do about overfishing today?