OCEAN

28/02/2026

WA fish under threat as seismic blasting slips through the net!

The Western Australian government’s move to protect vulnerable species from fishing is undermined by its failure to prevent seismic blasting to explore the region’s gas reserves.

27/02/2026

The consultation period for the Otway has acreage release has now closed, but we still need to make our voices heard.

Make a call to the office of the Resources Minister Madeleine King, and tell them to put a stop to the Otway gas expansion.

Call her office on (08) 9527 9377. See the second slide for what you can say to them. 🌊

19/02/2026

🚨 Take action now: Call the office of the Resources Minister Madeleine King and tell them to stop the Otway Basin gas expansion 🔥

📞 Call (08) 9527 9377

Here’s what you can say:

“Hi, my name is X, I live in X and I’m calling in regards to the 2025 Otway Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release.

I’m really concerned about the impact that new gas projects will have on the marine life in this part of the ocean, as well as the impact that it will have on making climate change worse. The floods and fires we saw recently in Victoria were devastating, and we know that gas and fossil fuels are making these extreme weather events much worse.

My message for Minister King is please do not release these areas of ocean for new gas exploration. Can you please pass on my message to the minister?”

19/02/2026

🚨 Take action now: Call the office of the Resources Minister Madeleine King and tell them to stop the Otway Basin gas expansion 🔥

📞 Call (08) 9527 9377

Here’s what you can say:

“Hi, my name is X, I live in X and I’m calling in regards to the 2025 Otway Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release.

I’m really concerned about the impact that new gas projects will have on the marine life in this part of the ocean, as well as the impact that it will have on making climate change worse. The floods and fires we saw recently in Victoria were devastating, and we know that gas and fossil fuels are making these extreme weather events much worse.

My message for Minister King is please do not release these areas of ocean for new gas exploration. Can you please pass on my message to the minister?”

13/02/2026

OCEAN Update: Seismic Blasting Proposal Rejected!
Yesterday, offshore regulator NOPSEMA rejected CGG’s proposal to conduct 3D seismic blasting in the Otway Basin. As a result of sustained community pressure, this proposal was delayed four times and has now been rejected for good. This is our second big win stopping large scale seismic blasting in the Otway Basin, clearly demonstrating the power of community and that new gas exploration and seismic blasting has no social licence on our coast. This is an important win for marine life and for the many people who spoke up and got involved in this campaign — including Indigenous custodians, fishers, coastal communities and groups.
CGG proposed to blast 3,000 square kilometres within the significant Bonney Upwelling, overlapping with biologically important areas for blue whale foraging and within close proximity to calving grounds for the endangered southern right whale. The nutrient rich waters of the upwelling are a cornerstone for marine life and the regional fishing industry and should be a protected from all harmful developments.
OCEAN would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in this campaign. If you attended one of those dreadful Regia meetings, if you made a submission, marched, or paddled you contributed to this significant win. Thankyou

06/02/2026

An excellent article in today’s Saturday Paper by Jo Chandler captures both the deep connection to—and the disconnect from—the impacts of climate change being felt in the Otway Ranges.
Please join our campaign to stop the proposed new gas development in the Otway Basin.
See comments for the link.

05/02/2026

The deadline for submissions on the Federal Governments plans to open 2.5 million hectares of the Otway Basin to new gas drilling has been pushed back to the 20th of Feb!

Head to the link here to get your submission in now: https://www.ocean.org.au/labor-opens-new-gas-in-the-otway-basin🌊💙

03/02/2026

3 days left to have your say on the Federal Labor Governments proposed 2.5 million hectare gas expansion in the Otway Basin. Head to the link to get your submission in - https://www.ocean.org.au/labor-opens-new-gas-in-the-otway-basin. Takes less than 5 minutes! 🌊✊🏼

01/02/2026

On Saturday, over 1000 community members paddled out with in Torquay in protection of our ocean from new gas exploration.

The Federal Government is currently in the process of opening 5 new areas in the Otway Basin, between Victoria and Tasmania, for new gas exploration. We as coastal communities remain in firm opposition to new gas exploration and expansion, and that was demonstrated on Saturday.

We call on the Federal government to halt all new gas exploration in the Otway Basin now.

What can you do? 👉🏼 Make your submission on this new acreage release via the link in our bio. Get your submission in before this Friday Feb 6.

Photos by .photography

10/11/2025

We have one chance to get this right, the first review of our environment laws in over 20 years. The proposed reforms are not good enough, but they haven’t passed the Senate.
Head to the links below to sign ACF’s open letter or to submit your comment to the Senate Inquiry. We need:
- climate impacts to be considered for all proposals
- independent EPA
- strong, objective National Environment Standards
- First Nations rights and inclusion encoded

We need to listen, and to fix our broken nature laws - ensuring they actually protect our environment.

Australian Conservation Foundation’s Open Letter: https://www.acf.org.au/our-work/nature/sign-open-letter-to-labor-fix-nature-laws-now

Submit a comment to the Senate Inquiry: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/EPRBill48P

09/10/2025

Jirndi and Shea prepared for the Nyamat Yarkeen Karween (The Southern Ocean Dreaming Ceremony) 31st October - 1 November in Portland, Gunditjmara Country

Tomorrow in the Portland Observer...

🟧 Portland SES vows to fight for volunteer exemption
🦈 Big return for SharkPitch as $54,220 reeled in!
🚜 October edition of Agriculture Today inside
Sport:
🏀 Magic outplay Coasters in hard-fought season opener
🥊 Portland’s Coen Murray set to shine under Melbourne lights
🏏 Cricket returns as Portland teams prepare for season opener

For subscription details head to portlandobserver.com.au and to purchase photos head to https://picstore.com.au/

Caption: Jirndi, 9, and Shea Rotumah prepared for the Nyamat Yarkeen Karween (The Southern Ocean Dreaming Ceremony). Photo by Nicole Cleary.