According to a new study, even Australia’s most protected marine habitats could become as vulnerable as unprotected waters within the next 15 years, posing a major threat to marine biodiversity.
Lead author Alice Pidge from the University of the Sunshine Coast said the findings show an unprecedented scenario: “We are looking at warmer waters with higher acidity and lower oxygen levels, along with more frequent and intense marine heatwaves.”
Researchers modelled future climate scenarios, including a moderate temperature increase of 1.8°C above pre-industrial levels.
Co-author David Schumann noted: “Unfortunately, the results are not surprising. They show that marine protected areas will be just as vulnerable as unprotected ones under rapid warming, deoxygenation, acidification, and marine heat stress.”