Save the dolphins of Port Phillip Bay

  • by: Susannah Bell
  • recipient: Peter Garrett, Penny Wong, Julia Gillard, John Brumby, Gavin Jennings

The beautiful and unique dolphin population of Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne, Australia) is under threat!

There are only 80-100 bottlenose dolphins in the Bay, and they are genetically distinct from other bottlenose dolphin populations, and vulnerable to extinction with the loss of just 2 or 3 breeding females. 

And yet work has recently begun on deepening the shipping channel, widening the entrance to the Bay, and dumping millions of tonnes of toxic silt in the water. The dolphins can't just swim away; instead they are likely to die out when their fish stocks decrease, and the noise and pollution become too stressful.

The dolphins aren't the only creatures at risk: Port Phillip Bay has a greater diversity of life than the Great Barrier Reef, and many species which are found nowhere else in the world and have never been fully studied.

Jobs are also at risk - licensed dolphin tour operators allow tourists to see the dolphins in their natural habitats. These companies, and diving and fishing related industries are concerned about the future of their businesses.

Please sign this petition to show your concern for these unique dolphins and for Port Phillip Bay!

We the undersigned, request that the Channel Deepening project in Port Phillip Bay be halted immediately under Section 146 of the EPBC Act.

We are concerned about the impact this project will have on the entire ecosystem of the Bay; and particularly on the resident bottlenose dolphins, which are genetically unique from dolphins outside the Bay, and vulnerable to extinction with the loss of just a few breeding females.

Please do everything in your power to halt the Channel Deepening project now.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
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