Surfing teaches you to make the most of the conditions in front of you.
We still want World Heritage for the Great Australian Bight, but that process can take a very long time.
Right now, there's an opportunity to rezone the Great Australian Bight Marine Park, and it gets decided soon, by the people who run our marine parks and our own Environment Minister. It would shut the door on Big Oil while we wait for World Heritage.
What we're asking for is easy on paper. Take the existing zone that bans mining outright (currently protecting the whale nursery) and extend it over the water where the old drilling permits sat.
It's one change inside a review that's already happening, and if you fish out there, recreationally or commercially, none of this affects you. The only thing it stops is drilling.
For the first time in 10 years, the government's taking public submissions for this review, but they close on 30 September.
The survey below only takes 2 minutes, and it counts as your own submission, which we'll deliver to the minister.
We still want World Heritage, but we also want to protect this place. Together, we can create the Great(er) Australian Bight Marine Park.
The Final Fight for the Bight
It's the coastline that inspired tens of thousands of surfers and ocean lovers to rise up and paddle out against Big Oil. Now it’s time to show up together and protect it for good.
The Great Australian Bight is as wild as it gets. This 1,160 km stretch of rugged coast is home to some of the most extraordinary marine life (and maybe a few waves) on Earth with 85% of species found nowhere else. It’s not just about the waves or wildlife though, it’s about taking the Bight off the fossil fuel menu forever.
Right now, there are no active oil and gas exploration leases in the Bight. They’ve expired, and no fossil fool has dared face the wrath of locals and coastal communities again. This creates a rare opportunity to secure UNESCO World Heritage status, if we act now. Decision-makers need to hear that surfers and ocean lovers want lasting recognition and protection for the Bight.
Surfers for Climate stands with the Great Australian Bight Alliance, the Wilderness Society, First Nations custodians, local legends and environmental champions for one last push: the Final Fight for the Bight.
This isn’t just another campaign. It’s the final round to keep the Bight wild and free from Big Oil, forever.
Why is the Bight a Big Deal?
The Great Australian Bight is a national treasure. It’s one of the last untouched coastlines on the planet, home to Southern Right Whales, Australian Sea Lions and so much more. For the Mirning People, it's been sacred for thousands of years – this area is part of their culture and Australia’s identity. Protecting it honours a living piece of our heritage.
Image by @sa_rips
Let’s Lock it in Australia
The Bight has dodged oil threats before, but they’ll keep coming back unless we lock in permanent protection. The Final Fight is about preserving communities who rely on these waters for fisheries, waves, and spiritual connection.
This is it, the Final Fight for the Bight. Together we can protect this coastline for future generations of frothers. We’ve shown before that when we band together, we can turn the tide. With your help, this epic chunk of coastline can stay wild, free and abundant, forever.
Image by @sa_rips
The bigger, the better!
One change to the zoning of The Great Australian Marine Park would shut the door on Big Oil while we wait for World Heritage.
Submissions close on 30 September. The survey only takes 2 minutes, and it counts as your own submission, which we'll deliver to the minister.