As World Oceans Day approaches on June 8, The University of Western Australia is celebrating the transformative power of science and philanthropy in advancing marine conservation.

Under the leadership of the Wen Family Chair in Conservation at UWA, Professor Jessica Meeuwig, the Marine Futures Lab is delivering world-leading ocean research, amplified by the visionary support and generous funding from the Wen Giving Foundation.

The Lab recently surpassed one million measurements of marine wildlife from more than 75 locations worldwide – from Antarctica and the Arctic, and across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.

These insights and data are collected using baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS), a method pioneered by the Lab to track open-ocean wildlife, in particular tuna, mackerel, sharks, marlin and small fish that support open ocean food webs.

This innovative method ensures marine wildlife is being counted in its natural habitat without extraction or harm, unlike data from fisheries. Importantly, these surveys provide critical data on biodiversity trends, ecosystem health, and vital information for evaluating the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs).

Image: Jessica Meeuwig deploying BRUVS in Antarctica.

A highlight of this work is the Great West Ozzie Transect – a 12-year research initiative examining the health of ocean wildlife across 18 Western Australian locations.

The Transect is generating essential evidence to evaluate marine park effectiveness, with 48 surveys completed between 2013 and 2025. This includes the most recent and eighth survey at Ningaloo Reef in collaboration with the Minderoo Exmouth Research Lab; the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park; and the first-ever BRUVS survey at Christmas Island Marine Park.

Currently, this data is unique on a global scale. There is nowhere else in the world with datasets for ocean wildlife of this scope and decade-long duration, and which are based on non-destructive sampling. These are important for our understanding of how marine ecosystems respond to different levels of protection.

Image: BRUVS survey deployments around WA.

Professor Meeuwig’s approach to conservation extends to strategic partnerships, advocacy and dialogue to amplify action and impact.

Since her appointment in February 2023 as the inaugural Wen Family Chair in Conservation at UWA, she has nurtured a hub for collaboration, including the creation of platforms for knowledge exchange.

Fittingly, this commitment to meaningful dialogue and collaboration is exemplified in the upcoming Wen Family Chair in Conservation public lecture on 18 June 2025, with Professor Ben Halpern’s talk, The Promise and Peril of the Blue Economy – exploring where the ocean holds the greatest promise for transformative change, where the most serious risks lie, and how science can guide us in navigating this complex landscape.

Professor Halpern is a Professor of Marine Biology and Conservation Science at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at University of California, Santa Barbara, and Director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. He is best known for developing the Ocean Health Index and pioneering global assessments of cumulative human impacts on oceans.

“To have Professor Halpern, who pioneered the use of big data in understanding marine protected areas, provide the Wen Family Chair in Conservation public lecture is extremely exciting,” Professor Meeuwig said.

“In 2028, the Australian Government is committed to reviewing the management effectiveness of all its marine parks off the West Australian coast. Our data, with insights from Professor Halpern, will contribute to this very important review.”

The synergies between both professors’ work create fertile ground for conversation about sustainable ocean use, while translating complex data into accessible narratives that engage conversations across academia, policymakers and community.

Beyond the public lecture and World Oceans Day, the message is clear: ocean conservation is a present imperative.

Thanks to the Wen Giving Foundation and its support of the endowed Chair and her work, mentorship of PhD candidates and groundbreaking research, UWA is leading the way in shaping the global response, catalysing collective action and collaboration to protect and restore our blue planet.