State Government forms advisory group to help protect Rockingham's little penguins

The State Government has formed an advisory group in a bid to better protect Rockingham's little penguin population.

The Little Penguin Advisory Group group - which will be chaired by Western Australian Marine Science Institute CEO Dr Luke Twomey and comprise scientists, marine park coordinators, and local representatives - will be charged with bringing together existing research to inform conservation actions.

The group will hold its first meeting in January 2025 and will report back to the Director General of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) by December 2025.

A recent population count found there was only 114 little penguins on the island, a 94 per cent decline since 2007.

The State Government said research has found the major factor of the decline is likely a reduction in food sources due to warming sea temperatures.

"Penguin Island is an iconic attraction of Western Australia," Environment Minister Reece Whitby said.

"The health and wellbeing of its penguins is our top priority, and no other Government in Western Australia's history has done more to protect it than the Cook Labor Government.

"We extended the island's winter closure period, we shelved plans to build a discovery centre on the island, and we close it to visitors on days when the temperature is forecast to exceed 35 degrees Celsius.

"Now, we have formed an independent group to advise the State Government on other ways to continue protecting Western Australia's penguins."

Save Rockingham's Little Penguins convenor and City of Rockingham councillor Dawn Jecks thanked the State Government for taking action.

“Many years of mismanagement allowing too much tourism, insensitive construction works, not adequately mitigating for climate change impacts such as heatwaves, and foot dragging on active conservation measures have all played a role in the decline of little penguins on Penguin Island," she said.

“Today’s announcement to form an independent advisory group is a critical first step towards better protections and interventions for little penguins that we hope will help them survive and thrive once again.

“SRLP have consistently advocated this approach as well as for the establishment of a captive breeding program."