Capturing local voices for Tasmania’s marine future

PICTURED: Measure Project Coordinator Tania Parkinson, Left, and Subcommittee Chair Arnold McShane.

Funded by a Rotary Foundation district grant, the Rotary Club of Tasman Peninsula’s MEASURE project is capturing the lived experiences of locals to complement scientific research and guide the future protection of Tasmania’s marine environment.

In keeping with Rotary International’s focus on the environment, the Rotary Club of Tasman Peninsula, Tas, has delivered an innovative project to document community experiences of change within the region’s marine ecosystem. Funded by a Rotary Foundation district grant, the Marine Environment Anecdotal Stories Underscoring Research Evidence (MEASURE) project set out to capture local knowledge that could complement scientific research and inform future marine planning.

The idea was sparked after guest speaker Bec Howarth, from Environment Tasmania, highlighted the urgent need for an ongoing plan to protect Tasmania’s coastal and marine environments. Club members recognised that while scientific data is vital, it often overlooks the lived experience of those who have spent decades working, fishing and diving in local waters. The club saw an opportunity to collect this invaluable anecdotal evidence – insights from people who have observed changes first-hand – to supplement existing research and give communities a voice in shaping marine policy.

Supported by district grant funding, the club appointed long-time local resident Tania Parkinson as project coordinator. Assisted by a Rotary sub-committee, Tania designed a consistent interview format and reached out to a broad cross-section of Tasman Peninsula residents, including recreational and commercial fishers, divers and marine tourism operators. More than 20 interviews were conducted, either in person or online, with participants ranging in age and experience from 10 to 70 years of engagement with the
marine environment.

The resulting stories reveal a compelling narrative of environmental change – from diminishing kelp forests and shifts in fish populations to warming waters and the arrival of invasive species. While each story is unique, together they form a mosaic of lived experience that aligns with and enriches scientific findings. The Rotary Club of Tasman Peninsula believes that this collection of community voices represents a vital qualitative ‘measure’ that can support the development of a comprehensive Tasmanian Marine Environment Plan.

The project demonstrates how Rotary’s environmental focus can unite science and community wisdom for long-term sustainability. As Project Sub-committee Chair Arnold McShane noted, “This initiative captures what data alone cannot – the lived connection people have with their environment and the changes they’ve seen unfold.”

A detailed report of the project, including interview summaries, is available at: rotarytasman.org/Measure_Report.pdf