Sydneysiders step up for sea life
Protecting the habitat of the hundreds of marine species that live hidden beneath the ocean's surface is the focus of this month's festival.
A spotlight is shining on innovations to protect coastal systems at this year's Ocean Lovers Festival.
Australia’s largest celebration of the ocean aims to make even bigger waves this year, organisers say, as the month-long event expands beyond Bondi Beach to multiple Sydney locations.
With over 600 species of marine life and an underwater ecosystem largely invisible beneath the surface, Sydney is classed as one of the world’s great marine destinations.
Throughout March the festival will serve up a diverse program of talks, cultural events, and hands-on activities aimed at inspiring action for a healthier marine environment.
With a mission to tackle some of the ocean’s greatest challenges, last year’s event saw 70 per cent of attendees leave feeling more optimistic and empowered to take action, festival founder Anita Kolni said.
"We want to inspire real hope and action for a thriving harbour and ocean, so we are thrilled to unveil this program and invite everyone to dive into our events this March. Together, we can turn ripples of action into waves of lasting change."
Among the festival’s key highlights is the Ocean Health Lab, an off-grid microplastic research facility at the Australian National Maritime Museum which will combine storytelling, hands-on workshops, and public exhibitions.
The lab, operated by the Seabin Foundation, analyses debris collected daily by 24 Seabins in Sydney Harbour, fostering collaboration among scientists, volunteers, and interns to develop data-driven solutions.
The Marine Debris "Trashion Show" will take an altogether different approach to highlighting the ocean plastic crisis as it transforms ocean waste into wearable art at Darling Harbour’s Palm Grove. Inspired by Sydney-based "artivist" Marina DeBris, the show challenges perceptions of our disposable culture with striking gowns adorned with items such as plastic utensils and polystyrene containers.
Calling citizen scientists
Other solution-oriented highlights at the festival include the Marine BioBlitz, a new event that invites both experienced marine biologists and citizen scientists to document local marine species.
Participants can photograph marine life across intertidal zones, rock pools, estuaries, and open ocean, uploading their findings to iNaturalist to contribute valuable biodiversity data.
For water-based attractions, a cultural and science 'Tribal Warrior' cruise will demonstrate ancient Indigenous as well as modern sea-restoration practises on Sydney Harbour, and Canberra startup GoBoat will be operating at Cockle Bay Marina, Darling Harbour with its self-drive electric picnic boats which have expanded from the nation's capital into five Australian cities.
A weekend of talks
Education will also feature heavily at the festival in a weekend of talks (March 22–23) with expert discussions on topics such as Indigenous sea knowledge, alternatives to shark nets, and environmental challenges like unchecked sea urchin population surges, with an unexpected solution—turning the invaders into a food source.
Experts will also explore ways to tackle the ocean’s trash crisis and examine the ways seaweed is emerging as a powerful ally in the journey to net zero, providing a means of carbon capture as well as the base material for sustainable packaging and textiles.
Kolni hopes the expanded 2025 program will have an even greater impact by showcasing the work of scientists, innovators and the community working on solutions to protect the ocean habitat and its marine life.
“We want to inspire real hope and action for a thriving harbour and ocean, so we are thrilled to unveil this program and invite everyone to dive into our events this March. Together, we can turn ripples of action into waves of lasting change,” she said.
The mission of Ocean Lovers Festival is to ignite hope by sharing “inspiring solutions and state-of-the-art technology that connect communities and drive positive action”. Its founders, Anita Kolni and Caroline Grant say that by expanding awareness and education they aim to inspire the changes in human behaviour needed to reverse the impact of climate change. The festival runs throughout the month of March in locations from central Sydney to Bondi Beach, and a full program of events can be found at the Ocean Lovers Festival website.
