The Population of penguins has dropped 80% in the last 15 years, most of the decrease has happened since 2017. At the moment there is an estimate of only 300 penguins on the Island.
Rockingham is the only place in WA where you can view penguins so it is very popular with tourists as well as locals. They are a big tourist attraction in Rockingham and are a big reason why people visit Rockingham ( along with the dolphins).
Little penguins need to eat about a quarter of their body weight each day, and low fish numbers mean that many are dying. They have to swim further to find enough food. The Penguins become so tired and exhausted trying to find food, they cannot swim any further many die from fatigue.
Rockingham Council wants to build a 3.3 million dollar discovery center on Penguin Island.
They want to start next summer.
Scientists and Conservationists are concerned that it will interrupt the breeding season and reduce the population. This will reduce the population even more.
All Saints College
Ewing Avenue
Bull creek
WA 6149
May 13th, 2022
Hon. McGowanâs MLA
Shop 13/7 Railway Terrace,
Rockingham
WA 6168
Dear Mr. McGowan,
I am Chloe Maxwell, a 13-year-old resident of Rockingham, (I live just up the road from you).
I am concerned about the population of our little penguins on Penguin Island. As you may be aware, over the last 15 years the penguin population has fallen by over 80%. Did you know there are only 309 penguins left on the island? There were only two births this year, which is the lowest ever recorded birth rate on Penguin Island.
I am very concerned about the proposed new discovery center that is to be built on Penguin Island because it will bring more tourists and disturb the penguinâs habitat. This will impact the penguins during the birthing season. More people will fish which will leave less fish for the penguins. It will bring more boats which might kill the penguins.
I have some suggestions to protect our penguins. I think we should build the discovery center on the mainland as it will give the penguins a chance to increase their population.
Another idea is to close the island during the birthing season to allow the penguins to recover. The penguins do not like to give birth near noise. So building the discovery center on the mainland, this would give the penguins more privacy and less noise as little birds are quite sensitive and donât like being disturbed. This would increase the population as they would have fewer people bothering them during their birthing season.
We could also have a no-fishing policy within 1 Kilometre of the island. This could save some of the penguins as most penguins die from starvation. If there is more fish around the area for them to feed on, then the penguins will not die from starvation. They do need a lot of fish to live.
One final idea I have is to reduce boat speed around the island to avoid people hitting the penguins.
We need to save the island for the penguins otherwise there will not be an attraction for people to come and visit. I do believe the cute penguins are one of the top tourist attractions here in Rockingham and I would be very upset if generations to come couldnât come and visit them as there are no penguins left.
I think we should leave the penguins in peace so they can recover and their population increase over the next couple of years.
Thank you for considering my concerns.
Kind Regards
Chloe Maxwell
Year 8 â All Saints College.
Sound Telegraph. (2022). Controversial Penguin Island information center approved. [online] Available at: https://www.soundtelegraph.com.au/news/sound-telegraph/wa-planning-commission-approves-penguin-island-discovery-centre-despite-strong-opposition-from-council-locals-c-6572685 [Accessed 17 May 2022].
The West Australian. (2021). WAâs penguins in dire straits as marine heatwave hits. [online] Available at: https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/wa-penguins-fighting-for-survival-c-4665290 [Accessed 17 May 2022].
Thompson, H. (2022). New Penguin Island tourism centre to âdoom penguin populationâ. [online] WAtoday. Available at: https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/new-penguin-island-tourism-centre-to-doom-penguin-population-20220211-p59vuh.html [Accessed 19 May 2022].
Scientists in a flap about fate of Rockinghamâs little penguins. (2022b). ABC News. [online] 29 Jan. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-30/time-running-out-for-rockingham-s-little-penguins/100786312.