Rockingham’s Little Penguins

Amanda Dorn has called for Penguin Island to be closed to visitors for at least two years to allow the local little penguin population to recover.

In a statement to Parliament, Amanda highlighted that the number of penguins on the island has declined by 94% since 2008. Recent monitoring shows just 114 individuals remain.

Amanda backed calls from the City of Rockingham for urgent conservation measures, including an update to the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park Management Plan and support for tour operators to transition away from the island. She also proposed building a penguin discovery centre on the mainland as a long-term solution — one that could support both penguin protection and the local economy.

The situation on Penguin Island is critical. Without immediate action, the population may not recover.