Just before Christmas, the Federal Government announced the opening of another 2.5 million hectares of the Otway Basin to gas and oil exploration. In this piece for The Monthly, I explore the price of more gas action on the unique marine habitat off the Otway Coast where I live, and on the Southern Ocean more broadly. Amazing photo of Marengo beach by my friend and neighbour Doug Gimesy. https://www.themonthly.com.au/may-2026/essays/upwelling?share=djF8MTg2ZTVkODR8RkdbRVlCXUlXWztGXEpUSltEWUNcXVNCWEJQWUddJ0ZBU1VdVl9EQ0E=