The 'best' outcome? How the marine park plans divided scientists and conservationists

Some say the Coalition's marine management plans are too compromised; others say some protection is better than none. But how did it come to this?

" Jessica Meeuwig: The government's marine park plans are diabolical for ocean protection

For those in Australia's marine science and conservation community, a dream of having a network of marine parks around the continent has been 20 years in the making.

The story is one of heartbreak, near misses and painful compromise and, in the view of some, a false dichotomy of sacrifice between science and economic and political interests.