I don't know if anyone outside Australia knows Fern Gully... But anyway, years ago, watching that movie with friends I casually suggested that possibly fairies in Australia would more likely be indigenous looking than white, and got told off for "making everything political". And by migrant friends.

One of whom used to get quite offended at any implication that they were anything other than Australian.

To be fair, skin tone usually develops due to exposure to the sun. If anything, mermaids probably are tanned on top (backs) and pale on their stomachs. Like great whites