Seafarers Refresher Educational Training Package

AUSMEPA  MEDIA RELEASE

This media release is issued by the

Australian Marine Environment

Protection Association (AUSMEPA)

For further information contact: JULIE NASH

Acting Executive Director

Mobile: 0412 876109                julienash@ausmepa.org.au 

                                                                                                                     

AUSMEPA’s electronic ‘Seafarers Refresher Educational Training Package’

AUSMEPA has the aim of informing and assisting the officers and crew of its member-vessels and other vessels transiting Australian waters.

 

AUSMEPA is now providing its member-companies and others with the Association’s latest electronic publication titled “A Refresher Training Guide for Seafarers on Ships in Australian Waters”. This has been produced in collaboration with AMSA (the Australian Maritime Safety Authority) and HELMEPA (the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association).

Australian waters cover an area of approximately 14 million square kilometers and feature a wide variety of climatic, oceanographic and geographical characteristics. They hold a rare biodiversity of terrestrial and marine species, together with the world’s largest “living organism” – The Great Barrier Reef, our natural wonder that has been evolving for more than one million years. The Great Barrier Reef must be navigated safely with respect and care, given that Australia depends on the shipping industry for the transportation of approximately one billion tonnes of raw materials and products each year both imports and exports through our ports.

Besides the requirements of IMO, the Guide also comprises of Australian legislation and MARPOL requirements regarding ship tracking and reporting systems, navigation in the inner routes of the Great Barrier Reef, ballast water management, biofouling and the permissible draught of ships in Torres Strait.

AUSMEPA’s intention is that the new Guide will also facilitate and assist all seafarers transiting Australian waters, in their effective cooperation with AMSA for the promotion of the common goal of safe navigation and pollution prevention, especially in the sensitive marine areas of this vast continent. It is available in Chinese, English, Greek, Japanese, Russian and Ukrainian.

www.ausmepa.org.au

OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLES UPDATED

The Ocean Literacy Campaign ad-hoc committee announced the publication of a new version of “Ocean Literacy: The Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts of Ocean Sciences for Learners of All Ages.”  This guide (here) replaces the version first published in July 2005. 

Some of these changes include: an additional concept for Essential Principle 4 that describes the role of the ocean in providing water, oxygen, and nutrients and moderating climate as well as the integration of ocean acidification into existing concepts.

The new guide also adds information on how the guide has been used in the past eight years; describes related international developments; and provides links to social networks for the Ocean Literacy Campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

Want a copy immediately?  A version suitable for printing is available online at: http://www.coexploration.org/oceanliteracy/documents/OceanLitGuide_LettersizeV2.pdf.

www.ausmepa.org.au

2013 State and Territory Landcare Awards

Coastcare Award

About the Category
This award will be made to a community group/network for excellence in activities that have contributed to the significant improvement of local coastal and/or marine environments, including estuaries, coastal and marine wetlands and salt marsh ecosystems.

Selection Criteria:

1. Describe the projects undertaken by the group/network that have increased community awareness and engagement with coastal environmental issues linked to  local and/or regional environmental/ natural resource management plans.
2. How has the group/network’s activities improved the sustainable use and/or management of coastal natural resources? Provide examples of results.
3. Demonstrate how the group/network’s activities have targeted the causes and symptoms of local coastal environmental issues.
4. How has the group/network developed local and/or regional partnerships for Coastcare activity? For example with local councils, businesses, school, other community groups, academic institutions etc.
5. What challenges did the group/network encounter in the development and implementation of coastal protection activities and the strategies used to address these challenges?

www.ausmepa.org.au

Redmap Presentations June 2013

Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre is hosting Redmap for several presentations in regaional NSW. 

Redmap 'invites the Australian community to spot, log and map marine species that are uncommon in Australia, or along particular parts of our coast.'

Presentations by Professor Natalie Moltschaniwskyj, Associate Professor – Marine Science School of Environmental & Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle – all presentations commence at 5:30pm:  (Entry is FREE for all Redmap presentations).  We hope you can find your way to one of the 4 presentation venues for a really interesting interactive program that you can contribute to:

• Monday 3rd June – Tathra Surf Lifesaving Club
• Tuesday 4th June – Club Sapphire, Merimbula
• Wednesday 5th June – Narooma Golf Club
• Thursday 6th June – Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre, Eden

www.ausmepa.org.au

SPOTLIGHT ON: Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre

Louise admiring some of the excellent posters created by students

Queensland, Australia, is luckier than most to have 26 environmental and outdoor education centres spread throughout the state. 

The most northerly of these is Holloways Beach in Far North Queensland near Cairns. Off shore lies the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The centre is a camp for all of the schools in the Cairns area as well as a day excursion destination.

Boating skills, science studies. leadership and sustainability activities make the centre a popular draw card for students in the region. Along with a diverse natural area to explore the camp has a variety of aquarium specimens including 'Snappy Tom' the baby crocodile and a touch tank. 

Touch tank

Snappy Tom

Like all Environmental Centres around Australia, Holloways Beach are invited to receive AUSMEPA's free poster packs as either pre or post visit resources for visiting schools.





www.ausmepa.org.au