European Marine Science Educators Association conference (EMSEA)

The second European Marine Science Educators Association conference (EMSEA) will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden on October 1-3 2014! 

One of the objectives of the EMSEA conferences is to address the lack of ocean-related content in science education standards and to envision how to bring ocean sciences into the mainstream science education. Furthermore, the conference will emphasize how marine formal and informal education projects lead to more public involvement and active participation.

The EMSEA conference 2014 in Gothenburg has the ambition to draw formal and informal marine educators from all over Europe and beyond. During the conference they will have opportunity to share ideas, experiences and resources, get to know other educators and to participate in lectures and field trips.

To know more about the conference, visit: http://www.emsea.eu/conference-2014-gothenburg.

Géraldine Fauville

Inquiry-to-Insight and Virtual Marine Scientist projects manager

Sea For society geographical forum leader

Department of pedagogy, communication and learning

University of Gothenburg

Sweden

Email: geraldine.fauville@gu.se

Phone: +46 (0) 31 7869518

Cellular: +46 (0) 76 6229518

Fax: +46 (0) 523 18502

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NAMEPA Jr; marine education materials in North America

The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a member of the International Marine Environment Protection Association (INTERMEPA). 
To find out more about INTERMEPA click here.

NAMEPA is AUSMEPA'S trans-Pacific counterpart. They recently announced their pleasure and pride to be a part of the IMO's efforts to reach children and students about marine environment protection and the commercial maritime industry through their new NAMEPA Jr webpages for schools and students, which can be accessed at here. 

To visit the NAMEPA click here.






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Sweden recycling dilemma

The following information was taken from a great article,
Sweden runs out of garbage, forced to import from Norway  
by Matt Hickman 

You can read the whole article if you click here

It seems that Sweden,  a recycling-happy land where a quarter of a million homes are powered by the incineration of waste, was caught short last year: it ran out of much-needed fuel. It ran out of garbage.

As a result it needed to import trash from neighboring countries to provide electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes through a longstanding waste-to-energy incineration program. A short term solution saw Norway pay for Sweden to take it's excess waste. The resulting ash was then returned to Norway landfill.

 www.ausmepa.org.au

FERAL OR IN PERIL; AUSMEPA ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD WINNERS 2013

The Conservation Council of South Australia Inc (CCSA) has been awarded AUSMEPA's highest acknowledgement for its marine citizen science program, Feral or In Peril (FIP).www.ausmepa.org.au

FIP has delivered significant achievements in contributing to protection of the marine environment in during the last 12 years. Hundreds of volunteers both in South Australia and in Victoria (via Reef Watch Victoria) have contributed to the success of the program.

The program was one of the first marine programs of this kind in Australia and since its implementation the program has received almost 500 reports of sightings and engaged with more than 85,000 people. It is a effective, easily replicable program to prevent and manage the spread of marine pests.

Volunteers directly input data into the new FIP online reporting system is hosted by the Atlas of Living Australia here: http://feralperil.ala.org.au The website system generates real time email alerts directly to biosecurity agencies.

Photo courtesy of Kangaroo Island NRM Board

One of the most significant achievements of the program happened in 2008 when a volunteer reported the first sighting of the European fan worm (Sabella spallanzanii) on Kangaroo Island. This instigated a major marine pest program by the KI Natural Resources Management Board.

In 2008 CCSA was able to secure funding to assist Reef Watch Victoria to set up an FIP program. They had early success with their program when reports of western and eastern blue gropers provided by volunteers led to the implementation of a 12 month moratorium on catching these species whilst further research was undertaken. 

The SA and Victorian programs also collaborated on a joint marine pest removal project at Apollo Bay, Victoria, resulting in the removal of 2.5 tonnes of Undaria pinnatifida, an invasive kelp species.

The FIP program has also been collaborating with the SA Research and development Institute (SARDI), Aquatic Sciences along who join a long list of interested and committed partners.

CCSA is the peak conservation body for South Australia, representing 50 of the State’s environment and conservation organisations. It is an independent non-profit, non party-political, community based organisation that provides resources, advice and representation for the SA environment movement, and leads many of the key conservation campaigns in SA.

Redmap video competition; ocean warming video

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Cleveland State High School, leading the way to ocean health

AUSMEPA's grant recipient's, Cleveland State High School, have promoted marine education and action to understand and protect the ocean through reef monitoring with REEFSearch.



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SEAFARERS: REFRESHER TRAINING GUIDE FOR SEAFARERS ON SHIPS IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS

In case you missed hearing about this earlier 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'.  It has been produced in collaboration with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA).

Australian waters cover an area of approximately 14 million squares 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 Australian 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 outlining the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the Guide also incorporates information on relevant 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. 

"The MARPOL Convention is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. It is a combination of two treaties adopted in 1973 and 1978 respectively and updated by amendments through the years."  (as taken from the IMO website here)

AUSMEPA's intention is that the new Guide will also facilitate ad 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.

The refresher training package is presented to every ship calling in at an Australian port. The objective is to assist ship Masters and their crews to meet their obligations in preserving our Australian marine environment.  The refresher training package contains a short video in several languages, a guide to seafarers sailing on ships in Australian waters and a number of educational power point presentations. 

Copies of the Guide are available through AUSMEPA and AMSA.

For further information contact – info@ausmepa.org.au

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AMCS announcement; International Court of Justice ruling on whale program

MEDIA RELEASE: International Court of Justice Harpoons Whalers Monday 31 March 2014 The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has welcomed today’s ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Japan’s ‘scientific’ whaling program breaks international law and must be stopped. AMCS Director Darren Kindleysides, who has played a significant role over the past eight years to advocate international legal action against Japan, also congratulated the Australian Government for challenging Japan in the ICJ. “The International Courts have today confirmed that Japan’s so-called ‘scientific whaling’ is illegal,” said Mr Kindleysides. “Over the last 25 years, more than 10,000 whales have been killed in the Southern Ocean by Japanese whalers under the guise of ‘research’. That ends today. “The International Court’s decision exposes the sham that is ‘scientific whaling’ for what it really is: commercial whaling in disguise. “No longer can whaling nations dress commercial whaling up in a lab coat to get around the global ban on whaling. “This case has been an international embarrassment to Japan. “The Government of Japan was in the dock, and that’s where their whaling fleet must now stay. "The judgments of the ICJ have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned. "We urge Japan to abide by the decision of the highest court on the planet. “We thank and congratulate the Australian Government for taking this case, which was supported by New Zealand. "The decision is vindication for Australia’s decision to stand up to Japan through the International Courts. “We call on the Prime Minister to raise the issue of whaling when he meets his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in April. “The PM must urge Japan’s Prime Minister to abide by the findings of the ICJ. Their whaling program has done much harm to Japan’s standing on the international stage. The PM must call on Japan to now join the international non-lethal whale research program in the Southern Ocean,” he said. Media Contact: AMCS Director Darren Kindleysides 0422 396 077 or AMCS Communications Manager Ingrid Neilson 0421 9 72 731

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