AUSTRALIAN MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY

Australian Ambassador Jenny Bloomfield and Embassy staff, Athens

AUSMEPA is proud of its marine educational profile at home and abroad.

Here find a surprise photo submitted by staff at the Australian Embassy in Athens showing their support for AUSMEPA's marine environmental education and highlighting calendars and posters. Thanks very much!

The Australian Ambassador to Greece, Jenny Bloomfield, along with AUSMEPA's Chairman, Rightship CEO, Warwick Norman, will participate in this year’s Posidonia 2014 International Shipping Exhibition in Athens from 2-6 June which will be attended by over 60 delegations including Australia. 

AUSMEPA commends the shipping industry for its support for marine environmental education and action through their support of a network of Marine Environmental Protection Associations throughout the world. 

For instance, ships who qualify for AUSMEPA's ship membership stand up as iconic inspiration to their peers. By flying the AUSMEPA flag they announce their commitment to captaining ships of quality who meet international safety and environmental standards.



www.ausmepa.org.au

Queensland Education Resources Expo 2014

Teachers in south east Queensland have found this exhibition to be a wonderful resource, highlighting resources, hints and tips to help in forming their workplans.

www.ausmepa.org.au

AIMS; 'Marine Nation 2025'

Visit the Australian Institute of Marine Science here to find out more about how closely we are linked to our marine coasts and seas. There is a plethora of interesting material on all aspects of our marine environment.



www.ausmepa.org.au

Sea Urchin Tutorials online

Stanford University has some fascinating interactive tutorials that will assist in the exploration of sea urchins (click here)

         VIRTUALURCHIN

interactive tutorials

(require free flash plugin — we recommend downloading the latest version for your platform)

fertilization lab	microscope measurement	urchin anatomy	predator & prey	embryo microinjection

microscope tutorial	microscope compare	specimen compare	our acidifying ocean	early development

c2008-2013, Stanford University. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

www.ausmepa.org.au

Marine Mollusc; the grazing sea hare

 Sea hares are snails, gastropods, with a soft bodies and an internal shell. The name sea hare was coined owing to the fact that they have erect head tentacles, rhinophores, just above the eyes that resemble rabbit ears. They are hermaphrodites having both male and female reproductive organs. They are herbivores.

Sea hares are known for their excellent sense of smell aided by oral tentacles at the front of the head and on either side of the mouth.

At the back of the sea hare's body you can see the large (parapodial) flaps. These flaps enclose the mantle cavity housing a fragile plate-like shell. 

The colour of the animal corresponds to the seaweed they graze on creating a useful camoflauge. When disturbed or distressed this large slug can release a smoke screen of ink. The skin has toxins to make them taste bad and avoid predators.

The gentle sea hares are a great 'find it' activity when visiting intertidal areas.

www.ausmepa.org.au

AUSMEPA 2014 school grant: Looking for signs - what’s left behind?

AUSMEPA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2014 Rhondda Alexander Memorial Environmental Education Grant.

Stella Maris Primary School and two other schools skirting the shores of Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, are taking up a challenge to discover what stories, new and old, can be read from what is left behind. The project will be coordinated by Andrea Eales of the Port Phillip EcoCentre, St Kilda.

Students from each school will begin by studying an Aboriginal kitchen midden, guided by an Aboriginal educator from the Boon Wurrung Foundation. 

Courtesy of Bob Winters

Having gained an understanding and a sense of what was common in an earlier time the students will learn about local birds followed by surveys of marine molluscs and marine plastics to see how things have changed over the years. 

Courtesy of Bob Winters

The scientific data collected will contribute to ongoing scientific surveys of marine life and plastic debris in Port Phillip Bay.

Plastic nurdles courtesy of Pt Phillip BayKeeper 

Afterwards the students will meet at each of the schools to create a film focusing on Port Phillip marine life and plastic debris that will be available to an online community with more than 1000 schools, the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic. The film will also be provided to Bayside Council for inclusion the Brighter Schools e-newsletter sent to 34 schools in the municipality.

Project partners are; Stella Maris Primary School and Beaumaris Primary School (Beaumaris) and St Joseph’s Primary School (Black Rock), plus Port Phillip EcoCentre, Port PhillipBaykeeper and the Boon Wurrung Foundation

www.ausmepa.org.au