GIANT CUTTLEFISH: a phenomenon in danger

Cuttlefish Country is alerting the Australian public to their concerns around environmental changes in the upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia and the effects on the massive spawning aggregation known to occur there. It is disappearing.





You may also like to look at and comment on the South-east marine reserves draft management plan. The statutory consultation period has commenced and will be open for 45 days, closing on Monday 27th August, 2012. For more information click on the website here. 







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SEA ORBITER - an inner space project

http://seaorbiter.com/accueil

Perhaps there are shades of Jules Verne's scientific thirst in this futuristic project. Moving from science fiction to science fact the remarkable SeaOrbiter is a mobile oceanic research station and preparations are on course for the project launch in 2013. The project's overview can be found here. 


The ocean drifting vessel, perhaps the first of many, sits vertically in the water column to a depth of 31 metres and extends above the water another 20 metres. It will house up to 18 people who will spend their time living and working beneath the surface of the ocean. Observations and scientific monitoring will occur 24hrs a day above and below the surface. 


Like a space station SeaOrbiter will have laboratories, workshops and living quarters. It will also have a pressurized deck with diving gear and submarines instead of spacesuits and spacecraft. The SeaOrbiter has both a multi-level atmospheric pressure module and a pressurized module that opens undersea.  


Click here to view and English language video of the project or paste the following link into your browser - http://seaorbiter.com/vid/SO_UK_2012


A fascinating project and definitely a 'watch this space' adventure.

DYI Litter Survey

Marine and Beach Debris Litter Survey

by Leonie Ebert 8 Feb 2011
The E

Description

The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board produced this instructional movie on the marine and beach debris litter survey so more people can become aware of the impact marine debris has on our coastal regions, flora and fauna. 

NRM contacts for your region can be found here http://www.nrm.gov.au/contact/officers.html

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Winter Whale Tales in Bondi

Encouraging healthy Australian oceans means continuing to seek a balance. Diversity plays a key role in finding that balance. We celebrate it!

For instance, the Protect Our Coral Sea organisation had a delightful time yesterday at Bondi Beach in Sydney, NSW.

Beach goers were treated to fun and information about the variety of whales that travel through the Coral Sea on Australia's north eastern coastline.

It seems there may have been many whale tales contributed on the day too.

To find out more about the Protect Our Coral Sea please find them here at http://www.protectourcoralsea.org.au/coral-sea-help-protect-australia-s-coral-sea



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World Ocean Council Advances Ocean Industry Input to UN Sustainability Conference

News Release RIO +20: ENSURING A VOICE FOR THE RESPONSIBLE OCEAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY 18 June 2012 – At “Rio+20” – the decadal UN Conference on Sustainable Development being held in Rio de Janeiro from 15-22 June – the WOC is working to provide the eyes, ears and voice for the responsible ocean business community. As many as 20,000 people are expected to participate in both official and informal events during Rio+20, including over 100 heads of state and many other government representatives, as well as inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations - and business leaders. The oceans are a major focus of the summit and governments are negotiating commitments that include proposals to amend the Law of the Sea to address marine biodiversity in the high seas, develop marine protected areas, reduce marine pollution/debris, achieve sustainable fisheries, and undertake regular assessments of ocean health. The private sector‘s role in sustainable development is also a significant theme of Rio+20. Some of the key messages WOC is delivering at Rio+20 include: Many ocean companies are working to improve their sustainability and reduce marine environmental impacts. Ocean ecosystems are interconnected, and many of the critical issues affecting ocean health are cross-cutting and cumulative. The best efforts by a single company, or an entire industry sector, are not enough to secure the future health and productivity of the ocean. In the run-up to Rio+20, the WOC was invited to participate in the U.N. Secretary General’s five-person ocean expert group, as the only representative of the private sector. To view the "Oceans, Industry and Rio +20 Workshop" report, click here. About the World Ocean Council (WOC) The WOC is the only international, cross-sectoral alliance for private sector leadership and collaboration in “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”. Companies and associations worldwide are distinguishing themselves as leaders in ocean sustainability and stewardship by joining the WOC. Members include nearly 50 leadership organizations from a wide range of ocean industries: shipping, oil and gas, renewable energy, seafood/fisheries, ocean technology, mining, maritime law, marine environmental services and other areas. Contact: Paul Holthus +1 (808) 277-9008 paul.holthus@oceancouncil.org Web: www.oceancouncil.org To subscribe to future WOC News or to update your contact information, click here.

©2012 World Ocean Council | 3035 Hibiscus Drive, Suite 1 | Honolulu, HI 96815

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Golden opportunity for Gold Coast reefs

MEDIA RELEASE OCTOBER 14, 2011    
www.reefcheckaustralia.org 1


Volunteer reef health monitoring organisation, Reef Check Australia, has kicked off their monitoring survey season in South East Queensland with support from locally-based AirAsia! Reef Check volunteer divers jumped in at Palm Beach Reef and Narrowneck artificial reef this week as the first official dives of the 2011 survey season.


“It’s amazing to dive with such vibrant and diverse marine life and then surface to see the bustling city skyline along the coast,” says, Reef Check Australia’s General Manager, Jennifer Loder. “In half a day we saw breaching whales, dozens of colourful nudibranchs, resting wobbegongs and a multitude of fish. Reef Check programs can help to ensure that there are healthy reef & ocean habitats to support such amazing marine life.”


Over the next several months, Reef Check survey teams will visit reef sites stretching from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast, monitoring reef composition, recording abundance of key fish and invertebrates and documenting reef impacts such as bleaching, coral disease or marine debris. Reef Check’s globally-standardised scientific protocols are currently implemented in more than 90 locations around the world, establishing a unique opportunity to compare reef health around the world.


All Reef Check Australia data is available, free-of-charge, to members of the public who want to learn more about their favourite local reefs via the Reef Check Australia Reef Health Database. Data is also provided to government agencies, natural resource managers and industry to assist in reef management efforts, helping to compliment government monitoring efforts and fill gaps in reef health monitoring data.


More than a dozen local dive operators support Reef Check’s monitoring efforts by providing dive trips to monitoring sites around the South East Queensland area at reduced rates. Local businesses, such as AirAsia, are now showing their support for the community-based initiative through Reef Check Australia’s Adopt a Reef program. “Queensland's Gold Coast was the very first destination of AirAsia's long haul carrier AirAsia X, it is a community we have always had a strong affinity with and we feel it only fitting to further extend our support of the Gold Coast community beyond its shoreline to its local marine wildlife as well,” says Stuart Myerscough, AirAsia’s Marketing Manager.


Jennifer Loder adds, “Reef Check Australia is striving to build awareness, appreciation and protection of rocky reefs, like Palm Beach Reef, right here on our doorstep in SEQ; they really are pretty special. Local partnerships are essential to the success of our program, so we’re grateful that AirAsia is supporting these efforts as our first Adopt a Reef Corporate Giving Program sponsor.”


Find out more about getting involved in a volunteer training course, the Adopt a Reef program or other ways to protect reef and ocean habitats, visit www.reefcheckaustralia.org.
For additional information and high resolution images, contact:
Jennifer Loder, General Manager at jenn@reefcheckaustralia.org or 0402284681.


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Recent shipping achievements in protection of the marine environment

MEDIA RELEASE:
World Environment Day 5 June 2012

This World Environment Day the Australian Shipowners Association (ASA)
reflects on the recent achievements in environmental protection the shipping
industry has made and looks towards a sustainable future and how shipping can
be an important part of the green economy.

International shipping carries 90% of world trade, and is the most carbon efficient
form of long haul bulk transport, being responsible for only 2.7% of global
greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the recent international agreement at the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) – the first ever for an entire industry
sector – will, through technical and operational measures, reduce global ship
sourced emissions even further.

See more here




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