SAFER SHIPPING IN AUSTRALIA'S UNIQUE NORTH-EAST

News from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is that consultation and public comment is being sought on Queensland's North-East Shipping Management Plan. They advise that, 'Australia’s north-east marine environment is recognised as one of the most sensitive and unique ecological regions in the world. To ensure the continued protection of this precious resource, the North-East Shipping Management Plan (NESMP) has been developed in close consultation with a range of government agencies.' 'The plan sets out the Australian Government’s intentions to enhance ship safety in the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait and Coral Sea regions and is now open for public comment until 4 October 2013.'

www.ausmepa.org.au

CARING FOR CORALS

EDUCATION WORKSHOP

          
           • One-day workshop for senior science, marine and geography teachers, or any teacher wanting to 
             find out more about reef science.

           • Includes hands-on field and classroom activities and take-home materials.

This workshop includes an academic, practical and field session. It will focus on colours on the reef, reef health, threats to reefs, coral bleaching and the importance of reef conservation. You will learn how to use tools such as the Virtual Reef and the CoralWatch website for CoralWatching in the classroom. 

The workshop also shows how the Coral Health Chart and the CoralWatch Reef Education Package can be easily integrated into your field-based activities. Lesson plans for classroom and field activities will be made available.

Learning outcomes:
• Find out about the latest science on the status of reefs and reef conservation
• Learn how to apply CoralWatch tools and materials to the new curriculum
• Get the tools and knowledge you need to engage your students in a global reef monitoring program

Venue: Moreton Bay Research Station, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Costs: $400.00 (incl.GST) 
Early bird fee $275.00 (before 21st of August)

Includes: One day workshop with lunch and refreshments. and a range of take-home materials. 
Please bring your own laptop (if available)

Size: Limited to 20 participants

For more information, contact Diana Kleine (course coordinator) at CoralWatchd.kleine@uq.edu.au or phone 07 3365 3127

Register your interest today
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SPOTLIGHT ON: SeaWeb as a learning resource

Students, teachers and seafarers wishing to look beyond the AUSMEPA curriculum units on Marine Pests and Threats and Marine Stormwater Pollution for further information may find SeaWeb an excellent resource.

Although US based, SeaWeb are exclusively dedicated to communicating workable, science-based solutions to ocean threats. These threats are largely common throughout the entire marine environment.

They have five newsletters and of note is the Marine Science Review, providing citations and abstracts from influential marine science research.

An extract from the Marine Science Review in July 2013 (below) focuses on Introduced Species with research information about pollution from ship ballast and hulls.

July 9, 2013

Introduced Species

• Invasion Science
• Invasiveness
• Occurrence and Establishment
• Vectors and Pathways
• Ballast Water: Issues and Management
• Impacts
• Introduced Species and Climate Change
• Introduced Species and Disease
• Management

Also of note within the SeaWeb Resources page is the Ocean Issue Briefs page with the following links of note on land-based pollution topics.  

Marine Pollution

• Chemical Pollution and Marine Mammals (2008)
• Contaminated Sediments (2004)
• The Gulf of Mexico 'Dead Zone' (2008)
• Harmful Algal Blooms and Toxins (2007)
• Marine Arctic Contamination (2000)
• Marine Debris (2008)
• Nonpoint Source Pollution and Coastal Environments (2000)
• Nutrients (2002)
• Ports & Dredging (2004)
• Toxic Chemical Pollution (2002)

www.ausmepa.org.au

COASTCARER Awards Entry Deadlines

2013 State & Territory Coastcare Award Entry Deadline Extended!

The closing date for entries in the 2013 State & Territory Landcare Awards has been extended in several states, giving Landcarers, farmers and community groups some valuable extra time to get their entries in and be a part of these prestigious biennial Awards. Entries have closed in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria, and the closing dates in all other states and territories are: Queensland 10 July South Australia 14 July Australian Capital Territory 15 July Western Australia 31 July Northern Territory 31 August The nine diverse categories cover a wide range of environmental projects and themes, including sustainable agriculture, coastal rehabilitation, Junior Landcare team work, and Indigenous land management. Individuals, schools, community groups and networks working to protect or restore local environments can be nominated or nominate themselves.  All winners at a State & Territory level in each of the nine national categories go forward as finalists to the 2014 National Landcare Awards. Category Overview Coastcare Award 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. Indigenous Land Management Award This award will be made to an outstanding indigenous community group or individual that is working towards improving land use and/or enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community. Other award classifications: Individual Landcarer Award  Westpac Agribusiness Innovative Young Landcare Leader Award Qantas Landcare Innovative Community Group Award Partnerships with Landcare Award Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices Award Landcare Facilitator or Coordinator Award Junior Landcare Team Award To submit a nomination, or to read about the categories, criteria and closing dates,click here.

www.ausmepa.org.au

Trash in the deep sea: Bringing a hidden problem to light

www.ausmepa.org.au

Tangaroa Blue is Caring for Our Country at Mapoon

Volunteers from Mapoon Land and Sea Rangers, Conservation Volunteers Australia, GhotsNets Australia and Tangaroa Blue spent 5 days removing 3687kg of rubbish from Mapoon Back Beach. Along with 2563 gill net floats (that you can buy from them), 877 cigarette lighters they also collected 7154 orphan thongs - smashing the Cape York record.

Did the all the debris go to landfill? Nope. Eight silo bags of plastic were diverted from landfill, compacted and sent to Brisbane for recycling. Several other organisations worked cooperatively with the group. To find out more you can be inspired by reading the whole article here on the Tangaroa Blue website.

Congratulations to all volunteers and partner organisations for a spectacular effort!
Thanks also to Caring for Our Country for providing funding assistance.

Teachers wishing to incorporate Marine Stormwater Pollution into their teaching plans can visit AUSMEPA's website here.

www.ausmepa.org.au

CSIRO Researchers Want to Know What YOU Think About the Great Barrier Reef

CSIRO is enouraging people to contribute to their sum of understanding about where the Great Barrier Reef sits in people's minds and hearts. 

"Decision makers need as much information as possible to understand the role people will play in the future of the Great Barrier Reef."  Dr Nadine Marshall, CSIRO social scientist and project lead

The CSIRO blog here tells us::

"Amazing facts about the Great Barrier Reef:"

• The reef runs for 2300km down the east coast of Australia – so big it can be seen from outer space
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) listed the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site in 1981
• The Reef is home to the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1625 species of bony fish and 3000 types of mollusc
• Within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (348,000 square kilometres) there are almost 3000 individual reefs of varying sizes and shapes, and over 900 islands
• About ten thousand ships travel through the reef area every year
• Commercial fishing is the fifth largest primary industry by value in Queensland, with a value of about $360 million each year
• More than 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owner clan groups along the east coast of Queensland assert Native Title rights, interests and responsibilities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.*

To read the whole article click here

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