This section includes information on COASTCARE , OCEAN CARE, THE FRAGILE ANTARCTIC
ENVIRONMENT, DOLPHINS, WHALES and more!!!
Almost three quarters of the earth is covered in water. Threats to marine environments include:
POLLUTION from oil, nutrients, sewage & toxic chemicals, OVERFISHING, HABITAT DESTRUCTION,
INAPPROPRIATE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT
THE SEA MAYBE THE LAST WILDERNESS ON EARTH - LET US PROTECT IT!!!
Start at home and in your neighbourhood by remembering that litter dropped in the street very likely will end up in the stormwater
system, and eventually at your favourite beach.
Please do not wash your car in the street, or hose soapy water down the driveway into the gutter as this is a common cause of
"ALGAL BLOOM"
Plant native trees & shrubs as these will need less, or nil fertiliser and will keep weeds at bay.
Make natural fertiliser by composting food scraps.
PROTECTING CORAL REEFS & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world.
With a seasonal growth rate of approximately 30cm per day , the kelp forests of reefs off Tasmania and Victoria are some of the
fastest growing forests in the world.
Deep seamounts off Eastern Tasmania contain a high number of species unknown to scientists.
Australia's reefs extend across almost one third of the planet's hemisphere
In 1996 Ocean Care Day focussed on the world's sea reefs ,which are the forgotten fringe suffering the impact of overcollection,
pollution, trampling and land reclamation.
Conservation efforts have continued since - You can get involved by contacting the AUSTRALIAN MARINE CONSERVATION
SOCIETY or the SURFRIDER FOUNDATION.
CORAL BLEACHING : This is a disturbing phenomenon which was recently observed first hand in FIJI by Jean-Michel Cousteau
who also reports in his regular bulletin to members of Ocean Futures that experts estimate 10% of reefs worldwide are seriously
degraded and that another 60% face severe degradation within the next 10 - 40 years.
Full information on Ocean Futures and the coral reef monitoring project go to oceanfutures.org,where detailed information can be
found in the special members area.
Information on Australia's Great Barrier Reef can be found at:
By joining in on OCEANCARE DAY :
SEAWEEK
CLEAN UP THE WORLD
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY
We can make a difference to our marine environments.
Activities could include:
UNDERWATER CLEANUPS & SURVEYS
DRAINAGE AWARENESS PROJECTS
Nothing but rainwater should enter the storm drain,but things like motor oil,antifreeze,paint,garden waste and plastic are often
being disposed of in this manner by businesses and householders.
Anti Freeze can kill as can motor oil.
A small quantity of oil can create a very large oil slick (1 quart = a 2 acre oil slick).
Garden wastes decompose rapidly once in the water,this causes excessive nutrients which in turn leads to severe environmental
problems.
Localised flooding can occur because of garden waste clogging drains at the street level.
Many communities around the world are painting signs on gutters saying such hings as "This Drains To The Bay" or featuring
images of Dolphins,Frogs or Whales.
If you want to start a DRAIN MARKING PROJECT in you neighbourhood- contact your local water authority,let them know who will
be doing the workand who is responsible for the supervision.
Get in touch with WATERWATCH , a Landcare group or a local Progress Asociation.
SURF CARNIVALS
Land or Sea) WEEDBUSTING
CREEK REVEGETATION
http://www.ifc.tas.gov.au/conservation.html...FISHCARE SEA FISHERIES
BEACH or WATERFRONT CLEANUPS
Removal of Seastars
COASTAL WALKS or BOAT TRIPS
Adopting A Beach
JOINING A BIRDWATCH GROUP
Shorebirds include sandpipers,plovers,knots,tattlers,whimbrels,stints,godwits,greenshanks,dotterels & curlews,and are for the
most part waterbirds dependent on wetlands.
Some 40 species regularly visit Australia from the Northern Hemisphere each year.
Many trees need native birds for insect control,or pollination.
Did you know? Australia has a greater diversity of bird pollinated flowers than any other continent.
BIRDSWOT AT:
TAS PARKS...HYDRO'S SQUAWK STUDENT RESEARCH,...This ecotourism resort on Bruny Island caters for birdwatching groups
their website has a good selection of ecolinks...
BRUNYBIRDERS WEBRING
DUNE RESTORATION
DISPLAY of MARINE DEBRIS combined with a PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION
Or something else innovative.
ORGANISING OR TAKING PART IN A BEACH CLEAN UP
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA has a very useful manual on organising cleanups distributed to it's co-ordinators each year.
If organising a beach cleanup at another time, tthere maybe other special requirements.
Having contacted the local authorities - organised bag supplies - waste disposal -safety - and communications the particular site
needs to be checked.
HOW EASY IS IT TO GET TO THE SHORELINE
HOW WILL YOU GET RUBBISH BACK TO THE DUMPSTERS
WHAT IS THE PARKING & TRANSPORT ACCESS LIKE (remember if you are using big trucks they will need good
manoeuverability.
Check local tide tables, ideally the collection should begin 1-2 hours after highwater, finish the cleanup well within daylight hours.
Minimise disturbance to wildlife.
Avoid hazards such as possible rock falls from cliffs.
Be aware of possible hazardous material,(dead wildlife, or toxic containers and drums),have a special safety officer briefed to take
care of these items.
DO NOT COLLECT DRIFTWOOD, SEAWEED or ANIMAL FAECES that naturally occurs in the area, they may be providing a
habitat or preventing erosion.
Finally, maintain records of your cleanup, ideally these should be photographic as well as a detailed analysis of the material
collected.
Since 1986 cleanups in over 51 countries have been analysed by the
Centre for Marine Conservation
In the USA and used as the basis for legislation & regulation by USA authorities, plus the International Maritime Organisation.
Australia uses data collected as a means of allowing the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to take measures to enforce the
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION for the PREVENTION of POLLUTION FROM SHIPS (Marpol Annex 5 ).
The enacting legislation for this is the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of pollution from Ships Act ) 1983, which allows maximum
fines of $1,000,000 for corporations & $200,000 for individuals who illegally dump litter.
Recently P&O / Princess Cruises in the USA were fined $500,000 for dumping 20 rubbish bags off the Florida Coast.
UNDERWATER CLEANUPS
Deep Sea Divers are in the unique position of being able to see damage being done to marine environments by all sorts of
pollution - and regularly participate in cleanups. In the UK the MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
was originally founded by divers.
Divers should if not already join the AUSTRALIAN LITTORAL SOCIETY
& encourage their club to affiliate so that they can continue working for cleaner seas.
OTHER ACTIONS: consider formally adopting a Dive Site & plan a programme of regular cleanups and surveys.
Lobby docks & marinas to provide adequate recycling & rubbish facilities.
Install rubbish compactors if in charge of a large vessel.
BE VIGILANT AND REPORT UNLAWFUL DUMPING
MARINE POLLUTION FACTS
Information for this section has been drawn from the Australian Littoral Society.
Direct Pollution can occur through deliberate disposal & accidental loss of substances at sea, whilst Indirect
Pollution can result from landbased activities. it has been estimated that at least 40% of marine contaminants come from landbased
sources.
From The Examiner Newspaper of May 26,2000 this startling statistic:At any one time around 500 seals in Tasmanian waters have
'collars' of plastic litter around their necks,one of thew highest rates in the world.
STORMWATER
DRAINS TO THE BAY: WHEN YOU RUBBISH OUR STREETS, YOU RUBBISH OUR RIVERS AND THE BAY.
Because much of the urban area has a hard surface, the ground is sealed which means the stormwater absorbed by
soils is dramatically reduced and there is less vegetation to use and retain it .This means most water flows down
the drains and into the waterways posing a flooding problem .This stormwater is often contaminated ,reducing the
water quality in rivers & coastal zones.
SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION
Suspended solids - dust and soil
Nutrients - sewerage outflows, fertilisers, detergents, dog faeces
Oxygen demanding materials - food & garden wastes
Microorganisms
Garden Pesticides
Industrial Chemicals
Landfill Leachate
Petroleum products
Street Litter
ANTARCTICA: A MOST FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT
The late Sir Peter Scott, naturalist and son of "Scott of the Antarctic" said "Antarctica represents the last chance we have in
proving that we really will change our ways and begin living in harmony with the planet".
Antarctica is a continent in it's own right. Less than 2% of it is ice free, even in the summer.
It is one of the last great wilderness sanctuaries where animals and birds can feed and breed in their natural environment.
There may be only 2 species of flowering plants but 100s of different mosses and lichens.
Australia & New Zealand claim special rights over Antarctica, while the Australian State of Tasmania, because of it's proximity has
historical and commercial links with the continent.
Its oil and mineral deposits are covetted by many countries.
WE MUST DO ALL ANTARCTICA THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT
THINGS TO DO
Buy a sticker, badge or t. shirt featuring Antarctic slogans
See if there are any opportunities in your community for information stalls.
Pin notices to community bulletin boards.
PRINT OUT INFORMATION FROM THIS WEBSITE, but be sure to acknowledge CLEAN UP LAUNCESTON or the copyright owner if
obtained from a link on this website.
Create an online discussion on discussion boards , or in chat rooms.
Start a petition to your national government
Find out what is being taught in schools about Antarctica.
Sign Greenpeaces's Online Petition against the exploitation of whales at :
OCEANFUTURES.ORG (info on KEIKO,Free Willy}
Check out the progress of KEIKO,star of FREE WILLY as he prepares to rejoin his natural environment. 
OCEAN FACTS |
