Ocean Environment


The ocean; 1.37 billion cubic kilometres of lively liquid, harboring no less than 230,000 different types of known life forms living within its void. It is the principal feature of our fragile hydrosphere, fundamental to virtually all life on earth. Since the emergence of modern man a great deal of that diversity of life has been extinguished. Now, the world's prime rain forests, great coral reefs, and a large portion of earth's mammals and amphibians are under threat of extinction. As it stands - fish stocks are plummeting, the ice is melting and poverty is rife. In early 2012 the 7 billionth person will be born; that's more than triple the number of human beings since the turn of the century!! Our visit has been brief, yet our continual legacy of exponential over-population, consumption, mismanagement and greed has so far been nothing short of astounding. The industrial age has pushed the pedal to the metal and we seem to be blindly heading down a dead end with the lights flashing and the stereo up full bore. As coastal inhabitants surely the well-being of the ocean environment should be right up there on all of our agenda's. Thanks to the explorers and scientists, the talented film makers and the ongoing efforts of non-profit organizations - tireless conservationists devoting their time and lives towards the ever pressing concerns of our age - we are able to learn and understand, to activate, campaign and ultimately be the change we want to see in the world. JP

Nothing but Net? - The shark net controversy running across New South Wales

Ben Kneppers

Shark

Time and time again we have heard the various rumours and controversies concerning the use of shark nets at Manly beach and the surrounding waters. With gossip circulating in the public domain is ranging from the use of super high-tech shark tracking systems monitoring shark movements across all NSW shores to the more sombre existence of unbreachable nets running the entire length of the northern beaches and to the more extreme notion that the authorities are simply stating that the nets exist to dupe public confidence when in fact there is very little if any at all. Personally wishing to further understand this confusion, I decided to delve a little deeper and do a little research of my own.

The Pollution Paradox

Rubbish By Ben Kneppers

I don’t get it. People come from all parts of the world (myself included) to come and enjoy the many beautiful beaches Australia has to offer. I think anyone that comes for a visit would agree how truly priceless these places are. Yet, again and again, some people are not thinking twice about leaving it littered with their rubbish.

Every day in Australia, an estimated 8 million items of litter become marine debris, which is significantly affecting the state of our beaches and coastlines (1).

The State of Our Oceans

by Ben Kneppers

The combined elements of H2O comprise one global interconnected body of salt water covering 71 percent of the world's surface. Customarily divided into several smaller seas, it is responsible for countles services necessary for keeping the earth stable; creating more than half of our oxygen; providing vital sources of protein, energy and minerals; driving weather systems; and moderating climate. Our manipulations of the ocean environment are creating an inbalance of innumerable wildlife species and if present trends continue, there will be an eventual crash on many levels bringing widespread suffering and irreparable damage.