OUR waters include all five of theworld’s ocean temperature zones: polar,sub-polar, temperate, subtropical andtropical – all containing a wide range ofmarine habitats.Our marine environment is perhapsthe most diverse and unique on theplanet, but it is also incredibly fragileand is in need of more care.Increasing threats from pollution,population pressure, excessive fishing,coastal zone degradation, climatechange, declining quality in marine andcoastal waters/sediment, loss of marineand coastal habitats, unsustainable useof marine and coastal resources, lackof marine science policy, lack oflong-term research and monitoring

of the marine environment,lack of strategic planning indealing with marine pestsare all factors that have animpact on our waterways.

Australians are renowned as anation of beach and sea lovers. Ourswimmers, lifesavers, surfers andsailors are world famous. We use

and benefit from the ocean and coast in anumber of ways.◗ Recreational activities like boating,swimming, snorkelling and scuba-diving◗ Tourism – Coastal regions support asignificant tourism industry◗ Fisheries – creates an industry thatprovides a source of nutrition and is ofsignificant economic benefit generatingincome and jobs.◗ Energy and Resources – reserves of oil,gas and minerals which are located

beneath the sea can be extractedto meet our energy and resourceneeds.◗ Shipping – oceans are used totransport goods, people andcargo around the world.

Oceans and coasts are important tothe animals and plants that call themhome, but if we are to continue to reapthe rewards from these environmentswe must look after them. If we don’tchange our habits we will have a seaof trash not a sea splash.

DID YOU KNOWABOUT 4% of our oceans are protect-ed in marine national parks (sanctu-aries) where the wildlife is given abreak from fishing and other extrac-tive uses. Most of this is representedin the Great Barrier Reef World Herit-age Area.Once an item becomes part of ma-rine debris it can take up to hundredsof years to break down. Some ex-amples: paper towel 2-4 weeks; milkcarton 3 months; cigarette butt 10years; Styrofoam cup 50 years;glass bottles 300 years; aluminiumcan 200 to 500 years.

Beyond the beach and below the waves of Australia’s10 million square kilometres of ocean you can find

some of the most rich and diverse forms of life on Earth

AUSTRALIANWATERS HAVE◗ over 4500 fish species and 500corals; 166 shark species; 110species of seabirds◗ Six of the world’s seven turtlespecies; the flatback turtle is uniqueto Australia◗ Half of the world’s 220 species ofseahorses and seadragons◗ About 30 of the world’s 50 speciesof sea snakes, around half areunique to this continent◗ the largest area of coral reefs inthe world◗ the highest diversity of mangrovespecies in the world◗ 6000 shipwrecks lying beneaththe waves◗ The largest single coral reef in theworld – The Great Barrier Reef

Shortest ManA 72-year-old man from a remotevalley in south-western Nepal hasbeen declared the shortest man everdocumented after being measuredby Guinness World Records officials.Chandra Bahadur Dangi stands just54.6cm tall and has been declaredthe shortest human adult everdocumented. Last week, GuinnessWorld Records presented Dangiwith two certificates forbeing the world’sshortest living man andthe world’s shortestperson ever recorded inGuinness’ 57-year history.

Sea WeekSEA Week, a major annualcampaign to increase understandingand appreciation of the sea and itsliving organisms, is held in Marcheach year. Organised by the MarineEducation Society of Australasia,Sea Week is a time for all of us toget to know our ocean, its habitats,characteristics and inhabitantsbetter. The theme for Sea Week, tobe held this week, is Marine Debris– Clean It Up.

WHAT’S NEWS

NiENewsletter

Coming in March is the newNiE Newsletter. Sign up now to

receive a weekly update of great ideasfor you to use in the classroom. Go to yournewspaper’s website. You should find the

address on the front page. Look for the NiE logoin the menu bar and click. Find the link tosubscribe to our new NiE newsletterwhere you’ll be able to accessmore information aboutAPN’s Newspapers in

Educationprogramme.

NiENewsletter

Coming in March is the newNiE Newsletter. Sign up now to

receive a weekly update of great ideasfor you to use in the classroom. Go to yournewspaper’s website. You should find the

address on the front page. Look for the NiE logoin the menu bar and click. Find the link tosubscribe to our new NiE newsletterwhere you’ll be able to accessmore information aboutAPN’s Newspapers in

Educationprogramme.

NEXTWEEK’STOPIC:SeeingClearly

NEXTWEEK’STOPIC:SeeingClearly

GO online by visiting your newspaper’swebsite. You’ll find the address on thefront page. Look for the NiE logo at thetop of the page and click. This will linkyou to APN’s NiE webpage.

Sea Splash not TrashThe amount of rubbish that ends upin the world’s oceans is increasing. Thefigures will probably shock you. In thisweek’s online activity your task is tomake a chart to show the percentage ofdifferent types of rubbish found in theocean. There are also some interestingvideos posted that focus on the subjectof marine debris.

TASKTIMEONLINE

TASKTIMEONLINE

WHO did the AustralianSocceroos beat 4-2 in

Melbourne last week to toptheir group in the 2014 FIFAWorld Cup qualifying campaign?

1

QUIZ TIMEEach week we willtest your knowledgeon what’s beenhappening in thenews. For theanswers visit NiE

online.

QUIZ TIMEEach week we willtest your knowledgeon what’s beenhappening in thenews. For theanswers visit NiE

online.

WHICH A-League Footballteam has had its licence

terminated by FootballFederation Australia?

3

WHICH pop superstarturned 18 last week and

received a $100,000 sportscaras a gift?

2

PHOTO:AAP

User: greg.dawkins Time: 03-05-2012 12:34 Product: SCN PubDate: .Bank Zone: All Edition: Main Page: 2012 Nie Sea splash Color: CMYK