World Ocean Day
Written by Tamsin Collins
Published June 2021
Welcome to the WA RACI Branch June Newsletter!
The 8th of June is World Ocean Day where the United Nations are looking to enlist our support to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030 (30x30). The aim of the 30x30 petition is to protect our planets life support systems specifically the interconnected issues of ocean, climate, and biodiversity.
The 30x30 vision is not that that each nation meets the target but that Nations, in partnership with indigenous peoples and local communities work together to decide which specific areas to conserve, considering the following:
- Focus on conserving the areas that are the most important for biodiversity including ecosystem that are still intact and specific areas that experts have already identified as critical on land and in the ocean.
- To the extent possible ensure that conservation supports landscape connectivity, which will help nature and wildlife adapt to climate change and other stresses
- Pursue conservation in various regions, helping to ensure that the global system of protected and conserved areas is fully representative of our planets diverse nature and ecosystems.
One example of this type of approach is the Gayini Nimmie-Caira & Great Cumgung Swamp Projects in NSW which protect 375,000 contiguous acres in one of Australia’s most important landscapes.
Sending the right signals to our leaders in this exciting period of change helps to give our leaders the room they need to take the bold steps to protect our home and our children’s future.
This is especially important as we see the commencement of the 2021-2030 UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development where the theme is ‘The science we need for the ocean we want’.
Ways to get involved on World Ocean Day:
Online: Youth-a-thon 2021 A 24 hour event aimed at young people to learn more about the ocean and conservation efforts around the globe and connect with a global community of young change makers.
In Person in Perth: There are three events listed in Perth. The one that I was most struck by was one entitled What Jon Sanders Found. During Jon Sanders 11th solo circumnavigation of the world he collected ocean samples daily. The samples were to be analysed by Curtin University’s WA Organic & Isotope Geochemistry Centre. Why? To build the first reliable and consistent baseline for global micro-plastics data for the Southern Hemisphere’s Ocean.
Ways to get involved every day:
Locally we have UWA Oceans Institute which is focusing on five big themes:
- Energy from the oceans,
- Maritime security and defense,
- Fisheries food security and aquaculture,
- Conservation ecology & climate change,
- Coasts & communities.
The institute is looking for community and industrial support whether it be by joining the community, making a donation or a partnership to help address the challenges of the Indian Ocean through exploration, collaboration and innovation.
And for more everyday options:
The Ocean Clean Up – Trash into Treasure
The ocean clean-up project is not Australian based but is one that works in partnership with the Ocean Institute. Their product is sunglasses made from plastic from the ocean. Not just collected from beaches but directly from the garbage patches using a device the team create.
Zero Co's 'Ocean 21 – Let’s Untrash the Ocean'
Zero Co, an Australian based company, collects trash from the ocean and turn it into ‘forever bottles’ for household cleaning product. They send out refill pouches to refill the forever bottle. When you collect 15 empty refill pouches you sent them back to be cleaned and reused in the return to sender envelope provided. This year the trash is coming from beaches around Australia. I have tried their products out and they have passed muster at home.
With the relaunch of the RACI website and the renewal of our processes now is a great time to reimagine how we might go about doing things. What do you need from RACI? Please do let me know.
Tamsin Collins
RACI WA President
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