Indigenous Led & Award-Winning EcoTourism in Kaikōura, New Zealand Here I am on the ferry returning from an epic week in the South Island. Dusky Dolphins are jumping in the long wake behind the massive Inter-Island Ferry, loaded with timber, livestock, cars and people. I’m practicing my indiscreet Indian vocabulary […]
Matiu/Somes Island – A Treasure In Wellington Harbor In the case of Matiu-Somes Island, community comes first. It is in this spirit that generations of dedicated people working together to protect an island’s rich inter-cultural and natural heritage are creating an enduring model for the future of environmental education and […]
Conservation in Te Angiangi Marine Reserve & Surrounds, North Island New Zealand Field Research at Te Angiangi Marine Reserve, New Zealand Once again, we stood by our vans at Victoria University and put on some hit-the-road music, finally with an I-pod instead of the endless “Sugar Sugar” early oldies mix I […]
Conservation on North Stradbroke Island / Minjerribah, AU One of the world’s largest sand islands, North Stradbroke Island, or Minjerribah to the Aboriginals who inhabited it for tens of thousands of years before Anglo settlers, has a University of Queensland research station where my class went to study tropical conservation […]
“Bioluminescence” is a little understood, but fundamental and widespread phenomenon in the marine biosphere. The water column provides few places to hide and wherever the sun shines there is the risk of being seen by a predator. Indeed, the largest migration in the animal kingdom is the daily escape by […]
The Role of Sea Turtle Tracking in Conservation Knowledge gained from satellite telemetry tagging is helping people respond to critical problems facing endangered marine turtles, while contributing to eco-system and community based conservation. Many scientists agree that the best way to restore sea turtle populations to sustainable levels is to […]
The Baithouse Aquarium, Taonga (Treasure) on Wellington’s South Coast Wellington’s South Coast is an authentic treasure map, drawn across a spectacular landscape. It is the sort of place that takes your breath away, whether you are a skeptical landlubber or a seafaring adventurer. From the Easter Island Moai in Lyall […]
Global and Regional Threats to Coral Reef Ecosystems Among all the marine and terrestrial ecosystems, the diversity of coral reefs is rivaled only by rainforests (NOAA). In terms of ecosystem benefits, coral reefs provide coastal protection, crucial protein and income from fisheries, diving-related tourism, bio-medical opportunities, and intrinsic cultural and […]
An Academic Journey to Heron Island Research Station in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park\ I am writing about going to Heron Island, the world’s largest coral reef research station in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, a month late, because the salty and flavorful experience needed time to digest. Perhaps […]
Plastics – A Global Health Problem Plastic pollution is a global problem and a part of our physically interconnected world. Even on the most remote isles you can’t get away from it. In fact, these are the places where ocean currents transport plastic debris and collect it on beaches in […]