Seahorses CREATURE FEATURE - Australian Marine Conservation Society
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Summer 2021
Supporter Newsletter
CREATURE FEATURE
Seahorses
Page 2
Single-Use
Plastic Bans
Page 3
Punching for
Healthy Oceans
Page 5
We
Blue Carbon
Page 8
With Thanks to YOU
White Sydney seahorse © Charlotte Bleijenberg. On the Cover: Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) on Gorgonian Fan Coral © Gary Bell / OceanwideImages.com
Whale Shark filter feeds in polluted ocean
Creature Feature Protecting amazing sea life thanks to you... We Action Tackling plastic pollution with your support …
Green Sea Turtle Planet Cup @ Pottery for Planet
Little Loves Pottery For The Planet We Did It!
Seahorses can be monogamous and pair Clare and Renton South Australia became the first state or
for life.
Fun Fact: (pictured in their territory in Australia to ban single-use
Found in shallow tropical and temperate The Latin name for seahorse is Hippocampus ceramic studio in plastics!
waters throughout the world, seahorses which means “Horse Caterpillar” Noosa, Queensland) Under new historic laws, which will begin
can live in a range of habitats including are deeply early this year, single-use plastic straws,
seagrass beds and mangroves. Endangered Sydney Seahorses connected to cutlery and drink stirrers will be prohibited
Seahorses are tiny fish that are named the ocean. from sale in South Australia. In the following
White’s seahorses (pictured), affectionately
Sharing their passion 12 months expanded polystyrene cups,
for their horse-shaped head. Their bodies known as Sydney seahorses are a bowls, plates and clamshell containers will
are covered in tiny, spiny plates, all the threatened species. for the environment
be added to the ban.
way from their head down to their tail. The Their populations have declined due to and activism, Clare
curled, flexible tail can grasp objects, which Botfield and Renton Bishopric dreamt up And there’s more good news.
habitat loss and degradation of seagrass,
is vital to anchor themselves to vegetation, Pottery For The Planet as a way to help Western Australia has announced they
sponge and soft coral in their harbour home.
as they are very poor swimmers. They have protect our beaches and seas from the will ban more single-use plastics than any
Last year, following an intensive 10-month other state! If implemented, their ban would
small dorsal fins to move forward and a breeding program, a group of white’s harmful effects of plastic pollution and
‘swim bladder’ (tiny pocket of air inside their climate change. eliminate single-use plastic plates, cutlery,
seahorses were released back into Sydney stirrers, straws, thick plastic bags, polystyrene
bodies) to move up or down through the Harbour. The seahorses were tagged and Clare and Renton created an ethical business
water column. food containers, and helium balloon
released into underwater ‘seahorse hotels’, producing hand-crafted artisan ceramics to releases by 2023. In a second stage they
There are many species of seahorses designed to attract and protect seahorses. create a sustainable future for generations to will ban single-use plastic produce bags,
throughout the world’s oceans, and new Marine scientists will be conducting come by doing their bit to combat the single- microbeads, polystyrene packaging, plastic
species continue to be found. regular diving surveys to monitor their use culture and plastic waste. cotton buds and oxo-degradable plastics.
Worldwide coastal habitat depletion, growth, survival and breeding in the wild. Long-time AMCS supporters, they designed Without the support of ocean lovers like
pollution, and rampant harvesting (mainly a ‘Stop Adani’ reusable cup and a Green you, who have fought to save our ocean
for use in traditional medicine, curios and pet Sea Turtle Planet Cup for World Turtle Day. wildlife from drowning in plastic, none of
trade) have made several species vulnerable. Facts & Figures this would have been possible.
COMMON NAME: Seahorses
We Ethical
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hippocampus Show your when Recycling
Did You Know?
TYPE: Fish Heartfelt thanks to Pottery for the
Seahorses are the only animal species on GROUP NAME: Herd Planet for donating a portion of their Save our oceans every time you
Earth in which the male bears the young. DIET: Carnivore profits to protecting Australia’s oceans recycle! In NSW, WA and QLD you can
Male seahorses have a brood pouch into as AMCS Silver Business Supporters. donate your container deposit refunds
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 1 to 5 years
which the female deposits her eggs; the Want to become an AMCS business to our plastic pollution programs.
male then fertilizes and carries the eggs in SIZE: 2-35cm supporter? For more information, visit
his pouch until they hatch. TOP SPEED: 150cm per hour Visit amcs.org.au/CorporatePartner amcs.org.au/cash-for-containers
2 Turning The Tide With Thanks to YOU 3
Chantelle, Hamilton & Mark © www.surfphotosofyou.com.au
GoodFish chefs on tour with Fishermen in Corner Inlet, Victoria © Nick Fletcher
Giant Shovelnose Ray (Rhinobatos typus), New South Wales, Australia © Rudie Kuiter / OceanwideImages.com
We GoodFish You’re helping Australians make sustainable choices… We Sharks & Rays Together we’re advocating for our sharks…
Go Green-List Fishery Reform Win! Fins Win In QLD Punching for Healthy Oceans
If you eat seafood, make sure it’s sustainable! Fisheries reforms announced by the Illegal shark finning in the Great Barrier Chantelle wants us all to be
GoodFish is a sustainability initiative by Queensland government are a vital part of Reef has been brought under control. #PunchingForHealthyOceans.
AMCS, designed for ocean lovers who also reforming the state’s commercial fisheries. Landmark fishing reforms have been Chantelle’s leg was bitten by a 2.5m
love seafood. Rules brought in September 2020 will help introduced into Queensland requiring juvenile great white shark off Shelly Beach
What does it mean to be a Green-List improve the sustainability of Queensland sharks from Queensland’s largest fishery at Port Macquarie NSW, while surfing
seafood? fisheries and better manage sharks fished (East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Fishery) to be with her fiancé, Mark in August 2020. The
in the Great Barrier Reef. brought back to land in one piece, with damage to her leg is severe, and requires
Simple. Eating a seafood species that’s on
the Green-List helps you tread gently on AMCS welcomes moves from the their fins attached to their bodies. a long life-changing recovery process.
our oceans. It means your choice won’t Queensland Government to modernise This ‘fins on’ rule is globally acknowledged Despite their traumatic experience,
harm ocean habitats or push threatened commercial fishing by breaking down as fundamental to sustainable fisheries Chantelle and Mark wanted this incident
marine species closer to extinction. It won’t huge fisheries into smaller, more management and threatened shark to highlight the plight of sharks throughout
risk overfishing and importantly, it will manageable units. This means fish stocks species conservation. our oceans, which are critical to healthy
support fishers and fish farmers who care in different areas can be more carefully ocean ecosystems.
monitored and catches capped to prevent Previously, sharks could be processed
for our oceans.
at sea into separate products of fillets
“I think the best good that can come from
overfishing. it is to say that we care about our planet.
Join the swelling tide for sustainable seafood and fins. This created an enormous
in Australia. Visit goodfish.org.au today and However, more reform is needed to help We want diverse oceans.”
management challenge that potentially
find your favourite sustainable seafood. our threatened marine wildlife. Crucial Chantelle and Mark set up a
components are missing, such as mandatory allowed sharks to be caught and finned,
with their bodies dumped at sea. This was crowdfunding campaign for AMCS to
independent monitoring and measures to support our work to promote ocean
GoodFish Restaurant Guide stop threatened species like dugongs and both illegal and cruel.
health. They want to see measures put in
2020 was a hard year for our Sustainable turtles from drowning in killer gillnets. However, the announcement does not place around the world that keep both
Seafood Restaurant friends. Please These reforms are welcome progress cover all Queensland fisheries. We are humans and sharks safe.
visit goodfish.org.au to find GoodFish towards sustainable fishing in Queensland calling for a more comprehensive roll
Restaurants near you and help regrow a waters, but we have a long way to go out of this rule across all Queensland Thank you
sustainable local industry. before our Great Barrier Reef wildlife gets commercial fisheries.
the protection it needs. We are deeply
humbled by Chantelle
We Green-List Close the WA loophole and Mark’s spirit and
Thank You generosity. We wish
Download (or update) your free Western Australia (WA) is the only place you all of our love
GoodFish: Australia’s Sustainable Thank you for adding your support in Australia without a ‘fins on’ rule. and strength in your
Seafood Guide app to choose a to the review process last year – our Take Action and urge the WA recovery.
sustainable Green-List seafood today. collective voice helps better protect our government make ‘fins on’ a rule Thank you to all who supported their
Visit goodfish.org.au threatened marine life. amcs.org.au/WA campaign raising almost $13,000.
4 Turning The Tide With Thanks to YOU 5
Australian Sea Lion © Alex Kydd
Orange Roughy @ Marc AuMarc
We Threatened Species Protecting our precious ocean wildlife…
“Mr Blobby”, Fathead (Psychrlutes) © Kerryn Parkinson, NORFANZ Founding Parties
Ancient Orange Roughy Facts & Figures
We Ugly Cute Enviro Laws Under Threat
COMMON NAME: Orange Roughy
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hoplostethus
One of the longest living fish species known, These Aussies aren’t the cutest, but we love Australia has some of the worst
some orange roughy are so old that they’ve atlanticus them anyway. extinction rates in the world. At the heart
been alive since Ned Kelly was a boy. TYPE: Fish of this problem lies outdated and weak
GROUP NAME: Herd
Blobfish: Mr Blobby nature laws.
Fished on top of deep-sea seamounts won 2013’s “World’s Ugliest
(underwater mountains) surrounded by fragile DIET: Bentho-pelagic and meso- In late 2020, the Morrison Government
Animal”. The image of the
ancient deep-water corals, orange roughy are pelagic fish such as squid, gelatinous blobfish is due to tried to race through a Parliamentary Bill
slow-growing and slow to reproduce. In fact, crustaceans and amphipods. decompression damage when to devolve environmental decision making
they don’t reproduce until around 20-35 years AVERAGE LIFESPAN: Greater than 140 years they are brought to the surface
© SEA SERPENT
to the states and territories.
of age. This means that if they’re overfished SIZE: Up to 75 cm in length and 7 kg from extreme depths. In their natural deep sea We must fix these laws and save our
they can be wiped out quickly. environment off the coasts of Australia and New endangered ocean wildlife.
HABITAT: Marine Deep Benthic. They are
Orange roughy are listed as ‘conservation Zealand, blobfish appear a little bit more fishy In response to a snap Senate inquiry
usually found at depths of 700-1400 metres.
dependent’ under Commonwealth (pictured). last November, more than 7,000 AMCS
IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Vulnerable
environmental legislation, but this listing supporters sent in submissions within
Handfish: With prominent just 24 hours objecting to the Federal
still permits the targeted fishing of these Orange Roughy Victory hand-like pectoral fins they Government parliamentary bill that
threatened marine fishes. Many of their stocks
Shockingly the Marine Stewardship Council walk, rather than swim. There would weaken national environmental
are overfished. are fourteen handfish species,
(MSC) last year approved sustainability protections. Thank you!
They are caught using deep-sea bottom certification for a destructive deep sea fishery all found in Australia. The red © Gary Bell
trawlers over seamounts. These deep-water
OceanwideImages.com The ALP, Greens and three key crossbench
that catches century old orange roughy fish handfish, spotted handfish,
senators did not support the bid to
corals and marine habitats are slow growing and rips up 1000-year-old ancient corals. and Ziebell’s handfish are Critically Endangered.
change Australia’s environment laws.
and extraordinarily sensitive. Recovery from Awarding orange roughy a sustainability They are at risk due to habitat destruction,
the impacts of trawling on deep-sea habitats certification is bad science. It trashes our pollution, invasive species and climate change.
will take decades to centuries. Thank You
most vulnerable fragile ocean habitats, fishes
a poorly understood and depleted stock, and Striate Anglerfish: © Stephen Frink Collection
Alamy Stock Photo
This ‘hairy’ fish is contending The fight isn’t over yet, but this progress
Fun Fact: targets a threatened marine species. wouldn’t have been possible without
for the Guinness World
Orange roughy live for over 100 years. Thanks to the support of ocean-loving Records 2021 ‘furriest’ fish title. you, and the work of the Places You Love
Australians like you, late last year we Long filamentous hair like Alliance of environmental groups, of
mounted a case before an independent which AMCS is a part. We will continue
Did You Know? appendages and zebra-like fighting to protect and strengthen our
legal adjudicator to challenge the MSC markings to camouflage it with
‘sustainable’ certification. In January critical environmental safeguards as this
Intense fishing pressure in the 1980s its surroundings, making it an effective ambush once-in-a-decade review of Australia’s
and 90s led to severe declines and key the fishery was ruled inadmissible predator. They tempt their prey with a long lure Environment Protection and Biodiversity
stocks are not predicted to recover to for certification because it targets a that resembles a marine worm. Conservation Act continues.
truly sustainable levels until after 2070! protected species.
6 Turning The Tide With Thanks to YOU 7
Ooh Media Billboard
School of fish in Kelp Forest
We Healthy Oceans Fighting climate change with your support …
Take a deep breath.
And now another...
Every second breath
you take comes
from our oceans.
We Blue Carbon Climate Leadership Now
Oceans are crucial for carbon storage. Over 80% of global carbon is circulated through the ocean. Last September AMCS launched the biggest
Blue carbon is the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems. Well known blue carbon heroes advertising campaign we have ever run
such as mangroves, seagrass meadows and tidal wetlands have an unmatched ability to absorb We booked billboards at busy intersections in
carbon pollution out of the atmosphere and store it in the ground below. These two blue carbon Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, and spots in
superheroes may surprise you! shopping centres nation-wide with one simple
message – Climate Leadership Now!
Humpback Whale mother & calf With thanks to the generosity of oOh! Media and
Great Barrier Reef Bioregion wonderful supporters like you, we plastered this
Our very own Great Barrier Reef bioregion powerful message on billboards around the
has been identified in a world-first study as country, in a crucial bid to remind our politicians
one of Australia’s blue carbon super sites. what is at stake before it’s too late.
The Reef’s seagrass meadows and Our message to make sure the climate and coral
mangrove forests store 111 million tonnes crisis is not forgotten at this pivotal time was seen
of carbon, or 10% of Australia’s blue by Australians from coast to coast.
carbon stock. Without you and other ocean lovers chipping in,
This is equivalent to the annual emissions this just wouldn’t have been possible.
of 87 million cars.
oOh! Love
Thank you to Charlotte Berry for choosing
us as Charity of Choice for the $250k
Whales and Plankton advertising award from oOh! Media.
Tiny phytoplankton capture an estimated Pictured Jason Hincks, AMCS President
37 billion tonnes (40%) of all CO2 produced. and Charlotte Berry from oOh! Media
That’s about the same amount captured by elbow bump at Bondi Beach, Sydney.
1.7 trillion trees!
Whales then eat phytoplankton and other Did you see
tiny marine flora by the tonne. They store
our billboards?
the carbon as they grow, stockpiling tonnes
of carbon. It is estimated each giant whale
sequesters 33 tonnes of carbon – more
carbon than a 690-acre forest in their
lifetime!
Coral Sea beauty © Lucy Trippett
8 Turning The Tide With Thanks to YOU 9
Heart Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays Queensland
We Our Reef Thank you for fighting for our reef…
Home to swirling fish, colourful
corals and ancient sea turtles, our
magnificent Great Barrier Reef is vital
to the health of Australia’s oceans.
Reef Policy Election Focus Neil Reef Coal Giant In Hiding Reef Wins
Thank you Queenslanders for stepping up for Introducing Fight For Our Thanks to your powerful voice and the Here are a few wins we achieved recently with
our Reef! Reef volunteer Neil Forgie. Stop Adani movement – the coal mining thanks to your support.
After the third mass coral bleaching event Neil is an Anglican giant is trying to rebrand their Reef-wrecking Trans-shipping Banned
in just five years – and the unprecedented Priest, grandfather and coal project. Thanks to your support, the dangerous practice
turmoil from the pandemic – the Queensland Cairns local, devoting Late last year the Adani Group renamed of trans-shipping – the transfer of materials
election last October was crucial for our Reef his retirement to raise their Abbot Point Coal Terminal to ‘North between ships at sea – is now banned in the
and the livelihoods that depend on it. awareness about Queensland Export Terminal’, and also Great Barrier Reef.
As a non-partisan organisation, we assessed climate change, its rebranded themselves as ‘Bravus’. This decision from the Queensland government
their Reef policies for our scorecard so that impact on the Reef and But their new name doesn’t hide the truth. Latin comes after years of campaigning to stop the
people could make an informed decision future generations. scholars have pointed out that the word bravus industrialisation of our beautiful Reef.
about where the parties stood on Australia’s Neil is motivated not doesn’t actually mean ‘brave’ as intended, but
1. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-05/adani-changes-name-to-barvus-mining-and-resources/12851592
Great Barrier Reef. Thanks to you we were only by his love of the actually translates to ‘crooked’ or ‘mercenary’.1
Reef Water Pollution Laws Upheld
In 2019 we secured crucial new laws to improve
able to reach 100 000 people with this Reef, which started 60 Some say this new move could be used to the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef.
scorecard through targeted newspaper and years ago with a childhood Christmas present hide their history. Adani or Bravus their coal Ever since, these laws have been under attack,
digital advertising. of a snorkel set, but also by his grandchildren still stinks. with vested interests working to undermine the
The returning Queensland government has and deep belief that climate change is the With thanks to your support we are working science and turn this into a political issue.
committed to protect crucial Reef water quality decisive issue of our time. with our friends in the movement to Thanks to your support, the re-elected
regulations and land clearing laws which we Neil believes that the “ultimate test of a moral continue to expose the Adani Group’s poor Queensland government has committed to
fought so hard for, develop a Climate Action society is the kind of world it leaves for its environmental record and keep their coal retaining these laws protecting our Great
Plan to drive Queensland to zero net emissions children...as we rebuild from the pandemic we in the ground. We must stop the Galilee Barrier Reef’s precious in-shore ecosystems.
by 2050, invest over $600 million in renewable have a rare chance to create a safer, fairer and Basin from opening up and turbocharging
energy, and protect threatened species by more sustainable society. For the sake of our dangerous climate change. Rejected Land Clearing Protects Reef
reforming Queensland’s fisheries. kids and the Reef, we must seize it.” Last November, Australia’s Environment Minister
With your support together we helped achieve We thank him for his tireless efforts and Expose Adani = Bravus
rejected a proposal for almost 2,000 hectares
these commitments. determined hope. of forest land clearing which would have
#QLDVOTES
2020 Use your voice to stand up for our significantly polluted the water quality in the
far north of the Great Barrier Reef. This is huge
How do the
Reef, expose Adani’s rebrand and
parties sco
protecting re on
Reef Policy Scorecard our Great
Barrier Re
urge remaining investors to cut ties news for the waters of our Reef.
ef?
Election
Policies
We Volunteers
with this risky company.
Do our fair
share to
Authorised
AMCS played an important part in this great result.
limit global
Did you see our Reef
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Visit amcs.org.au/scorecard2020 of the Queensland state election. to stop this project across several years.
10 Turning The Tide With Thanks to YOU 11
Antarctica Crabeater Seals Nuzzling © GWP Antarctica
Bay of Rest, Exmouth Gulf © Andre Rerekura
We Sanctuaries Thank you for protecting our marine parks & sanctuaries…
Paddle For Batemans Action, Batemans Bay © Gilliane Tedder
Keep Top End Coasts Healthy Volunteers
Antarctic Marine Parks Paddle Out for Batemans NT Coasts Ningaloo Win!
Your support for an East Antarctic Marine Territorians declare their love for our Top It’s a victory for Exmouth Gulf’s magnificent
Park has helped build momentum to protect End Coasts. nature, the community, and for the future.
our irreplaceable wildlife of the Antarctic. Late last year Northern Territorians went to the It’s a victory for Exmouth Gulf’s magnificent
After hearing from so many of you, the polls and their beautiful coasts were a major nature, the community, and for the future.
Australian Government has made protecting election issue. Subsea 7, a global oil and gas services
the Antarctic a priority. Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers company, withdrew its industrial oil and gas
Late last year the Antarctic Treaty nations and Keep Top End Coasts Healthy partners all pipeline fabrication proposal from Exmouth
On Saturday 21 November, residents of
around the world met. Three marine park political parties committed to implementing Gulf, Ningaloo in December.
NSW’s south coast held a ‘Paddle Out’ out to
proposals were on the agenda: The East the NT Coastal and Marine Management The decision to withdraw the project came
celebrate Batemans Marine Sanctuaries.
Antarctic, the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Strategy to safeguard the Territory’s coasts, after an intense campaign that began in
Peninsula marine parks. In December 2019, the NSW government culture and fishing lifestyle. Exmouth – supported by many local tourism
disregarded due process, when they announced
Unfortunately, global disruptions and travel Thank you for ensuring protecting our Top businesses – and quickly spread across the
the immediate removal of marine sanctuary
restrictions meant this year’s meeting was End coasts remains a priority for the Territory country. It combined science-based advocacy
protections in Batemans Marine Park.
online, and shorter, and it wasn’t possible for Government. with the award-winning #BeautifulNingaloo
marine parks proposals to be considered Nearly 400 local ocean-lovers, scientists, communications campaign.
thoroughly. But many of the nations are formally Traditional Owners, business owners and Thank You The campaign to stop industrial development
recognising the urgent need for a network of recreational fishers turned up to show they
in Exmouth Gulf – ‘Ningaloo’s Nursery’ – isn’t
marine parks in the Southern Ocean. want these sanctuaries – and all they offer to Territorians came out in force calling for quite over but this is a big win for our Protect
the marine park and the community – restored. a permanent ban on seabed mining.
Norway and Uruguay joined Australia, Ningaloo campaign and one for celebrating!
France and the EU to co-sponsor the East AMCS supports the local crew at Save When the Government’s temporary Thank you to the tens of thousands of people
Antarctic Marine Park proposal. And Batemans Sanctuaries, who organised the ban expires, seabed mining companies
could exploit 9600km2 of our fragile who sent a submission, emailed their MPs,
Australia co-sponsored another proposed fun day out on the water. We will continue
Territory coasts. This would include bought a t-shirt, volunteered or helped in
marine park in the Southern Ocean – the to hold the government to account for their
precious places like Fog Bay, Anson innumerable other ways – you should feel
Weddell Sea Marine Park. lack of consultation, and won’t stop until full
Bay, Limmen Bight Marine Park and the really good about this win for Ningaloo.
protection is returned for our sanctuaries.
Wessel Islands.
Thank You Along with our Keep Top End Coasts Take Action
Healthy partners, we have submitted
International momentum is gathering Thank You a 33-page submission highlighting the We must continue to protect Exmouth
for protected areas to keep Antarctic threats seabed mining will bring to our Gulf from the remaining industrial
waters safe for marine life – and it’s all Last year thousands of you asked the precious tropical marine life. proposals threatening the extraordinary
thanks to your continued support. We NSW Parliament to honour our marine We eagerly await the results as the ecosystems that make up the Ningaloo
will keep fighting for an East Antarctic sanctuaries across the state. Thank you temporary ban is due to expire in Region. Please follow @protectningaloo
Marine Park. for holding the government to account. March 2021. on social media.
12 Turning The Tide With Thanks to YOU 13
Meg Keneally
Tim Winton © Hank Kordas
Dave Graham
Dave Graham & David Belamy OBE, English botanist, television presenter, author and environmental campaigner.
We Sea Guardians Thank you for protecting our oceans… We Remember Leaving a Legacy for our oceans…
You Are Ocean Guardians Meet Meg Remembering Dave
Dave Graham on Mud Island survey after dredging
blocked off creek and killed mangroves in 1996.
Here’s our Patron, beloved Australian author Meg Keneally is an accomplished author, It is said that ‘people make organisations
Tim Winton, on why it matters to support SCUBA enthusiast and AMCS Sea Guardian. great’. Dave Graham was one of those
Australia’s oceans through AMCS. For Meg, the ocean is “a place of calm, people.
“With an extinction crisis and a climate rejuvenation. The best way to switch off in Sadly, last December AMCS lost one of our
emergency upon us, our oceans are our busy world is to float around and watch most dedicated and long serving supporters,
vulnerable in ways almost inconceivable the fish swimming all around you.” and a true unsung hero for the oceans.
a generation ago. And it’s clear that Co-editor and contributor of ‘Animals With over 50 years of service to our ocean
our corals, beaches, fish and marine Make Us Human’, a new book celebrating
and to AMCS, Dave’s love for the sea and
mammals will not be saved if we assume Australia’s wildlife, Meg’s delightful essay
for the cause has never wavered.
governments and corporations will act describes diving encounters with the
swiftly and spontaneously to rescue them. Eastern Blue Groper: “It’ll come along with Dave joined AMCS as a volunteer in 1969
you, photobomb you, follow you, look under in our early days as the Queensland
That’s why the work of AMCS is critical. For Barrier Reef, Ningaloo and Moreton Bay.
a rock with you, they are just wonderful. Littoral Society. He has contributed to our
over 50 years the nation’s peak marine
Look into the eyes of a Blue Groper, there work and transformed the organisation In tribute to both Dave and his beloved Jan’s
charity has worked to facilitate, encourage
is something there, this creature has an in so many ways, from surveying creeks service, they were made AMCS Honorary
and shame the powers-that-be to do what
intelligence that we don’t understand.” to designing our website, setting up our Life Members.
needs to be done to keep our seas and
shores alive. Meg is an AMCS monthly donor because database, running campaigns and serving We have lost a dear friend, a tireless
“We can feel helpless with the many threats as President and on our Board many times. champion and all-round good bloke. We will
Australia’s oceans need advocates and to marine conservation. It’s wonderful to
guardians as never before, and no one He is fondly remembered as a key love and remember him always.
know I can support an organisation that participant in ensuring the protection of
does this work better than AMCS”. makes a real world difference.” the Great Barrier Reef.
Dave never wanted to be in the limelight, he What’s Your Legacy?
Animals Make Us Human
Become a Sea Guardian today! just wanted to do his bit for the oceans. What would be the
You too can become an advocate and He went above and beyond for ocean one thing you would
The book features over 40 essays like to pass onto the
guardian for our oceans as an AMCS Sea conservation from growing and selling
from some of Australia’s finest next generation?
Guardian with an affordable monthly gift. writers, and is accompanied native plants at markets to running a
Visit amcs.org.au/SeaGuardians by exquisite wildlife doughnut stall that sold thousands of By giving a gift in your Will, you will hand
photography. doughnuts each year for the cause. on a wilder, more diverse and beautiful
Visit amcs.org.au/shop Dave and his wife Jan were integral in ocean planet to future generations.
to buy your copy Animals ensuring AMCS had sufficient funds in Visit amcs.org.au/OceanLegacy
Make Us Human with the early days to mount national and Contact Emma Morgan on 07 3846 6777
proceeds going to
international campaigns to protect the Great or email emmamorgan@amcs.org.au
support AMCS.
14 Turning The Tide With Thanks to YOU 15
Thank you for
your support
The Australian Marine
Conservation Society is the voice
for Australia’s ocean wildlife.
We have defended Australia’s
oceans for over 50 years.
Thank you for your help to ensure
Australia’s coasts and oceans
remain healthy and free for future
generations.
Two king penguins beak to beak
Stay in touch @australianmarine @AustMarConsSoc @marineconservation.au
Contact Us 07 3846 6777 marineconservation.org.au
amcs@amcs.org.au PO Box 5815 West End QLD 4101
The Australian Marine Conservation Society acknowledges the Traditional Custodians
of this land and sea country, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
We acknowledge that this land and sea was and always will be Aboriginal land and sea.
RECYCLED Printed on
Paper made from Ecostar 100%
Donate today
is committed to creating a
recycled material post-consumer 1800 066 299 (freecall)
FSC ® C102086 recycled paper.
clean and sustainable future
marineconservation.org.au/ttt
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