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Q&A.

An interesting part of training was also the Are you involved in any special marine predation from the crown-of-stars starfish or
communication aspects. We did lessons and research projects? the Drupella sea snail.
classes on how to just deliver information, and it I am currently involved in the GBRMPA Eye
was wild to learn how even something small as of The Reef program. Each week I participate Who are your marine role models?
a hand gesture could be interpreted by visitors. in two major research projects: the Tourism
Learning just how to posture your body to speak Weekly Monitoring and the Rapid Health My biggest marine biologist role model would
clearly was definitely eye-opening. and Impact Surveys. The Tourism Weekly have to be Jaques Cousteau. His groundbreaking
I see this accreditation also helping me to Monitoring involves completing a set route in a innovations into SCUBA really helped progress
the field of marine biology. I also really admire
mentor new and upcoming Marine Biologists. 20-minute snorkel or dive every week, counting Lars Bedjer, a marine mammalogist who
Assisting them with their confidence and any important key indicator species such as specialises in dolphin research. He has made
encouragement, as the new ambassadors of the grazing herbivorous fish and recording any some truly fascinating observations in dolphin
Great Barrier Reef. coral health impacts such as disease, bleaching behaviour.
or predation.
Can you share a quirky fact that our readers What is on your travel and experiences bucket
might be interested to learn? list?
A quirky fact for your readers to learn is that My current Top Three:
some nudibranchs (a type of sea slug) actually
have the ability to absorb the stinging cells of “THE REEF... IS VERY 1. Dive the Coral Triangle, especially the reefs of
their prey! Some nudibranchs feast on hydroids RESILIENT AND CAN The Philippines
(a group of stinging animals such as fire corals) 2. Do a Live Aboard on the Red Sea and dive the
and rather than digest the sting cells, transfer VERY EASILY ADAPT coral reefs there
those stinging cells to their skin to create their 3. Visit the Galapagos, especially the Charles
own protection from any predators they may TO PRESSURE Darwin Museum
face. Pretty impressive for a little slug often no CHANGES, BUT AS
bigger than ten centimetres!
WITH ANY LIVING Any final messages?
What is the most important message about CREATURE IT NEEDS The biggest question I get is, “What can I do to
help the Reef? I’m just one person!”. Yes, you
the reef and its future? may be one person, but when you get home …
The most important message about the Reef TIME TO DO SO” imagine, if you tell your family what you learnt
is that it is very resilient and can very easily about the Reef, who then tell their friends,
adapt to pressure changes, but as with any living who then tell their own family and friends …
creature it needs time to do so. It has been doing suddenly one person becomes hundreds, which
it for thousands of years. It is only in the last 20- The Rapid Health Impact Surveys are conducted could become thousands. One person CAN
30 years that the Reef has not had adequate time at a different site each quarter along our dive/ make a difference, and by leading by example
to recover from major events such as bleaching snorkel sites and involve setting up three x 10 and sticking to your principles you may just be
and crown-of-thorn star outbreaks. So, we need metre diameter circles, and within each circle the inspiration to change another’s habits for the
to do all we can to help reduce these pressures spending 20 minutes doing an in-depth record better. Keep learning everything you can, do
and impacts and allow our Reef the time it of the composition of the sea floor, including your best to change your lifestyle to help towards
needs to recover like it has shown it is capable coral cover. From there, percentages are worked a better environment and don’t be afraid to stick
of in the past. out of how much the coral cover is living, up for yourself and educate others.
any bleaching or disease, or any evidence of
You can be the advocate for a better future!