Environment
WORLD OCEANS DAY: SOUTHERN OCEAN FILM SCREENING
Environment Tasmania will be celebrating World Oceans Day on Tuesday 8th June with a public screening of the BBC Oceans documentary Southern Ocean. The film will be held at The Dechaineaux Theatre, UTAS Art School at 6.30pm, with an introduction from Dr Neville Barrett of the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute.
“World Oceans Day is an excellent reminder of the wealth our oceans provide. The island of Tasmania is encompassed by an ocean that is our playground, our livelihood, our food bowl and our climate control room. Oceans absorb more than a quarter of the CO2 emissions and their healthy ecosystems are critical to support recreational and commercial fishing,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Marine Coordinator with Environment Tasmania.
“Although we’re surrounded by the oceans many of us haven’t seen what is down there”, said Ms Hubbard.
“The Southern Ocean offers a fantastic opportunity to see what lives in our underwater world, exploring the wonder of Tasmania’s unique oceans where 80% of the species are found nowhere else. It also discuses the threats our oceans face: investigating the impacts of the spiny sea urchin on our kelp forests and why the Southern Ocean is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world.”
“On World Oceans Day it is important to remember why we need healthy oceans. Oceans make up 75% of our planet and yet only 1% of this incredible marine environment is protected. This is compared with 11.5% of land being under protection.”
“Science and commonsense tells us that it is fundamental that we increase marine protection if we are to secure healthy oceans that can continue to benefit society now and into the future,” concluded Ms Hubbard.
What: BBC Oceans film, Southern Ocean
When: 6.30pm for a 7pm start, Tuesday 8th June, World Oceans Day
Where: Dechaineaux Theatre, UTAS Art School, Hunter St, Hobart
Environment Tasmania is Tasmania’s conservation council, an umbrella body that represents 25 Tasmanian conservation groups, with collective representation of over 6000 Tasmanians.
Rebecca Hubbard Coordinator, Ocean Planet Tasmania Marine Coordinator, Environment Tasmania