Each September the TUDC participates in 'International Underwater Clean up Day'. This is a global initiative, organised by the Project AWARE team, which included divers from around the world all diving deep in an effort to clean up our waterways.
Many TUDC divers get together each year to clean up areas such as the Kings Pier, Contituition Dock, Bellerive and the Hobart Rivulet. Each year we haul in around half a tonne of trash and waste from our waterways. Great media coverage and assistance from the Department of Environment enabled us to get our message out to the greater community that 'prevention is far better than the cure'. Seeing that we pulled out under 5% of the actual waste that is under the surface around the port region.
We look forward to increasing the numbers on this year's dive, but in the meantime check out our club photo gallery to the right on the weekends diving.
:: So what is marine conservation all about?
Marine conservation is everyone's job. The oceans are our lifeblood and our survival depends on their existence. If we step back and look at the whole marine ecosystem, we will see that the extinction of one species can have a detrimental effect on many, many others and in some cases our negative influence and irresponsibility can indirectly cause the extinction of another. Big on the radar at the moment are our Whale populations and the dramatic effect that the Japanese whalers are having on moving many species closer to extinction. The increase of Shark catches worldwide with particular attention to the cruel actions of finning that occurs out at sea, and throwing the rest of the animal (most of the time still alive) back into the ocean to die is also of great concern.
However, it isn't just these high visibility worldwide conservation projects that make a difference. Many projects, such as the Sea Urchin research that the Uni Dive Club is participating in this year can make a huge difference in the preservation of the beautiful underwater world that surrounds our state.
Stay tuned for more detail on how we are helping out with this great initiative.
The TUDC is helping undertake sub-tidal reef monitoring tasks as part of a study into the effect of urchin barrens on our reef systems. Check out the full story here.
Several eager TUDC divers have undertaken research training by Reef Life Survey (RLS) instructors in the methods and equipment used to conduct underwater surveys and analysis. Check out the full spiel on RLS training and how it is helping our marine environment here.
