Do you have a marine website which you would like to promote? We have a section called Marine Links containing links to a a variety of useful sites which may be of interest to MESA members and site visitors. You can add your own link to our database. Once added it needs to be verified by our web manager and it will then be available to all!
MESA is a national organisation that brings together people interested in the study and enjoyment of coastal and marine environments.
MESA provides a forum for sharing ideas to facilitate the development of leading environmental education and interpretation programs.
MESA also promotes the sustainable use of marine and coastal environments through education.
Seaweek is a national initiative conducted annually to focus community awareness, provide information and encourage an appreciation of our marine and coastal environments. Each year a different theme is chosen.
Seaweek is a celebration of the uniqueness of our "Ocean Planet"
Our aims are to:
Support educators in delivering best practice marine education in the Australasian region
Promote networking through the MESA website, forums and the MESA newsletter "Undercurrents"
Facilitate training, workshops and conferences for members
Develop community understanding, appreciation and action for the marine and coastal environment through activities.
Encourage and contribute to national and international marine education initiatives.
August 2010
From Monterey Bay Aquarium, 19 August 2010
Given enough time, sea life could adapt to climate change. Sadly animals evolve far too slowly.
But we can change as quickly as we choose to. Small actions can make a real difference.
What will you do to help ocean life and our future?
NEW - Echinoderms
A major unit covering the ecology, anatomy, reproduction and more of Echinoderms including Sea stars, Brittle Stars, Sea cucumbers, Sea urchins, Sand Dollars, Feather stars and Sea lilies. Includes a Photogallery and videos from YouTube.
A major unit covering the ecology, anatomy, reproduction and more of Molluscs including Bivalves, Cephalopods, Chitons and Gastropods. Includes a Photogallery and videos from YouTube.
A major unit examing the farming of marine species around Australia. Aquaculture is the fastest growing primary industry in Australia.This unit contains general information about mariculture (marine aquaculture) in Australia and information relevant to each state and the Northern Territory.
This unit has been developed to provide the public and students with a comprehensive, easy to understand guide to Mariculture in Australia. Now with YouTube videos.
IPMEN 2010 Conference in Fiji
Harry Breidahl wins NMEA Award
MESA member Harry Breidahl was recently honoured by the NMEA and travelled to the NMEA conference in Tennessee to receive the NMEA National Marine Educator Award for 2010.
A major unit looking at the biology and ecology of crabs. This unit contains information about the biology and ecology of crabs. It includes sections on crab anatomy, how crabs breathe, how they defend themselves, what they eat and what eats them, life cycles and more.
The information is mainly presented using Flash movies, there are also games, music and cartoons about crabs.
The unit was first developed as a CD for the Department of Sustainability and Environment Victoria with funding from COast Action/CoastCare.
A range of interactive online activities for students including jigsaw puzzles, a colouring book, "Bill Skills", "Riddles", a mudflat food web and a board game about Swan Bay.
These activities are aimed at promoting awareness of some of the species that use Swan Bay, features that help them to survive, food webs, and the importance of catchment health for the health of our bays.
The A-Z compilation of Marine Creatures is a small taste of our amazing Australian marine biodiversity most of which in some way may be effected by climate change through Ocean acidification and Habitat loss as a few examples.
Spectacular YouTube videos have been added to more than half of the descriptions. Many of the descriptions also have been expanded.
The University of Queensland has two courses for those interested in pursuing Marine Biology at a tertiary level. Find out more about these exciting courses. We also have six more profiles of students from the University of Queensland who have found interesting careeers after their studies.