Reward for young marine guardians
Young marine kaitiaki from Kaitaia to Otago have been rewarded with a Poor Knights Islands snorkelling experience.
The annual Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) trip is hosted by Dive! Tutukaka for representative students from each school in Northland and Auckland that participates in the programme, but this year the offer was extended to all eight regions where EMR operates, as far south Otago.
Three students from three Northland schools were aboard for the inaugural outing in 2002; this time there were 31 youngsters from 28 schools, chosen on the basis of the action projects they had undertaken and the enthusiasm they showed for studying and experiencing the marine environment.
The programme involves leaning about marine biodiversity in the classroom, snorkelling in the pool and investigating the local marine environment before experiencing a marine reserve and taking action with regards to marine conservation in their communities.
“This competition offers the students added incentive to produce projects and positive actions towards marine conservation within their community,” programme director Samara Nicholas said. “It is not only a special opportunity for the students, but for their parents/guardians too, as they also get a chance to experience the magical Poor Knights, which is a new opportunity for most.
“We snorkelled at the stunning Blue Mao Mao arch at South Harbour, named by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, and part of the Poor Knights Islands that have been protected by no-take status since 1981, along with our second snorkel site at the Gardens, Maroro Bay.
“By the end of the day many students had made new friends and could not stop smiling, parents commenting on what an awesome opportunity it was for everybody.”