Celebrating World Oceans Day
Leading experts in marine science came together at Fremantle Port on 8 June to celebrate World Oceans Day.
This well attended event hosted at Gage Roads on Victoria Quay was developed and supported by The Jock Clough Marine Foundation. Involving wide ranging marine conservation expertise and areas of interest, it was designed to highlight inspiring success stories, raise awareness of ocean challenges and spark conversations on opportunities for positive change.
Jock Clough is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute, on the Australia Advisory Board of The Nature Conservancy, the Advisory Committee of Western Australia Maritime Museum and is a WA Parks Foundation Ambassador.
World Oceans Day at Gage Roads, Victoria Quay, Fremantle | Photo credit: Jock Clough Marine Foundation
“As West Australians, we tend to be ocean invested, “Mr Clough said. “We’re engaged, whether swimming, diving, surfing, boating, fishing or exploring the diversity and wonder of our marine environment.
“We recognise the importance of maintaining the health of our oceans and conserving the natural habits they provide for marine life, but while we are doing well in some aspects of marine conservation there continues to be more we can do.”
“We shared some good news stories at this forum, among them the celebration and protection of whale sharks, now a major tourist attraction at Ningaloo.
“The mussel reef restoration project in the Swan-Canning estuary, a project led by The Nature Conservancy and supported by Mr Clough, was among other positive initiatives.
“There were presentations on fish stocks management, shark research and Indigenous perspectives on ocean protection. Also highlighted was the devastating threat posed by the millions of tonnes of plastic and other debris making their way into the world’s oceans and the urgency of addressing this critical challenge.”
Planet Ocean: tides are changing was the theme for World Oceans Day 2023 and it is hoped to make this an annual event in Western Australia, with a sharing of knowledge, experience and perspectives.
