Sipidan Island Park is located on the east coast of Malaysian Borneo in the Celebes Sea, near the border of Indonesia and the Philippines. The island is formed of living coral sitting on top of a volcanic cone, covered in lush jungle. The island itself was declared a bird sanctuary in 1933, and the surrounding waters were declared a marine park in 2004. In the 1980s it became a popular dive spot after it was visited by Jacques Cousteau. Sipidan Island Park has hundreds of coral species and more than 400 fish species. It is a feeding ground for reef fish. Some of the species found in the park include such as parrot fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, barracudas, eels, shrimp, lobsters, sea cucumbers, starfish, turtles, black-tipped reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, manta rays, large cuttlefish, lion fish, leaf fish, frog fish among others. A range of regulations are in place to protect the park. In 2009, all tourist accommodation on the island was closed to protect it. Penalties for these offences include anywhere from 1 to 5 years imprisonment, depending on the offence and large fines. It is an offence to:
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Whale shark tourism in Oslob in the Philippines, has become an excellent alternative source of income for locals. The Whale Shark watching tours hire local fishermen who feed the whale sharks small amounts of food to encourage them to stay in the area and stay close to the boats carrying the tourists. Whale sharks are susceptible to pressure from overfishing and finning, and this type of tourism provides an opportunity for the whale sharks to generate ongoing income. Locals are able to earn more substantial incomes to feed their families regular meals, connect their homes to electricity, buy medicines, and the businesses can lead to improvements more broadly like infrastructure developments in the community. It reduces the pressure on fish stocks, as local fishermen are no longer fishing, but are gainfully employed in tourist activities. It also serves the purpose of raising awareness of whale sharks which can create movements for their protection. Activities such as this which involve human intervention, raise some ethical concerns regarding whether it is right for human to interfere with wild animals for economic gain, the impact this may have on their habits an interactions, and what flow-on responsibilities this then places on tourism operators. Watch the Youtube clip below about a personal experience of swimming with Whale Sharks in Oslob. ACTIVITIES:
1. Identify the benefits of Whale Shark tourism in Oslob. 2. Explain the ecological benefits of Whale Shark tourism, as well as the possible risks. 3. Identify some concerns you might have about whale tourism after watching the video above. 4. Undertake internet research on whale shark tourism in other locations. What measures could be put in place at Oslob to ensure the ongoing protection of whale sharks? 5. Describe how raising awareness about whale sharks could lead to better protection of whale sharks. 6. Undertake further research on whale shark tourism. Analyse the ethical considerations of operating a tourist operation such as whale shark tourism. The live fish trade involves capture of live fish, and transportation to restaurant tanks thousands of kilometres away from the location of capture. International trade in live reef fish in the Indo-Pacific region is driven by the demand for ultra-fresh seafood. Live reef fish trade is estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 metric tonnes a year. The annual retail value is thought to exceed US$1 billion annually. It provides income for fishers, exporters, transporters, importers and retailers. Specific species of fish are particularly targeted in the live fish trade. Groupers and wrasse, are pretty, colourful, attractive fish that look good in fish tanks and are appealing to consumers in restaurants. Fish that are brightly coloured, particularly those that are red tones, are highly valued. Fish catch levels outstrip naturally sustainable supply rates of some fish populations by between two and a half and six times. Napoleon wrasse are particularly susceptible to this trade and the number of this species is in decline. Fishermen in locations throughout Indonesia and the Philippines crush up potassium cyanide tablets into plastic bottles of water. These are then squirted in the face of fish which are stunned, and then easily collected. The cyanide can kill polyps and bleach corals, and corals are often broken in the process of collecting the fish. Once the fish have been caught, they are then transported to land or sea-based holding pens where they recover from the effects of the cyanide. These are often simply large tubs, just big enough to hold the fish.Once recovered, the fish, which are still alive, are then transported by boat or air for overseas markets mainly in Hong Kong or China, but also in Malaysia and Singapore. The live fish trade involves highly organised black market trading and there are issues with both the regulations in place and the enforcement of regulations. There are different regulations in place for fish caught through “wild capture” and those through aquaculture or fish farming. When fish are captured from the wild and then placed in fish pens or tanks, the lines between the two types of fish become blurred and the regulations unclear. By placing the fish in holding tanks, some of the regulations that related to wild capture can be avoided. Hong Kong is the centre of the luxury live fish trade. It is both a transit hub for fish on their way to China, and also a location of high consumption, with fish contributing a high proportion of the daily diet for Hong Kong residents. Live reef fish are a luxury item and seen as a symbol of economic status. There is growing demand for live, rare reef fish as incomes rise in China and Hong Kong. Some grouper species that have been targeted in the live fish trade are now considered “Threatened” or “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List. As some species become more scarce the price to purchase them is increasing. This scarcity is making them more attractive as a status symbol, increasing demand. The high prices are providing incentives for fishers to target at risk species even more. They are sold for aquariums and restaurants which stock live fish, and are placed in fish tanks in restaurants so that they can be served “fresh” to consumers. Live reef fish are an expensive delicacy. This industry is worth upwards of $100 million per year. Watch the Youtube clip below about the Live Fish trade in Hong Kong - the destination of many of the live fish caught in the Coral Triangle. ACTIVITIES: 1. Define the live fish trade. 2. Create a diagram explaining the live fish trade. 3. Explain how different regulations for farmed fish and wild capture fish creates a loophole for effective management. 4. Explain why some species of fish are targeted specifically for the live fish trade, and why threatened or near-threatened species continue to be targeted. 5. Explain the impacts of the live fish trade on the overall health of coral reefs. If you are completing a study of the Coral Triangle as part of the Ecosystems and Global Biodiversity topic you may have discussed shark finning. Shark finning is a fascinating example of human modifications to an ecosystem. Sharks are apex predators which remove sick and weak organisms and regulate ecosystem functioning. Shark numbers are in decline globally, with some species near extinction. Habitat loss, lack of fish in degraded areas and shark finning are key factors in declining numbers. Tens of thousands of sharks are killed every year. Illegal shark finning brings in 5 million ringgits/yr Demand for shark fins is consumer market driven. Fins are harvested in huge numbers and dried for sale. They are sold in local fish markets across South East Asia. There is huge demand in China and Hong Kong and the demand is increasing. Shark fin soup is a Chinese dish that is available all over the world. The dish is a delicacy that was eaten by Emperors, with recipes dating back 2000 years. It is sold in some Chinese restaurants, is expensive to buy and is a symbol of wealth, status and prestige. Shark finning is when a shark is caught, their fins are cut off and then the shark is thrown overboard, often still alive, where it will slowly die. Many of the boats used in shark finning are small and don’t have the room to carry multiple whole shark bodies. Sometimes instead of throwing the carcass overboard, the body will be cut up and used as bait to catch other sharks. Shark poaching tends to be indiscriminate, with large sharks caught as well as very young sharks that haven’t had the opportunity to reproduce. Little attention is given to the species of shark captured, meaning that threatened and endangered species are often caught. The huge demand for shark fins from China is encouraging Bajau Laut to engage in this practice. The prevalence of finning is largely a product of poverty. The funds made from the fins of just one shark is enough money to feed a Bajau family for weeks. The pressure of limited fish stocks, and reef destruction make this practice appealing as a way to provide basic provisions for a family. Watch this Youtube clip about Shark finning. ACTIVITIES 1. Describe the significance of sharks in coral reef ecosystems. 2. Describe the cultural and historical significance of shark fin as a food, and how it is linked to social standing in contemporary times. 3. Explain how the rising middle class and rising incomes in China increases risk to coral reefs in the Coral Triangle through finning and the live fish trade. 4. Explain how poverty in coastal communities in the Coral Triangle, contributes to the difficulties in managing shark finning. The National Geographic is currently promoting their Cryosphere collection of resources. If you have chosen to complete a study of the Cryosphere as part of the Earth's Natural Systems topic you may find some of these resources useful.
Click the links below to access the resources. Included in the collection is:
There are also a range of linked articles and encyclopedia articles that you might find useful. Click to view the entire National Geographic Cryosphere resources. In 2023 I was privileged to attend the AdaptNSW Forum in Sydney. This presentation by Leith Sharp (Harvard University Office of Sustainability) powerfully demonstrates the interconnectedness of Earth’s natural systems. References are made to natural processes, ocean circulations, weather and climate systems, the global dust cycle, ecosystems, and biodiversity. What I love is the personal connection … a perspective we often forget when investigating and explaining natural systems. Lorraine Chaffer Watch, Listen, Apply 1. Show this video without stopping - ask students to watch and think. 2. Watch a second time. Students record key ideas. Follow with a class discussion. 3. Students work in pairs to represent the key ideas as a diagram. Pairs form larger groups to share and refine ideas and diagrams. Place on classroom walls for further peer review. Part 1 https://vimeo.com/913209972?ts=0&share=copy Password PowerfulGeography1 Differentiation
Extend student thinking to the Anthropocene and the current climate crisis facing Earth’s Natural Systems and humanity. This second part of Leith’s presentation includes the story of life on Earth as represented by one year. Leith challenges her audience to think about the time humans have spent on Earth, Indigenous cultures and periods of colonisation and industrialisation leaving the question about what changes need to happen now. 1. What is the key message presented in Part 2? 2. Propose relevant actions. Part 2 https://vimeo.com/914399801?share=copy Password PowerfulGeography1 Each year, strong winds transport more than a billion metric tonnes (1 gigaton) of mineral dust through the atmosphere. Dust interacts with every natural system on Earth, linking the lithosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere and oceans by transporting nutrients and sediment, and influencing the carbon, energy and hydrological cycles. The following videos can support teaching of GEOstory 1.4 Blown Away: The Story of Dust. Tracking dust from around the world This video explores monitoring of dust movement. What is dust and how does it affect society? This animated video explains the dust cycle and its impacts. How do massive dust storms form? Learn about how dust forms form with animate explanations. What causes dust storms? Animations and explanations to explain how dust storms form. Whales and other larger marine creatures return nutrients from the deep, where they feed, to the surface, where they excrete there waste when they return to the surface to breathe. Whale poo is rich in iron, nitrogen and other nutrients, which fertilise phytoplankton. This process is known as the "whale pump". GEOstory 1.3 Whales: Ecological Engineers examines the whale conveyor belt and the "whale pump". If you have chosen to explore this GEOstory with you class, you may find the videos embedded below useful. How whales change climate Explore how whales change climate, engineer the ecosystem, create conditions that spawn plankton, and keep our oceans healthy in this beautiful story by George Monbiot. How whales fight climate change This video explores how whales can have a positive impact on the fight against climate change by acting as a "blue carbon" solution.
Forests link all of Earth's natural systems and can be used to explain key concepts related to atmospheric, hydrological and oceanic processes, cycles and circulations, as well as ecological succession.
If you are thinking of completing a study of Forests as part of the Earth's Natural Systems topic, you might like to check out some of the infographics available from UN Biodiversity. A few of these posts have been embedded in the blog post below, but click the links to visit the original posts and look at some of the other great infographics for some other topics. Activities involving infographics are a great way to make complex information more accessible for less able students, and provide visual interest for high ability students. If you have used GEOstory 1.5 on Iceberg Alley, or are studying features of the cryosphere this little 7 minute video clip on the icebergs near Newfoundland will make for an interesting start of lesson activity. Add the url to your teaching program where GEOstory 1.5 is mentioned. Why Do Hundreds of Icebergs Keep Visiting This Town? We have created an Iceberg model for discussing and writing about natural events such as the yearly iceberg appearances in Newfoundland. This model and a student activity will be an addition to GEOstory 1.5 in the print edition of Powerful Geography 1. The Activity: Use the Iceberg Model to write a descriptive paragraph summarising the key geographical ideas represented in GEOstory 1.5.
Perhaps you might like to use this video for a Friday afternoon. Harvesting icebergs to make the world's purest water |
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