Interview with Kaushman: Careers in conservation

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Written by: Bennath Chillingworth

From July-September 2022, I spent 6 weeks living in Mozambique while volunteering as a field assistant with Love the Oceans (LTO). LTO is a non-profit organisation that works tirelessly to support the community in Jangamo Bay in establishing a Marine Protected Area for the Inhamabane province in Mozambique. While I was there, I was lucky to have met some incredibly interesting, and boundlessly inspiring people who are exceptionally good at what they do, having made huge contributions to the industry. One of these people is @Kausman, who I was fortunate enough to cross paths with during my time in Mozambique.

Interview with Kaushman: Careers in conservation

Instagram: @kaushman

Kaush is a wildlife conservation biologist (MSc), having conducted fieldwork projects in several diverse environments ranging from South African scrubland to Maldivian coral reefs. Additionally, as a camera operator and award-nominated photographer, Kaush has worked with conservation organisation outlets such as the BBC to shed light on conservation efforts worldwide. You can find out more about Kaush on his website at https://kaush.net/. Read my interview with Kaush below where we talk about his career and achievements to give a flavour of, and insight into the world of marine conservation, and hopefully provide advice to aspiring marine biologists and conservationists of any age! And stay tuned for the sequel blog where Kaush talks about his new film ‘Peixinho’ which
was filmed while I was also out in Mozambique!

How did you get to where you are now?

“I’ve always known that I’ve wanted to work with wildlife since I was a child, I just didn’t always know in what capacity. After I finished my BSc, I went straight into doing a master’s degree in wildlife conservation. It made sense to do that in order to learn more about the techniques and practices used in the field to carry out conservation in different scenarios around the world. For my thesis, I arranged to go and research whale shark eco-tourism in the Maldives with a charity that was carrying out some amazing work. After I came back from that experience, I finished my MSc and the charity asked me back the following year to be their research assistant in the field. I spent three months studying whale sharks that year and adding to my data set from the previous year, as well as getting more into underwater photography and videography. Shortly after I returned home from that stint, the world was thrown into a pandemic, and I had a lot of time to work on my photo and video editing skills as well as to write up the data that I had collected. My initial BBC job came after applying for a few jobs and one BBC producer looked at my research background and recommended me to another producer for an upcoming documentary series that was in the works. I started as a researcher, using my science background and research skills to contact scientists and find potential stories to film.”

 

Instagram: @kaushman

What interested you most/ what did you most enjoy about your master’s course?

“The thing that interested me most was the module that we had on “Conservation Communication”.
It taught us a lot about how amazing conservation efforts in the past had gone unheard of by the masses and how important consideration messages had been missed due to them being poorly communicated and broadcast to the vast majority of people. It also underlined the importance of social media and photos/images in the present day, as tools for communicating conservation efforts and this really resonated with me as someone who already had a passion for this kind of media.”

What was your master’s thesis on?

“My thesis research focused on whale shark eco-tourism in the Maldives and the impact that it has on whale shark health. The area of the Maldives that I did my research in is one of the only places in the world where there is a year-round population of whale sharks, and this drives a huge demand for tourist excursions to swim with them. My research focused on the impacts of breaking the code of conduct rules for whale shark encounters on the sharks.

What was it like working for the BBC?

“Working for the BBC was amazing and in many ways, a dream come true. I worked as a researcher on a documentary series that is in the works at the moment. Using my science background to read papers, search for interesting animal behaviours and to talk to scientists about potentially interesting stories that we could go out and film. After a potential story was found and talked through with the team, I’d then lease with my producer and start the process of organising the shoot and the logistics of it all. It was an incredible experience and a huge learning curve about the industry. I was really lucky to have an amazingly supportive team who helped me every step of the way as I was thrown into the deep end a bit with it being my first job in the industry, but the team was just amazing.”

What are some of the proudest moments from your career so far/ moments that remind you how
much you have achieved?

“Landing a job at the BBC is definitely up there as that is something that I had been working at for so long. Having two of my images shortlisted in the upcoming Wildlife Photographer Of The Year was a special moment for me as well. Being an amateur photographer when I took the selected images, and it being the most prestigious wildlife photography competition in the world, I really hope that my nominations for the award can inspire others to go out and pursue their passion for photography. The other stand-out moment of the last year has to be screening of my short film about coral reefs in the cinema room of the BBC for my friends and colleagues. It was amazing to showcase my work to people who are at the top of the natural history filming industry and to get such great feedback from
them, and it really served to highlight how much progress I’d made in terms of my editing during the months and months of pandemic lockdowns.”

Interview with Kaushman: Careers in conservation

Instagram: @kaushman

I felt very inspired by the people I met in Mozambique, including Madeline StClair, Francesca Trotman, and Ines Costa, my program leader. What is it like being in such a close group of friends that are all such amazing, high-achieving marine biologists?

“It really is amazing having such talented friends like Chess and Mads, who are also incredibly supportive. Being able to collaborate so seamlessly and then also be a part of each other’s personal lives after long days at work is such a help in a field that can be extremely stressful at times. Meeting someone as passionate about the field and so accomplished at such a young age as Ines was incredible and great to meet such a nice person. The marine sector is so small, and we are all trying to achieve the same goal in conserving the oceans, it is amazing when we can work together and support each other’s projects.”

What advice do you have for young aspiring marine biologists/ conservationists such as myself wanting to get into the field when there is so much competition?

“It is a very hard industry to break into, especially at the new grad/early careers stage so you’re going to get a lot of rejections for jobs but that is just part of the process, and you can’t take it to heart. Keep applying for jobs/internships etc and try to gain as much valuable experience as you can until someone takes a chance on you. In the meantime, work on your current skillset so that you’re sharp and work on learning new skills that will make you stand out above the rest. We live in the age of the internet, where learning a new skill is just a few clicks away.”

 

Visit https://kaush.net/ for more information, and make sure you give @kaushman a follow on socials.

Reduce your Ecological Footprint: Off-Grid Living

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How could we be connected to the reef when we’re on the other side of the world, in Spain?

In March 2020, I witnessed a minor bleaching event on the southern Great Barrier Reef. My coral friends I had been visiting and falling more and more in love with every day for nearly three years, started to show signs of stress. One day they were fine, the next, they were looking a little pale.

What could I do about it, i asked myself as I floated helplessly above the (still) gorgeous reefscape?

Some corals paling during the 2020 bleaching event on the southern Great Barrier Reef

 

The truth is, no matter how many coral surveys I did, or how much data I submitted, when I saw the darling reef before me, partly paling,

“there was absolutely NOTHING I could do in that moment… except cry in my mask.”

This is when I realised how truly CONNECTED everything is. How what we do on land, anywhere in the world, can impact coral reefs. So, what actions can we take to dissipate such extreme human impacts on the climate? I’m rolling with the “extreme” rather than “little” changes option, and have set out to discover, LIVE and share more of these solutions. Having just spent two weeks on an off-grid farm in Spain, below I share my exploration and learnings of some ways I can further reduce my ecological footprint.

Beautiful views from my bedroom on the farm

The Yurt, where I slept on the farm.

Here are 4 key areas I lived and learned about to reduce my footprint.

1. ENERGY

We had solar panels and storage batteries. Totally off-grid, there was no mains power or water supplies to the property. Totally self-sufficient (and free from crazy electricity price hikes!!!). I not only appreciated every bit of charging power, every little light, and a (sometimes) working fridge, but also learned lots about electricity capture and storage: cells, currents, converters, you name it. Life school, very valuable knowledge and skills to have.

Solar Panel Setup

2. WATER

“Did you know that 90% of the cost of plastic bottled water is the cost of the bottle itself? Think about it: bottled water companies don’t make water, they make plastic bottles!!”

Creating plastic bottles requires energy and oil, then they need to be transportes to a store where thirsty people can buy them. Let’s not even start to talk about the tiny percentage of plastic water bottles that actually get recycled! Enough ranting, you get my drift!

My first day on the farm, I helped set up a solar hot water system from an old recycled panel and storage system. We were able to fill up a lovely bucket of hot water to scrub our grubby selves at the end of a long hard day of work. We also set up a new water tank, excavating the ground with digging tools to ensure the tanks would capture rainwater redirected from the roof.

  • No running water on the property meant showering “birdbath” style (with a bucket), a very specific dish washing strategy and close-to-essential teamwork to simply wash your hands!
  • We collected supplies of precious drinking water from a fountain in town (that ran down and was captured directly from the clean mountain streams!).

“Drinking Water”

Collecting Drinking Wate

3. DIET

90% of our food on the farm came from the work of our own hands, or at least locally. We bought a little rice, lentils and pasta – basic staples to compliment all the wonderful fresh produce we grew and harvested ourselves. We had mediterranean veggies galore: eggplants, capsicums, tomatoes, chillies. We feasted on melons and persimmons (a deliciously sweet mediterranean fruit something like a cross between a mangoe, plum and very juicy sweet tomatoe!). Sure, it didnt all look as perfectly squeaky clean, blemish-free and shiny as the “food” you find at the supermarket, but goodness the tomatoes REALLY tasted like tomatoes!!

Olives were harvested to pickle and make our own olive oil, and almonds banged off our trees to munch on and make almond milk. What a dream! Have you ever seen what almonds look like straight off the tree? Do you know the origins of what you eat?

Freshly Harvested Almonds



I had the bizarre reflection of how crazy it was to be SO excited about collecting all of our food with my bare hands. I realised how disconnected I have been to the source of my tucker my whole life. Here, there were no pesticides, no heavy machinery, no processing belts, no factories, no big trucks to transport supplies to the shops, and of course, no plastic packaging!!! Organic and fresh, from farm to table (and on many occasions from farm to mouth!!!).

4. WASTE

We of course composted all of our food waste, but that’s not all! We pooped into a dry composting toilet, and even our own poop was used as a valuable fertiliser (feel free to cringe if you like, but then take a moment to think about how much water and energy is wasted flushing and processing human waste!).

Dry Composting Toilet, built with 100% recycled materials

Dry Composting Toilet and Water Capture & Storage System

All kinds of building materials, old cupboards, windows, planks, pipes and pallettes that people had thrown out as “waste” soon became our treasure.

Sure, you might be thinking “WOW, that IS pretty extreme, I definitely couldn’t imagine myself living that way”. Even if you don’t choose to make any changes, I hope this sparks some reflection or ideas for some of the little (if not extreme) changes you can make in your every day life to feel more connected to your self, nature, food, water and everything we are so lucky to have readily available at our fingertips. 

 

“As I travel around, I am astounded by how many people think the reef is dead, and I am on a mission to share the truth about the health of the reef (as witnessed with my own eyes!) as well as awareness of how crucial it is that we take many little (or extreme, if you so wish!) actions to change the fate of the natural world (coral reefs included)!

Sustainable fisheries are the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems!

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Sustainable fisheries are the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems!
This short article will describe how.
Written by: Jaimee Joiner

By 2050, it’s predicted that there will be around 2 billion people on this planet.

That’s a lot of people! And with more people comes more mouths to feed. The production of food to meet this growing population is problematic and seafood may have a huge role in tackling this issue. Not only is seafood nutritious and an environmentally efficient animal-based protein, but more and more people are starting to love and enjoy it.

Seafood production by wild marine fisheries has been increasing over the past 70 years. This increase has predicted the need to supply this growing population with yummy seafood as a readily accessible protein alternative. Although, fisheries must ensure that catch rates of wild fish are sustainable as the resilience of our marine ecosystems and coastal communities depend on sustainable fisheries!

So how are sustainable fisheries the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems?

Sustainable fisheries are those that regulate harvest rates to ensure fish populations stay happy and healthy. Government fishery agencies have a huge role in managing fish populations through stock assessments and ensuring legal limits are maintained.

Sustainable fisheries are the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems!

photo cred: Natalie Lobartolo

In short, fishery management strategies such as minimum legal size limits and spawning closures are reliant on adequate knowledge of species biology and ecology.

Whilst completing my Honours thesis at the University of Queensland, I have come to appreciate the importance of research and management. Primarily, it assists to regulate and ensure up-to-date knowledge of species. For the past year, I have been conducting research on pearl perch (a very tasty fish) and reviewing their management strategies across Queensland waters. It always surprises me how effective fishery management consistently starts with accurate scientific information about fish and fisheries.

Even if you live far away from a beach or a coastline, fisheries may still be an important part of your life! And everyone can do their part to ensure our fisheries stay sustainable.

Thinking about having seafood for dinner? Make sure you try and shop sustainably when it comes to your fish. ‘But how do you know if your seafood is sustainable?’ you ask. The best way is to check out GoodFish, Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide. Check it out here: https://goodfish.org.au/

 

Are you like me and enjoying making the most of a sunny day to fish for your own dinner? Make sure you adhere to state limits regarding fish size and seasonal restrictions. For more information on current catch limits within Queensland have a look at the government’s website: https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/rules/limits-tidal 

 

Here’s to keeping our fishies happy, well into the future!

Sustainable fisheries are the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems!

photo cred: Natalie Lobartolo

 

Wanna have more interesting reads about the importance of reef systems? And how you can help them from home, and travel with minimal impact? Visit our blog page for weekly updates!

Live and Travel with a Little Ecological Footprint

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I’ve set off on a voyage of discovery. What am I setting out to discover? New connections. Connections to the Reef, connections between people, connection to nature, and connection to self. It started with an invitation to a friends wedding in France. My first thought: I love this girl to bits, but I’m not so keen on flying all that way to Europe. Time, expense, and most importantly, a very significant carbon footprint (the level of love I have for this girl and the good times that have ensued were totally worth it!).

My total babe of a bestie, and fellow ocean loving super heroine, who was a HUGE inspiration to start Reef Connect.

When it comes to helping the reef, reducing our ecological footprint is HUGE. It’s clear that action from higher levels is essential in creating large scale impactful change, but whilst our governments dilly-dally around dodging and distracting us from their most pertinent and necessary responsibilities, we as citizens and consumers can act.  

“But I am only one person, how can I make a difference” I hear you ask. How many people are we on the planet? What kind of impact could we make if we all committed to changing a few little daily habits?

I often give presentations in which I use the below image – not to overwhelm the audience with how much there is to do, but to bring to light how much is possible. We don’t have to do ALL the things. Identifying and adding ONE little thing to what each of us is already doing is a good start. 

SOURCE: https://climatesafety.info/what-we-all-can-do/

 

So I started thinking to myself: how can I achieve what I’m setting out to do, whilst making my footprint as small as possible? Rather than getting a return flight halfway across the world for a single event (as significant and special as this person is to me!),

“how can I get the most bang for my carbon footprint buck?”

My first answer: don’t take aeroplanes. Unfortunately, given my time restrictions (due to work and other pre-standing commitments), I decided flying for the first part of my trip was most practical, and I’d just have to make up for it in other ways. Noone is perfect and we can do a LOT, but it doesnt always make sense to do everything.

So how else could I find solutions to this challenge? Well, I decided to set out to discover new ways of living closer to nature, with the smallest footprint possible. What’s involved? Permaculture, sailing, slow, on-ground travel (buses, trains, walking, hitch-hiking, etc) and most importantly, removing the hurry to get to my next destination as quickly and “efficiently” as possible (often to the detriment of the planet/reef!).

Stay tuned for a little summary of the destinations, adventures and challenges so far!