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.

The most important event of the year, coral spawning.

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We are awaiting the most important event of the year, coral spawning.

Coral reefs are fragile, and we have seen a decline in reef health around the world in the past years. Coral reefs are sensitive to warmer temperatures, increased wave actions and weather events and these are all consequences of a changing climate.

 

Yet, coral reefs are resilient. Despite the challenges, the reefs around the world experience, the corals on the reef continue to reproduce and naturally recover.

Once a year a remarkable natural phenomenon takes place on the Great Barrier Reef, coral spawning. The biggest reproduction show on Earth.

When the conditions are ideal, corals simultaneously release eggs and sperm bundles into the water.

This amazing video is produced by our friend, Tiani Dun.

Long term monitoring of the reef by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), has shown that the majority of the Great Barrier Reef has recorded its highest level of coral coverage in over three decades. This is an indication of the widespread recovery of the biggest organism on Earth. Isn’t that just amazing? Read their annual summary report on coral reef condition 2021-22 report here. 

 

According to Dr Dean Miller, marine biologist and director of the Great Barrier Reef Legacy, a successful spawning event means the reef is in a state of recovery and repair. “In 2021, we had the best coral spawning event since 2016”.  Today, we can only wish for another astonishing and successful spawning event to bring new life and new corals to settle on the Great Barrier Reef.

This yearly event gives me hope. Despite the challenges the GBR is undergoing, there is a sign of new life on the way. Let’s cheer for that!

We can’t wait to witness this spectacular event. And hey, look out on your socials. I’m sure there will be plenty of amazing videos and photos shared by underwater photographers and lucky divers.

 

The most important event of the year, coral spawning.

Photo cred: Pablo Cogollos

The most important event of the year, coral spawning.

Photo cred: Pablo Cogollos

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!

Shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

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The ‘charisma’ gap – shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

written by: Bennath Chillingworth

The ‘charisma’ gap – shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

Photo cred, instagram: @an_bollenessor

 

Public concern can often drive for greater protection of marine habitats. However, public perceptions and
general awareness of seagrass meadows are lacking in comparison to other marine systems, and
they receive less attention in the media. Therefore, a lingering challenge for seagrass conservation is
public unfamiliarity. For example, the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) is famous
for its coral reefs, but a lesser-known fact is that the area also hosts one of the world’s largest
seagrass meadows!

Seagrass meadows have repeatedly been described as ‘uncharismatic’ compared to coastal habitats such as coral reefs, and it is thought that this might have implications for their protection.

Indeed, while coral reefs are often a point of attraction for many tourists, seagrasses are sometimes actively
removed as they seemingly disrupt the ‘pristine’ aesthetic of white sandy beaches and turquoise
waters.

While it is no bad thing that coral reefs receive so much attention (and rightly they should!) – I ask
myself, why is it that seagrasses might be perceived as ‘uncharismatic’ or ‘less worthy’ of protection
than the reef? The general personification of a marine ecosystem as ‘charismatic’ might seem rather
strange, but it made me question – What makes an ecosystem more or less charismatic than
another? In fact, what makes an ecosystem ‘charismatic’ at all?

The ‘charisma-gap’ simply highlights a disconnect between scientific information and the public, but more importantly, reflects the value of improving this communication to better inform people about seagrass ecosystems.

Photo cred: Natalie Lobartolo

Some ‘charismatic’ facts about seagrasses:

  • The presence of seagrass meadows increases habitat complexity and provides a source of food and shelter for other animals.
  •  Seagrasses support much higher biodiversity than unvegetated areas, attracting rare and beautiful marine creatures e.g., the Dugong (sea cow), green sea turtles, as well as endangered seahorses.
  • They slow down water movement, aiding in coastal protection.
  • Seagrass plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation through the long-term storage of carbon in their
    roots and sediments.
  • Support nursery grounds for baby fish and invertebrates, which seek refuge in seagrass meadows and go on to complete their adult lives on adjacent coral reefs.
  • Act as water filters by trapping harmful microbes and pollutants, preventing the spread of waterborne diseases.

Read more about why protecting seagrass is vital to building resilience to climate change.

Photo cred, instagram: ramonarobbinsreynolds

Photo cred: Benjamin L. Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘charisma’ gap – might be more important than we think, 

and shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows, could lead to positive change. 

A new seagrass discovery that made a lot of recent media headlines is – “The Largest Plant on Earth”
which has been found off the Western Australian coast in Shark Bay. Researchers had been trying to
estimate the number of plants that made up this meadow – and the answer? JUST ONE! Over the
last four millennia, a single seagrass seed has expanded 180km across Shark Bay, now covering an
area three times the size of Manhattan – officially crowned the world’s largest plant!

Why not share this fun fact with friends and family to help spread some seagrass charisma!

The ‘charisma’ gap – shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

Photo cred, instagram: @michele_roux

 

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

 

The ‘charisma’ gap – shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

Another La Niña season ahead

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Maybe you’ve heard the rumours about another wet and cold summer in Australia. Yes, the rumours are true, we have another La Nina season ahead.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning for another wet summer for the eastern coast of Australia. We will experience a third La Niña season in a row.

So, what is La Niña, and El Niño? We better start with the covering the basics.

La Niña and El Niño are particular phases of the ENSO climate cycle.

Oh, hold on? What is the ENSO climate cycle?

El Niño-Southern Oscillation

The ENSO is the natural cycle of the temperatures, trade winds and clouds in the Pacific Ocean region. It’s one of Australia strongest climate drivers, meaning that these patterns influence our weather. There are 3 key phases in the ENSO cycle, neutral, La Niña & El Niño.

During the neutral phase, trade winds from the eastern pacific region blow across the tropical pacific from east to west. These winds pile up warm water in the western region which creates a process that pushes cold waters up to the surface in the east. The same process causing warmer temperatures to rise in the west and descending in the east, creating a huge cycle called the ‘Walker circulation’.

The neutral phase of ENSO Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/history/ln-2010-12/three-phases-of-ENSO.shtml

Another La Nina season ahead

The La Nina phase of ENSO Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/history/ln-2010-12/three-phases-of-ENSO.shtml

 

 

The neutral “normal” phase is the dominating phase and this is what we experience more than half of the time.

 

 

Another La Nina season ahead

Influences of La Nina in Australia. Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/images/La-Nina-in-Australia.pdf

La Niña is explained as the “cold phase” of the ENSO climate cycle. The trade winds blow more intense, which makes the Walker circulation stronger and in turn respond to the processes by creating a feedback loop. The enhanced trade winds are pushing the colder temperatures further west and cooling a greater part of the tropical pacific region. This process also helps to pile up warm surface waters in the western Pacific and to the north of Australia.

With higher ocean temperatures in the west, we experience an increase in evaporation which generate more clouds and a significant increase in rainfall.

Although, weather patterns are highly variable, and it’s difficult to predict what the conditions will be this season.  We cannot fully predict what the weather, and especially on a local level.

 

So, what are the potential impacts on the Reef for another La Niña ahead?

  • The cooler condition typically brings more clouds and rainfall. The clouds act as a shade and protects the corals from sun exposure and intense UV rays. In combination with cooler ocean temperatures, the conditions could reduce the Reef from heat stress and lessen the chance of bleaching events.
What we need to look out for…
  • Severe weather events.
    La Niña typically brings more cyclones in the northern eastern part of Australia. The damages on the Reef followed by a cyclone event could be significant and turn large areas into rubble.
  • Flooding events.
    The weather conditions on land can unfortunately have a negative impact the Reef. Flooding events typically brings an overload of pollutants from the water ways straight into the ocean bringing sediments, nutrients and pesticides which affects the water quality.

Coral reefs provides important ecosystem services (read more here) and it’s so important that we’re on the alert how it’s affected by external factors. In that way, we can determine what measures we can undertake to protect what we love the most.

Photo Cred: Natalie Lobartolo

The special relationship between the clownfish and anemones

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Ever since “Finding Nemo”, we’ve collectively fallen in love with the cute little anemonefish, also known as clownfish. Nemo and his dad are Ocellaris clownfish, bright orange with white stripes, and that’s probably the one you think about when you think of a clownfish. But there are over 30 different species of anemonefish, and they come in different shapes and colours.

Did you know that all anemonefishes begin their lives as males?  Once they grow bigger, the oldest and largest adult will switch sex and become the dominant egg-laying female of a group.

What all clownfish have in common is their choice of home. The anemone.

The anemones are cnidarians, they come in all different shapes and colours. And some of them make a perfect home for the anemonefish.

The anemones have tentacles coated in nematocysts, which makes them sting when in contact with other animals. However, when an anemonefish is ‘moving in’, they acclimatise and develop a covering layer of mucus on their bodies. The mucus acts as a shield against the stinging cells.

This phenomenon has created a beneficial relationship between the clownfish and the anemone.

Have you ever dived on a reef and had a closer look at these buddies? If so, you might have noticed that the anemonefish is quite protective. They don’t appear as scared at all and don’t hesitate to defend their home. The anemone and the fish benefit from each other as they exchange protection against predators.

The anemone also benefits from its residents by eating their food scraps and on top of that, they are getting their tentacles cleaned from parasites.

The relationship these two animals have evolved, is an amazing demonstration of how nature creates connections for survival amongst different creatures. 

Is this something we can learn from?

We make new discoveries every day about how we benefit and rely on the functioning of different ecosystems, such as the rainforests, the savannahs and of course, our coral reefs (read more about ecosystem services from coral reefs here: https://reefconnect.com.au/coral-reefs-and-ecosystem-services/).
We must do everything we can to maintain these ecosystems healthy and functioning for our own health and survival.

Coral reefs provides important ecosystem services

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Nature and our ecosystems are amazing, we can all agree on that, right? However, have you heard about an ecosystem service before? It is explained as the benefits that humans can obtain from the natural environment just by existing.

Therefore, the Great Barrier Reef is a perfect example of an ecosystem that provides us with overflowing benefits with all the ecosystem services it provides us. Firstly, let’s break it down and explain what ecosystem services actually are.

 

 

Ecosystem services can be divided in three categories:

Poster cred: Wildlife Conservation Society

The social. First of all, we can literally spend weeks, months, or even years, exploring the over 900 islands. Our favourites are activities like SCUBA diving, sailing, island-hopping, snorkelling, the list can go long. I think we can all agree to the fact that the reef contributes to human well-being. Many of us find places along the reef where we feel a sense of home, where we can reconnect with ourselves and nature.

 

The economic. The Great Barrier Reef is valued at $56 billion!!! Crazy numbers!  These numbers are summarised by tourism, recreation, commercial fishing and scientific research. Over 90% are related to tourism and recreational activities. Many people’s livelihood along the Queensland coast is dependent on the reef. Want to read more? Click here: https://www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/the-value

 

The environmental. As the largest living organism in the world, the reef is such an important ecosystem for the health of the ocean and the planet. The reef provides habitat for organisms and marine species we rely on for food and medicine production. The reef assists in fixing greenhouse gases like carbon and nitrogen. And the reef provides an entire system with its marine inhabitants to help with nutrient recycling. How amazing?

 

 

Photo cred: Natalie Lobartolo

 

Have you ever thought about how the Great Barrier Reef provides us protection?

You may not think about it when you’re standing on shore looking out to the coral sea and you can’t see the reef with your own eyes. But on a larger scale, the reef actually has a quite important role in terms of coastal protection.

The structure of the Great Barrier Reef acts as a buffer between the open ocean and the coastline.  What that means in terms of protection of the coastline is that the reef is the first to take on larger storms, cyclones and waves. As a result of the buffer, the energy flow is dissipating before it reaches the shore. That is a game changer for preventing loss of lives, property damage and coastal erosion.

Coastal areas are for all of these amazing benefits highly inhabited. We love to live near the ocean for the lifestyle it has to offer. In Australia, this is evident with more than 85% of the population living within 50 kilometres of the coast.

 

But without the reef, would the coastline be the same?

Coral reefs evidently provide important ecosystem services.

In conclusion, if the functioning of the reef is decreasing, so are all the benefits we draw from it. Coral reefs provides important ecosystem services after all. Are we dependent on the social, economic, and environmental benefits the GBR provides us?

Looking after our beautiful reef is now more important than ever!

The reef needs us, and we also need the reef!