The Last Ocean

Busy day today, my birthday!

Started off with a solitary coffee at my local favourite, reading the paper and doing some planning.

Then work, then lunch with a friend, then a little more work, then out to dinner with Mrs PS, and then ...

Off to a presentation at the Art gallery called "The Last Ocean". I didn't quite know what it was about, but having been to the Antarctic a few times one is always interested.

I have to say, the presentation featured some of the most outstanding images of Antarctica that I have even seen, taken by John B. Weller, and I have seen a lot ... As I reflected on the only photo I took today was a crappy one on my iPhone I felt very inadequate.

But the images and video were there to tell a story, not to just impress. David Aninley and a bunch of other prominent scientists have banded together to profile a story that hasn't been heard. Our oceans are suffering globally, fish stocks depleted, red tides, jelly fish plagues, but one ocean in the world is almost untouched - The Ross Sea. Except sadly it's also that last great bastion of fish stocks, namely the Antarctic Toothfish, which means that it's a "cash cow" as a fishery. Note on Wikipedia it mentions that CCAMLR has limited fishing and is collecting information. That equates to 3000 tonnes of fish per annum, and no research. It's forecast the fishery will be dead in 15 years, and at this time there will be a collapse in the entire marine ecosystem and our very last chance to study one that was working.

It's a compelling argument with much research, but money prevails it seems. So tonight was a soft launch of their campaign to lobby CCAMLR and governments globally. They have a website in development and I'd encourage you to sign up to learn why The Ross Sea is the last untouched ecosystem, and why this is so important. Apparently by the end of Feb all the great pictures and video will be on there - which alone will be worth a visit.

Memorable birthday!