Marine Studies

The oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface and influence all forms of life on this planet. Of the thirty three animal phyla, twenty-eight are found in the sea and thirteen are exclusively marine.

Internationally, the oceans are viewed alternately as areas rich in minerals and marine life which can supply our needs virtually without limit, or as repositories for agricultural, industrial and domestic waste. Nationally, the United Nations declaration of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone in 1994 effectively doubled this country’s size and responsibilities. Australia now controls an area of the oceans that is 1.3 times the size of its land mass.

At a time of pressure on the marine environment there is a recognised need to deliver sound marine educational programs through formal structures within state and national curricula. Australians must be aware of and understand this fragile environment, and consider how to effectively manage 69,630 k of coastline, 14.8 million square kilometres of continental shelf, 12,000 islands, 783 major estuaries and the life they contain.

Marine Studies provides an opportunity for the future custodians of this environment to study it and to appreciate its value. It gives them the opportunity to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to use and protect its unique ecosystems, and at the same time communicate their appreciation to the community. It provides an opportunity to instill in students an acceptable ethical code towards use of the marine environment, increasingly demanded by the community and their governments. While this course is focused on oceans, it provides scope for the study of the full range of waterways.

Marine Studies provides an educational context, linked to the needs of a population based very much on it coast and waterways and which fosters links to tertiary study and vocational pathways. Further, this syllabus brings a wide range of marine-based leisure experiences to students in a safe setting. Marine Studies provides for both practical and theoretical learning, honing students’ acquired skills to solve real life problems.