Page 19 - Holidays with Kids - Volume 62 (January 2020)

Reef 101
Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef
CEO Andy Ridley shares his
step-by-step guide to being
reef responsible.
1.
Carbon-offset your flight or visit
the reef by coach, rail or car
(depending on where you are
based) to reduce emissions.

2.
Research the tour operator taking 04
you out on the reef. It’s easy to
check who has eco-certification. 01 Snorkelling with a sea turtle © Shutterstock/BlueOrange Studio 02 Explore the reef at Jean-Michel Cousteau
Resort Fiji 03 Junior Citizen Raff on the reef 04 On a Grootbos marine safari in search of the Big Marine 5 off
the sourthern tip of South Africa © Scott Ramsay
3.
Snorkel with a Master Reef Guide
or a marine biologist to learn
what’s healthy and what’s “By actively participating in our restoration “These are the Big 5 of the Ocean, and we
damaged, and you’ll come back and monitoring projects, kids can extract and are so privileged to have them right on our
more informed and therefore distil lessons from both culture and nature doorstep in this marine hub in Walker Bay,”
a better advocate for the reef. and use them to explore an alternative says Crichton.
sustainable future,” says Singh. Sadly, an alarming decline in population
4. The program is creating ocean advocates has seen the African penguin added to the
Look and enjoy, but don’t touch who, adds Singh, “Will bring together people list of at-risk and endangered species. The
the reef or its inhabitants. who are passionate about the importance and penguins can’t find the fish they need due to
continued wellbeing of our oceans.” warming sea surface temperatures and
5. overfishing, which has made food scarce.
Use reef-friendly sunscreen that Out of Africa Instead, a toxic soup of industrial waste and
doesn’t contain chemicals that Ruth Crichton of South Africa’s Grootbos plastic is on the menu. As a result, it is
can damage corals. I put my kids Nature Reserve believes the role of travel in projected that these penguins may be extinct
in full sun suits, which protect educating ocean advocates is critical as it is within 15 years.
them not only from stingers in a catalyst for experiential learning and a But, adds Crichton, when it comes to the
the summer, but sunburn as well. deeper, visceral understanding of the need to future of the penguins and other species,
protect and conserve our oceans. “It all starts with you! Look for plastic
6. Grootbos, situated in the smallest yet most alternatives, be mindful of ocean-harming
Aim for a net zero-emissions diverse of the world’s plant kingdoms, is a products and littering and eat only
lifestyle and say a big no to thriving example of travel and conservation sustainable seafood.”
single-use anything. working hand-in-hand. The award-winning
five-star lodge has programs in place to Inheriting the Earth
7. introduce people of all ages to conserving “There will be more plastic than fish in the sea
When you’ve been to the reef, tell the wilderness and the creatures that live in it by 2050,” my concerned son tells me after
the world what you’ve seen. The – both on land and water. From bugs and returning from his Great Barrier Reef
story of the reef is incredibly frogs to the Big Marine 5, dedicated Grootbos Adventure. “But I’ve made the pledge to
nuanced: it’s an enormous guides engage and introduce children to the become a Junior Citizen and will say no to
ecosystem and while parts have importance of all creatures to the ecosystem single-use plastic and do my bit to help turn
been damaged, other parts are through immersive experiences. this horrible situation around.”
amazing. The truth is important. An unparalleled diversity of marine life from True to his word, my passionate ocean
single-cell algae to the largest predatory fish advocate has removed all single-use plastic
8. in the oceans have earned the southern tip of from our daily lives, planted an organic veggie
Sign up to become a Junior Africa the nickname ‘The Serengeti of the Sea’. patch with his sister and follows us around
Citizen of the Reef at Grootbos’ marine safaris include an immersive turning off lights to curb carbon emissions.
nick.com.au/reefsquad. adventure to view whales, sharks, dolphins, And along the way he is educating us. And
seals and African penguins. that is the power of travel for change.

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