World Oceans Day was first declared as 8 June in 1992 and is growing in momentum globally as a day to reflect on the health of world oceans. About - United Nations World Oceans Day (unworldoceansday.org).
MOUA will host an incredible Ocean Sentinel’s tour on June 8th for the public with SeaLink Queensland to visit MOUA’s John Brewer Reef site. Travelling onboard the SeaLink vessel for the ‘special-event’ tour experience will be renowned marine scientists and muse of the MOUA experience, Professor John “Charlie” Veron OAM also known in his field as the godfather of coral, Dr Katharina Fabricius respected coral ecologist and leading marine scientist at AIMS, Dr David Vaughan who will travel from Florida and best known for his ‘plant a million corals’ initiative globally, and North Queensland marine conservationist Molly Steer known for her global campaign, ‘Straw no more’.
The ‘Ocean Sentinels’ exhibition at John Brewer Reef, created by international sculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor, officially opened in June 2023. The eight Earth-friendly green-concrete sculptures on John Brewer Reef combine to create an immersive marine science snorkel experience, adjacent to the Southern Hemisphere’s first underwater museum, the Coral Greenhouse dive attraction which opened in 2020. More than 5000 visitors visited the exhibition in its first year underwater. Ocean Sentinel muse and respected coral ecologist, Dr Katharina Fabricius, is proud to be part of such a globally significant installation that further cements Townsville’s position as the best place for marine science and coral research – anywhere in the world.
"It's [MOUA] a living piece of art that communicates to the people how important research is, how important coral reefs are, and how all these aspects – art, science, humanity – can come together to protect the reef."
While exploring these sculptures and the neighbouring Great Barrier Reef, this project also brings to life an accessible citizen science program, encouraging visitors to record their observations through the iNaturalist program which captures information that will aid in the reef’s ongoing protection and management Chair of MOUA, Paul Victory said the World Ocean Day tour is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear from the ‘muse’ about their work and the MOUA vision, to spark a meaningful conversation about the reef “MOUA is an incredibly important tourism asset for the community of Townsville and we as residents along the Great Barrier Reef must all try and visit the site. The World Oceans Day tour and broader events hosted by MOUA encourages conversation about the Great Barrier Reef, its beauty, its colour and the impacts of climate and human civilization.
While enjoying the incredible John Brewer Reef and the beautiful artworks – we can learn from incredible experts to reflect on our role in preserving our marine reserves for the next generation. This tour is about storytelling, citizen science and encouraging real change through visiting the reef”.
North Queensland marine science expert and Deputy Chair of MOUA, Dr Adam Smith said; “MOUA is about bringing people and science together - by visiting the Great Barrier Reef from Townsville – arguably some of the most pristine examples of coral reef globally – and exploring internationally-acclaimed art, we are hoping visitors will leave with a deeper appreciation of how vitally important our oceans really are.”
For MOUA’s World Ocean Day tour detail and bookings visit: World Oceans Day Reef Trip, Saturday 8th… | SeaLink Magnetic Island
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