Celebrating Marine Life on the World Wildlife Day 2019

Celebrating Marine Life on the World Wildlife Day 2019. Kenyans in the coastal areas were able to interact with conservationists who taught them more about marine conservation.

There have been increased awareness among the local communities regarding wildlife and pollution. Especially in the coast, Ocean cleaning has become responsibility for the community. They ensure that visitors understand importance of not dumping into the ocean. As well remove the plastics that have already made their way into the ocean.

Through these activities, they have been able to turn these trash to treasure. We have several groups that have found ways to make stuff out of plastic stuff into beautiful items. Which they sell , hence improving their livelihood.

Most importantly, they have been able to understand the severe consequences of using oceans as dumpsites. They are ready and willing to do anything that will promote good healthy for the ocean. After all, most of their livelihood depend on the ocean and it’s resources.

They do have a special place in their hearts for marine life. The fishermen among other communities, take part in rescueing any stranded marine creature, or ones that find themselves in wrong places.

Gone are the days where they hunted for the turtle and their eggs for food and sale. Nowadays they protect them, and even taking them to the designated organizations for treatment if founf sick or injured.

They have been taught on the various marine animals ways of lives. Hence able to understand how they can help such creatures. This has been through several conservation bodies. both governmental and non0governmental. And we can happily conclude that, marine has a future after all.

Marine Life

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What I learnt from the Blue Economy Conference 2018

The conference lasted for three short days and I believe its was a success. As I got to learn more and I know some people somewhere agree too.

It had the best timing and if all the wordings are made to reality. Then our oceans are in great hands.

So what re some of the things that really impressed me

Blue economy offers a lot of opportunities

Blue economy will unlock potential by marine and its resources.

For a long time, we (developing countries), have not taken water resources seriously. We lack an effective framework to sustain-ably  exploit these resources.

Requirements for a sustainable blue economy

A successful blue economy has to be sustainable. To avoid over-exploitation and destruction of the resources we look forward to exploit. Unlike gold mining, ocean will need to be allowed time and subjected to conducive environment for its resources.

For fishing to excel, then we should not fish the little ones or flock in the water bodies. We should allow fish time to procreate and grow in size. Hence able to strike the balance.

Blue economy plays an important role to other economies

Blue economy is a new dimension in our economies and hence inadequately exploited. It’s the new jack pot and we should be careful to do things right from the very beginning.

If sustain-ably exploited, then we are to gain much more and still maintain healthy waters.

Conservation of marine and its resources is paramount

A healthy ocean and other water bodies will be able to offer the resources to be exploited. Hence their conservation is a must. For a cow to give more and good milk, then you have to take good care of her. Same applies to all water bodies. It’s a two-way traffic relationship.

Successful blue economy is a global teamwork

No one country can claim ownership of the oceans and its resources. This is because they touch different continents and always on the move with its resources. The fish migrate all the time, same to other species found in the waters. So if one country decides to mishandled these species while they are in their territory. Then the effect will be felt by all nations associated to that ocean.

As a planet its our responsibility to collectively take good care of marine and its resources.

Nations got an opportunity to read their commitments towards sustainable blue economy during the conference. This shows how  serious we need each other to succeed and have healthy oceans.

Sad fact: Research shows that if we don’t stop treating oceans like dumpsites. By 2050, plastic will be more than fish in our oceans.

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What is Blue economy?

What is blue economy? What does it entail?

The Blue economy conference for 2018 kicked off two days ago and will be concluding today. It brought many nations, organisation and people together.

Let’s get to understand what it entails

In general terms, it is use of marine environment for its economic value. Include activities such as fishing, marine tourism, marine sport, transport,among others.

Did you know?

• Oceans covers 72% of our planet surface.
• Ocean helps to both generate oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide. Its literally gives us life just like trees.
• Oceans recycle nutrients and regulates global climate and temperature.
• Ocean provide employment and source of food.

Humans are known to take more than needed when it comes to exploiting resources. Especially natural resources. Hence needs to be put on check before they can cause depletion of whatever they are exploiting.

And that’s where the blue economy conference comes in. It is used as a tool to ensure sustainable exploitation of marine resources. As well as ensuring that environment is well taken care of.

According to World Wildlife Fund, Blue economy means use of marine and its resources for sustainable economic developments.

They are geared to promote three key agenda, which includes:

1. Overall contribution of the marine environment to economies.
2. Addressing the environmental and ecological sustainability of the marine environment.
3. Blue economy as a growth opportunity for both developed and developing countries.

Which are some of potential for blue economy?

• Marine biotechnology and bio-prospecting
• Aquaculture
• Seabed extraction
• Renewable energy
• Carbon sequestration
• Existence of biodiversity

Challenges

• Over-exploitation of marine resources.
• Illegal undertakings in oceans , that is, illegal fishing, use of illegal equipment.
• Waste disposal to the oceans. There’s inadequate care for marine environment and its ecosystem.
• Piracy activities.

Snippet of the Blue Economy Conference 2018

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Oysters

Oysters are salt-water bivalve mollusks found in oceans/sea/brackish habitats. They belong to the ostreoidea family.

They can be consumed raw or cooked by humans. And some of them have pearl that is harvested to make decorative objects.

Oysters can be consumed both cooked or raw

Types of Oysters

1. True Oysters

Comprises of the edible oysters.

Examples include belon oyster, Olympia oyster, pacific oysters, among others.

Pacific Oyster

2. Pearl Oysters

As the names indicates, their translucent shells produce pearl.

Example include marine pinctada maxima. It is the largest pearl-bearing oyster.

3. Thorny Oysters

4. Saddle Oysters / Jingle shells

5.Pilgrim Oysters

6. Dimydarian Oysters

7. Windowpane Oysters

How do Oysters feed?

Oysters are filter feeders by beating cilia over their gills. They are able to filter up to five liter of water within an hour.

The filtered food is moved to the mouth where digestion happens.

They mostly feed on the algae which if left untouched would lead to eutrophication. Hence the oyster feeding is importance to the checking of algae population.

They do also provide habitat to the other marine animals.

This makes oyster qualify as a keystone species. This is due to their great importance in the structure of the ecosystems where they are found.

Reproduction system for Oysters

Some of the oysters are able to produce both eggs and sperms. Hence can be able to fertilize its own eggs.

The ones with no sperms, the fertilization happens internally. Then the fertilized eggs are released into the water.

What do we call a group of oysters?

Oyster reef

A group of oysters is commonly known as oyster reef or a bed.

They normally get attached at a surface and remain in that position.

They tend to stick on a surface

Importance of Oysters in the ecosystem services

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Sea Urchins

Sea urchins are marine creatures. They are echinoderms and belong to the class of Echinoidea. And can be found in the floor of oceans. They prefer areas with coral reef for safety measures.

Sea urchins love to live within the coral reefs for safety measures

Sea urchin have more than 100 known species. Which are different in sizes, color and shapes. But mainly in round to oval body shapes. Most of them are red, green, brown, purple or black.

They come in different shapes, sizes and colors.

Sample species of sea urchin include:

1. Slate pencil urchin
2. Caribbean sea urchin
3. Sea potato
4. Purple sea urchin
5. Red sea urchin (longest living)

Their bodies are covered by both spikes and hard shell. The ones with longer spikes are the dangerous one. They have no bones.

For you to be able to tell between a female and male. You need a closer microscopic viewing. Or by observing reproduction.

The spikes are used for:

• Defense
• Movements
• Hunting

Some species of sea urchin have spikes containing venom. Hence giving deadly sting to anyone going near them.

Some spikes contain venom, hence should be handled with care.

Sea urchin have 5 paired tube feet that have suckers at the bottom. The suckers help in movements, hunting and sticking on surfaces.

Their mouth is located at the center of its body’s underside. And comprises of five tooth-like plates. While the anus is located at the top of its body.

Sea urchin primarily feed on the algae. They do feed on sessile (immobile) or slow-moving animals occasionally as well as dead fish. Hence they are omnivores just like humans.

Sea urchin observe external fertilization. Whereby the female lay eggs and the male spread sperms on them.

Sea urchin are considered a delicacy in some countries. They are also hunted by crabs, birds, sea otter, among others.

Some people consider sea urchins to be a delicacy

Interesting fact:

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Marine experience at the Nairobi National Museum