Embargoed
until 10am EDST 1 February 2008 - Monitoring
wild dolphins off the South Australian coastline
has earned a school and environment group
partnership the title of Australia’s best
coastal custodian.
Kangaroo Island Dolphin
Watch has been awarded the 2007 Minister’s
Award for Coastal Custodians, for their
work teaming students from Kangaroo Island
Community Education and volunteers with
the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
to research dolphins and promote their conservation.
The group was selected
from entries from around Australia to take
out the annual national prize.
South Australian Senator Dana Wortley was
on the island today to present the award
on behalf of the Australian Minister for
the Environment, Heritage and the Arts,
Peter Garrett.
Senator Wortley said
Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch was a great
example of community members working together
for the benefit of the marine environment.
“The people of Kangaroo
Island have a great affinity with their
coastal and marine environment and this
tradition is being handed down to a new
generation through this project,” she said.
“Students, volunteers
and the wider community are filling the
information gaps about dolphins and other
marine life in the Kangaroo Island area.
“Kangaroo Islanders
have beamed this information out in a global
webcast through a dolphin forum and inspired
people of all ages to help protect dolphins
and other marine species.”
Mr Garrett said the
award winners are true coastal custodians,
managing their marine and coastal environments
for future generations.
“This wild dolphin monitoring
program should act as an inspiration to
other schools around Australia, showing
what can be done to get students caring
for their own back yard,” he said.
The $5,000 Minister’s
Award for Coastal Custodians is presented
each year to mark Coastcare Week.
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals declared 2008 as
International Year of the Dolphin. To learn
more, go to www.yod2007.org
High resolution images are at: www.environment.gov.au/coasts/coastalcustodians.html
Media Contact: Lisa McIntosh (Senator Wortley)
Margot Marshall (Minister Garrett)
Dr Mike Bossley (Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Society)
Tony Bartram (KI Dolphin Watch)
