4th June Seaweed Day

Seaweed Day aims to explore the potential of the seaweed industry and learn more about how seaweed can contribute to feeding the world, climate change mitigation, and ecosystem support. In line with the UN's goal, 'Zero Hunger,' farming only 2% of the ocean would provide enough protein to feed 12 billion people

We’re spoilt in Australia when it comes to seaweed diversity. South Australia is actually a seaweed haven; 60% of the seaweed’s found on the South Australian coastline are found nowhere else in the world. There are thousands of different types of seaweeds you can find washed up on the beaches in Australia. Everyone seems to love the kelps, a family of about 120 large brown seaweeds. Giant kelp can grow one metre in two days and can reach full maturity, up to 50m in length, in a matter of months. Recently there’s been some promising research into seaweed biofuels that can power vehicles, which is pretty neat. Many people are also not aware that there’s a long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples using seaweed to make shoes, water carriers and shelters. (Mathew Bate, author of With a Little Kelp from Our Friends)

This book, Amazing Seaweed  by Uncle Ken Jones gives an Indigenous perspective to caring for country, in particular the seaweeds. 

The importance of seaweed for our First Nations people is  explored, including the various ways they used it for consumption and for making things. This story also reveals the scientific interest in seaweed as a “superfood” for the future.

Surprisingly there are many books in the library that can be used to explore seaweed:

1st March World Seagrass Day

World Seagrass Day occurs on March 1st, becoming Seagrass Awareness Month.  Raising public awareness of the importance of seagrass is crucial to promoting biodiversity and the conversation of seagrass meadows. Unlike seaweeds, seagrass is a grasslike plant that lives in or close to the sea and forms dense meadows. Saving seagrass means saving our seas, as these areas host a myriad of animals species, including supplying 20% of the world's fisheries, sequestrating carbon, supporting communities by providing livelihood, and more. It's estimated that an area large as two football pitches is lost every hour globally.

https://rachelhudsonillustration.com/illustration/wildlifewatchmagazine

https://www.dugongconservation.org/media/2016/06/Seagrass-infographic-edited2.png

Seagrasses are one of the most widespread marine ecosystems on Earth, covering around 300,000 square kilometres of seabed in 159 countries, including Australia.

Here are 10 facts about this essential plant.  

Observing this day is the result of a decision made by the UN General Assembly (UNGA)  on 23 May 2022. I haven't written about it before or thought much about it till yesterday when I saw that it was coming up and I then began to think about books that I could use to promote this day.

The CSIRO are well ahead of me, as in the last few years they have published some wonderful books, including The Great Southern Reef  by Paul Venzo, Prue Francis and Cate James and The Way of the Weedy Seadragon by Anne Morgan and Lois Bury. While not only about seagrass, they do include sea ecosystems that children will want to know about. The authors of The Great Southern Reef, were also involved in putting together a comprehensive guide for primary school teachers, called Over and Under the Waves of the Great Southern Reef:Using children's literature to teach marine science in schools. This resource also focuses on  the following picture books:

1. The Hidden Forest by Jeannie Baker (2005)

2. The Underwater Forest by Rebecca Morris and Matt Howorth (2020)

3. The Way of the Weedy Seadragon by Anne Morgan and Lois Bury (2021)

4. With a Little Kelp from Our Friends by Mathew Bate and Liz Rowland (2021)

5. Sea Country by Aunty Patsy Cameron and by Lisa Kennedy (2021)

6. The Great Southern Reef by Paul Venzo, Prue Francis, and Cate James (2022)

7. Giinagay Gaagal Hello Ocean by Melissa Greenwood (2023)

8. Secrets of the Saltmarsh by Claire Saxby and Alicia Rogerson (2023) 

   
   

   

    
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Back to seagrass...the dugongs in Australian waters rely very heavily on the seagrass meadows so look for these books as well

   • Dugong Meadow  by Naomi Mairou

   • Dugong Dreams  by Deborah Kelly and Lisa Stewart

   • Stay Close by Kerrie Uren and Leanne Argent

   • Sea-grass Beds  by Kimberley Jane Prior 

   • Seagrass Dreams by Kathleen Hanes and Chloe Bonfield