The perspective of a 10-year-old

FF colouringcomp_thumb"Hey, it's so obvious - let's just do it!" 

There's nothing like the simplicity of a child's perspective to remind you of what Fish Forever is really about. Although the campaign moves steadily forward, the path is winding and from time to time you lose sight of the end goal. Thank you Kaya for this reminder:

"Do you like going fishing? Do you enjoy the smell of salt air blowing in your face, messing up your hair? I do, but also believe fish need a safe sanctuary to breed. Hi, I’m Kaya and I’m here to talk to you about an organization that I belong to called Fish Forever.

Firstly our objective is to make at least 10% of the Bay of Islands a no-take zone with a generational review. This means that we will reassess it in 25 years time. The marine ecosystem is in deep decline. We’re dangerously close to a state of no return.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like without fish? Would we have jelly fish burgers or chocolate fish fillets, or crab patties! Sponge Bob is happy with crab patties but I much prefer a nice piece of fresh fish.

Currently less than 10% of New Zealand’s coastal marine environment is protected compared with 30% of the land environment. So 10% of the Bay of Islands is not much to ask.

We as people who play, live and visit in the Bay of islands have a large part to play in the protection of our marine biodiversity. A good step towards this is to not throw rubbish in our water ways, avoid land run off and over fishing of species which affects the natural food chain.

An example of this is that New Zealanders have taken all the large crayfish and snapper which normally eat Kina. The Kina eat kelp causing huge areas to bare rock called Kina barrens.

KAya

Gurgle, Gurgle! Fish are fascinating creatures because they spend their life in the deep dark underwater land. Here are some fantastic fish facts that amaze me. Fish were well established long before dinosaurs roamed the earth. Some species of fish can glide, others can even climb rock. Sand dagger can change from a female to a male if they need to.

Let’s not make the same mistake as we did with the Moa. I hope generations to come can see New Zealand’s amazing fish life in a healthy, happy, natural environment not just in books.

Fish Forever."

Year 5 and 6 Speech Competition, Ohaeawai Primary
Winner: Kaya Tobin, 10


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