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Just Add Water! By Arden Miller, CZM Captain Jacques Cousteau, the famed French "musketeer of the sea" and co-inventor of the self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba), once said, "The oceans are superior to land as an environment for life support. They provide directly the water fundamental to all forms of growth, laden with vital salts, dissolved gases, and minerals..." Whether or not you believe this to be true, it is undeniable that the oceans—all four of them (you know, the Atlantic, Pacific, Antarctic, and Indian)—cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface, support an estimated 275,000 plant and animal species, and constitute 97 percent of all the water in the world. Add to that the fact that more than half the world's population—that's close to 3 billion people—live within 60 miles of the coastline, and the entire population combined consumes around 29 million tons of fish annually and there's no denying it: from Bali, Indonesia to Boston, Massachusetts, the oceans affect us all in some way or other. And, while all that is a lot to visualize—does anyone know what 29 tons of fish looks like?!—there is an easy way to get to know our neighboring Atlantic Ocean up close and personal. The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) has created an Ocean Management Education Guide website for this purpose. The site contains a compilation of ocean-related activities—from the fun "Mr. and Mrs. Fish Marine Education Program" for elementary schools to the more serious "Cape Cod Bay Marine Life Cruise" to the roll-your-sleeves-up and go "Site Seining in Wellfleet"—there is something for all ages and levels of curiosity. The education guide's overview of linked sites can help you determine what places and activities you would like to learn more about. All relevant details, including hours and season(s) of operation, volunteer opportunities, contact information, and location(s) are listed as well. So go ahead: beat the heat on an educational summer boat cruise, solve and underwater mystery with Mr. & Mrs. Fish, learn about making a life at sea from a commercial fisherman, experience first hand what life forms inhabit local estuaries, find out if dolphins sleep, or why some lobsters are blue! Educators, parents, and kids are all encouraged to dive in and explore the site for activity ideas. And, if you are involved in ocean education, or know of local ocean-related activities that you would like included on the regularly updated site, please email: czm@state.ma.us. So, take the plunge—from 20 miles from the shoreline to twenty thousand leagues under the sea, there are more than 60 links to help you chart your next course! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boston, MA 02114