ENVIRONMENT

Climate change is the result of changes in our weather patterns because of an increase in the Earth’s average temperature. This is caused by increases in greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere from human activity such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These gases soak up heat from the sun but instead of the heat leaving the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is trapped, making the Earth warmer.

You may have heard of the EAC (East Australian Current) from ‘Finding Nemo’. The EAC typically met the colder Zeehan current (arising in Antarctica) at around the middle of Tassie’s east coast, but in the last 70 years, the EAC has continued to strengthen, driving warmer, lower-nutrient waters further south. The EAC has advanced towards the south pole by around 350 kms.

Observations from a long-term ocean station at the southern end of the EAC off Maria Island (east coast of Tasmania) show that ocean temperatures have risen more than 2 degrees over the past 60 years – more than four times the global average increase! Tasmania’s East Coast is one of more than a dozen global ‘hotsports’ (others include Brazil, Indian Ocean and the North Sea) where the water is warming much faster than the global average.

• Dramatic changes are occuring down below in our oceans
• Northern species are extending their range (long-spined urchins, snapper, yellow-tailed kingfish).
• Some fish species are already at their tolerance and cannot move further south. As the temperature continues to warm, their range shrinks.
• Fish species are being being pushed toward the poles at a rate of 7 km every year, as they chase the climates they can survive in.
• Kelp forests, which drive ocean productivity, are under threat.

Below are just some of the steps we are taking to reduce our carbon emissions:

• On all our tours we ask guests to separate their waste for recycling and composting and bring all food waste home where it is fed to our chickens or composted for the veggie patch.
• We use recycle products where possible.
• We use bicycles for city transport when possible
• We measure and track our carbon footprint annually. To offset these emissions we have partnered with South Pole on its  project to protect and restore Tasmania’s native forests.
• We ensure all our vehicles are serviced regularly to maintain optimum fuel efficiency
• We encourage our guests to bring reusable water bottles to decrease single use plastic bottle waste

Green Guardians is a program that provides sustainable travel experiences in Tasmania’s national parks and reserves. Roaring 40°s Kayaking works with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Birdlife Tasmania to conduct shorebird surveys during our Wilderness on Water expeditions.

Wildcare is Tasmania’s largest environmental volunteer group supporting natural and cultural heritage conservation and reserve management across the state. Roaring 40°s Kayaking sponsors Wildcare’s Friends of Melaleuca and Friends of the Orange Bellied Parrot programs.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program – Tasmania’s iconic Tasmanian devil is under threat from Devil Facial Tumour Disease – a rare infection cancer that is spreading through natural populations. Roaring 40°s Kayaking supports the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program in its advancement of a possible vaccine, research funding, and rebuilding of disease-free wild devil populations.