Students undertake selected studies in one or more of the following areas:

Read the fact sheets "What is marine biodiversity?" and "Organisational structure of marine biosecurity in New Zealand".

In groups or as a class, discuss, create, and display definitions of biosecurity and biodiversity.

Individually or in small groups, choose one of the following marine environmental issues to investigate. Useful fact sheets are suggested as starting points.

The information could be presented as a written report, oral report, newspaper article, seminar, poster, website, multimedia presentation, and so on.

Planning and decision making - Issues:

• Local protected marine area(s)
• Management of mataitai reserves
• What to do about undaria
• Sewage treatment issues - septic tank contamination, illegal outfall or dumping
• Border control or biosecurity management in your local port
• Controls on recreational fishing or gathering of kaimoana (seafood)

Content to be covered:

• Discuss the alternative decision-making processes.
• Discuss the contribution of geography in planning and decision making.
• Give an example of planning and decision making.
• Evaluate a decision-making example from a geographic perspective

Contemporary geography issues
Issues:

• Proposed new construction of an industrial or port development in your local marine area
• Proposed protected marine area or marine farm in your local marine area
• Local sewage problem, for example, one that impacts on mussel farms
• Algal bloom

Content to be covered:

• Analyse the geographic nature of a contemporary issue.
• Analysis a range of viewpoints on the contemporary issue.
• Analyse the conflicts and potential compromises that relate to a contemporary issue.
• Analyse the possible courses of action and make a recommendation

Global study - Issues:

• Spread of biodiversity threats or potential threats (specific species)
• Ways that marine pests might be introduced into New Zealand - ship's ballast, hulls, illegal imports, or dumping
• Global warming - how new exotic species can survive in New Zealand waters
• Biosecurity control measures.

Content to be covered:

• Describe the characteristics of the global study.
• Analyse the patterns, processes, and links within the global study.
• Analyse how the global study is significant for people.