Ocean Champions Preview - first 8-pages

OCEAN
CHAMPIONS
A JOURNEY into SEAS of PLASTIC
by Michelle Mech
illustrations Ian Fry

Once upon a tide, a high tide, early on a sunny day, Kai and Morgan were playing
on the beach. The two friends were on a holiday at the seashore with their parents
and thought that this was going to be just like any other ordinary, fun day. But then
they heard something in the distance.
They ran down the beach and saw a plastic bottle, looking very sad and clinging to
the sand at the water’s edge. Morgan picked the bottle up and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m Botley and I’m upset because
I was left here beside the ocean
instead of being recycled.

“A wave caught me and almost carried me into the water and plastic is very bad
for the oceans.”
“Well, you will have to come with us and tell us more,” said Morgan. Botley broke
out in a smile.
As they walked along the beach, Botley explained, “Plastic is so dangerous for ocean
animals. They can get tangled up in it or mistake it for food, which can hurt them,
make them sick, or even kill them. And so many things that humans use are plastic.”
“Like cups, plates, food containers, and toys,” responded Morgan.
“Yes,” said Botley. “And many items you might not think of as plastic – like cellphones,
balloons, disposable diapers, fishing nets and lines, and even many of the materials
used to make clothes.
“Oh look! There’s a plastic grocery bag. Can you grab it before it gets blown into the ocean?”

Kai ran to the bag, picked it up and tucked it into his pocket. Botley said, “There are
millions of plastic bags used all over the world and most do not get reused or recycled.
Many are littered or blown out of landfills, where garbage is dumped, and end up
in the oceans.”
Morgan looked down the beach and spotted two dolphins in the water just off the
shoreline. The children ran closer and saw that one dolphin had a large piece of fishing
net caught on its beak and dorsal fin. The other dolphin said, “I’m Dilan and this is
my friend Dash. Because of the fishing net, Dash can’t catch fish, so she is very hungry.
We need to get the net off of her; otherwise she will starve to death!”
Kai said, “You stay here with the dolphins Morgan and I’ll run to where
we’re staying and try to call an animal rescue center.”

Several minutes later Kai returned with their parents. He told the dolphins help was
on the way. Other people gathered on the beach to watch.
Soon an unusual looking boat arrived and stopped just off the shore. Two people
climbed out. “We are Marina and Tyler from the Ocean Animal Rescue and Research
Centre and we’re here to help,” Marina explained.
She and Tyler waded over to the dolphins and very carefully pulled the
fishing net first off Dash’s fin and then off her beak. Next they
cleaned the places where the net had cut into her skin.

“Thank you so much,” said Dash. Then she and Dilan turned and headed out to sea
while everyone watching cheered.
Marina explained to the people on the beach, “Fishing nets and gear that get
lost or thrown away are called ghost nets because they drift with the ocean
currents +1 and continue to catch fish and also other marine animals,
often trapping them below the surface. Sea turtles and marine
mammals like dolphins and seals need to be able to get back
to the surface for air, otherwise they drown.”
Marina noticed Botley and asked,
“Who do we have here?”
“This is Botley and he is teaching
us about plastic in the oceans,”
answered Morgan.

“Would you like to come with us to learn more?” asked Marina.
“We’ll bring you back safe and sound.”
“Yes, yes!” the children replied excitedly, after their parents agreed they could go.
“We’ll take along this piece of fishing net and recycle it later,” said Tyler. Marina told
the children and Botley that their boat, Spirit, is a super submersible, meaning it
can travel very fast underwater, as well as on the surface of the ocean.
When Tyler returned, they
all climbed aboard and
buckled their seat belts.
Marina closed Spirit’s
dome and away
they went, surprised
and happy to soon
see Dilan and Dash,
swimming alongside
and criss-crossing
in front of them.
After several minutes,
the dolphins waved
their flippers in
farewell and
sped away.

As Spirit skimmed along,
Marina asked her guests
if they know why our
oceans are so important.
Morgan responded,
“They provide many
people with food and jobs.”
“We can have lots of fun
in them and also travel
on them to other places,”
answered Kai.
EVAPORATION
“And they are so beautiful,” added Botley.
“You are all correct,” said Marina, “but there are other
very important things the oceans do for us.
“The oceans cover much more of the Earth’s surface than the land and they
provide most of water in the water cycle. In this cycle,
the sunheats up the surface of the oceans and it evaporates and turns into water
vapour. Some of this vapour condenses into water droplets and forms clouds.

PRECIPITATION
CONDENSATION
“When these droplets get too
heavy for the air to hold them,
they fall back to earth as
precipitation – rain, snow,
hail or sleet – which is
necessary for the survival
of plants and animals.
The water cycle and
the ocean currents and
winds play a big part
in controlling our weather
patterns and air temperatures.
“As well, more than half of Earth’s oxygen – oxygen that we need
to breathe and live – is produced by phytoplankton, tiny plant-like
creatures that live in the oceans. The oceans are our life support
system and all life on Earth needs healthy oceans.”