Sea World 1 to welcome visitors on board at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

At this year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS), the research and rescue vessel - Sea World 1, will be showing visitors how to protect and respect marine life.

Held from the 21^st to 24^th May, visitors to SCIBS will enjoy the opportunity to get on board this unique vessel, learning how to protect and conserve the marine environment.

Long-time campaigners for marine conservation and education, Sea World, will showcase their 18-metre research and rescue boat, Sea World 1, with the prime aim of demonstrating how crew can be ambassadors of the sea.

Johan Hasser, general manager of the boat show explained how SCIBS is thrilled to have Sea World at this year’s event, and that Sea World 1 will be a fun and friendly means of promoting a powerful message. He commented, “It's great for kids, families and visitors to be able to see first-hand the high-tech equipment on-board such a vessel. Sea World 1 will be a major attraction and a great way for the Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation to raise awareness and funds.”

The Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation is the non-profit arm of Sea World. For more than 20 years, the foundation has worked to understand, protect and support the marine environment.

Trevor Long, director of marine sciences at Sea World commented, “An appreciation of the marine environment is a strong synergy between the Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation and SCIBS. We will be welcoming people on board Sea World 1 and sharing the message of marine conservation, as well as day to day actions that boaties can do to help to respect and protect our marine life.”

Visitors will be able to get up close to rescue equipment and meet some of the Research & Rescue team.

Visitors can support the Foundation Marine Research Programme by joining up as friends of the foundation, which gives them a membership card, discounts at Sea World and an e-newsletter.

Trevor continued, “This is a great opportunity to extend the education message and further marine conservation at home and with the visitors who attend SCIBS from around Australia and the world. We hope to impart that a boaties’ checklist should be: Life jackets, sunscreen and respect for marine life. The boating community has a very important role as the ambassadors for our marine life.”

For more information, visit seaworld.com.au/research-and-rescue.

Running 21^st to 24^th May 2015, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show attracts more than 40,000 visitors to a spectacular showcase of more than 500 boats and marine products across four days.

For more information on the show, visit SCIBS.