Term

Description

Abyss

The deepest of underwater oceanic regions

Algae

Primitive plant organisms which live in marine and aquatic environments

Algin

An extract of kelp and brown algae that is used in hand cream, paint and toothpaste as a thickener and binding agent

Amphipods

Small or microscopic crustaceans such as shrimps, miniature crabs and bugs

Anchovy

Small fish from the family of salmon, pilchards and herring that are the mainstay diet of many fish species

Anoxic

Without air or more specifically oxygen

Aquaculture

The business of artificial farming of fish, crustacean and other species

Aquatic

relevant and specific to water

Arthropod

The family of small invertebrate animals with joints and connected legs, including crustaceans such as crabs, prawns and clickers

Atoll

The circular/ring shaped coral reef that at some stage evolved from a sub-marine volcanic event

Baleen

A resilient, tough and bony substance that grows in the upper jaws of whales

Barbel

A slender, whisker-like organ of fishes that acts as a lure from the mouth of a range of fishes

Barnacle

Rock attached marine animals that live inside a normally hard shell, also from the invertebrate family

Bathyal

A sub-marine and climate area of our oceans that exists at approx. 1800 metres

Bell

The main body and non-stinging part of the jellyfish that sits like an umbrella above the tentacles - aka 'medusa'

Bends

A serious and life-threatening condition caused from nitrogen gas bubbling in a (scuba, hooka) diver's blood streams if ascension from depth transgresses equalisation

Benthic Zone

Pretty much the bottom of our gulfs, lakes and oceans

Benthic mollusc

Often found in the deeper parts of our oceans, these little fellas are soft-bodies animals such as clams, cockles and snails living on the sea floor

Bonito

A superb swimming and hunting fish from the tuna/mackerel family of fishes, living across many sub-climatic ocean regions

Budding

A unique and awesome process whereby young jellyfish twin, triplicate and multi-replicate their identical selves

High tide mark

The line on a beach where the sea reaches its maximum height when the tide flows inwards to the high water mark.

Low tide mark

The low water mark which represents the lowest level the sea reaches when the tide flows outwards.

Tides

The ebb & flow of the sea as the effect of the moon shifts our ocean at least twice per day (unless it's a dodge tide) that has enormous benefits for our seabed habitats & environment.