Albino ocean rarities, with skin as white as snow

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How often does watching a man cross the road give you an idea for a blog post? Well, chalk it up to 1, because that’s what happened a few days ago.

“Hmm. Dark glasses, white hair under hat, long pants and sleeves and a walking cane….he must have albinism!”

Albinism is an inherited genetic condition that effects the body’s ability to produce melanin, or pigment in out bodies. In humans, albinism can affect the skin, hair and eyes to varying degrees. Vision can be impaired, and skin may be extremely sensitive to sunlight. What a condition to have in sunny Queensland.

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Pacific Garbage Patch – a safe resting place for marine debris?

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This article posted on The Conversation last week was a great eye opener about marine debris.

Through the magic of social media, I’m aware of something called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I’m aware in the sense that I’ve seen the photos, the film previews (and here). I’ve also learned about the resting place of marine debris at the ‘trashed’ Midway Atoll at an education centre during a trip to Hawai’i several years ago.

It’s easy to see why these garbage gyres have become somewhat of a poster-issue for ocean conservation. The garbage patches are visually dramatic and are a fantastic reminder that our waste is large-scale and long-term.

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