Marine Studies teachers from all over Queensland will gather at Reef HQ Aquarium today to launch the 14^th Annual Marine Teachers Conference.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Education Manager Fred Nucifora said the Authority were proud sponsors of this year’s event which will have the theme ‘Our ocean – One ocean’.

“The teachers attending the conference are the people that are actually in the classroom teaching thousands of students about why the Reef needs to be protected, how it is managed and best environmental practices,” he said.

Mr Nucifora will present a Climate Change Education Package to conference attendees at the opening of the event.

“Climate change is something very real, and there are signs that it is effecting the ecology of the Marine Park," he said.

"It is important to provide teachers with the most up-to-date information so that they can better educate their students on the future of our marine environment."

Marine Teachers Association of Queensland President Sheree Bell said the conference would allow marine teachers to network with other experienced teachers on how to run a successful marine studies course for years 10 to 12.

“After the official launch at Reef HQ the teachers will board a ferry to Magnetic Island for four jam packed days of professional workshops, practical training and field trips as part of the conference,” she said.

“The best things about the annual conference are the practical skills the teachers can learn and then take back to their classroom and share with their students.

“The enthusiasm we see from the teachers each year when they attend the conference is an exciting thing to share and participate in.”

Other sponsors of the Marine Teachers Conference include Education Queensland, Yachting Queensland, Maritime Safety Queensland and Wet Paper.