FISH OUT OF water
By Joe Novella Photos Yanni & Supplied
S
heree Marris is a force of nature who, by her own admission, ‘“should’ve been born with gills, a sparkly green mermaid-esque tail and a breath-hold to rival a whale.” Just a few minutes in her company is enough to witness the passion and energy she has for the incredible diversity of life under the waves. “As long as I can remember,” she said, “I’ve been drawn to the ocean which is natural because I was born a pisces, grew up on the peninsula and my surname translates as ‘sea’. I’m really fortunate to still live on the peninsula where I can easily access some of the most beautiful and spectacular marine environments in the world.”
It’s evident the sea is like a second home to Sheree; she is a qualified marine biologist, and, as such, spends quite a bit of her time in the water, studying, observing, collecting data and experiencing marine life up close, playing her part in making our local marine habitats healthy and sustainable ecosystems. “We really do have some of the most beautiful and diverse marine habitats right on our doorstep,” she said. “Seagrass meadows, sponge gardens, rocky reefs, sandy plains. Front and back beaches that are so different in terms of their marine life. A crab migration to rival that of the Serengeti wildebeest, seapony clouds at our piers, dolphins, whales and seals with eyes so big and round it seems they are staring right into your soul.”
E ssence
16 | PENINSULA
December 2023
But it’s on land where Sheree hopes to make the greatest impact by devoting her time to educating others about the marine environments she cares so deeply about. And not just for the benefit of the millions of creatures that call the water their home, but also for those of us who live above sea level. “Our health,” she said, “is intrinsically connected to the health of our marine environments. These environments provide food and regulate the weather but if people don’t understand or value these facts then they won’t care. That’s my mission. That’s what fills my cup. To talk to people of all ages about the magnificence of our seas and oceans and connect humans to them in a way that makes them care. To take complex scientific data and communicate it in a way that will resonate with everyday people, informing them and hopefully inspiring them to look after our bays and beaches.” Sheree’s list of achievements is impressive. She has been awarded Young Australian of the Year and the Australian Centenary Medal for outstanding contribution to conservation and the environment; she has served on several government boards and committees and is currently the director of several marine conservation organisations; she was also the recipient of a scholarship for the Centre for Sustainable Leadership. Sheree has gained a reputation as an expert in her field and is regularly called on for commentary and opinion by media
