Questions for discussion
Teen obesity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Briefly summarise the main issues raised in the Teen obesity story.
What did a recent national survey find out about Australian teenagers?
What health problems can obesity lead to?
Draw a diagram to illustrate heart disease.
What diet and lifestyle habits have contributed to the obesity problem?
Who do you think is responsible for tackling the weight problem? Explain
your answer.
7. What have the government and schools done to address the issue?
8. How has your school addressed the issue? Give some examples.
9. What else do you think could be done to encourage young people to make
healthy diet and lifestyle choices?
10. What diet and lifestyle changes would you make to improve your health?
Reflect on your own diet and lifestyle choices by completing the survey at the
following website http://www3.health.nsw.gov.au/cihfap/form/surveyform.cfm Name
three changes you are going to make to improve your own health.
Mobile phones
1.
2.
3.
Discuss the main points raised in the BtN story with another student.
What is a hands-free device?
What does a recent road safety report suggest about the use of hands-free
devices?
4. What are the arguments for the ban?
5. What do opponents of the ban say?
6. How would the ban affect people like Simon?
7. Do you think there should be a ban on hands-free devices in cars? Explain
your answer.
8. What do you think could be done to make our roads safer?
9. Ask some adults what they think about the proposed ban. What impact will it
have on their lives?
10. Has you thinking changed since watching the BtN story? Explain your answer.
`Should drivers be banned from using hands-free mobile phones?’ Vote in the BtN
online poll http://www.abc.net.au/btn/
Disaster insurance
1.
2.
3.
Before you watch the BtN Disaster insurance story, record what you know
about insurance.
The amount an insurance company charges each month to insure items is
called a ______________.
What are some more unusual things that people have insured?
EPISODE 2
TH
15 FEBRUARY 2010
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Insurance companies have two definitions for floods. What are they?
Which type is covered by insurance?
What has this meant for many people affected by flooding in Queensland?
Choose three adjectives to describe responses to the issue?
What sorts of things does your family have insurance for (consider house,
home contents, health)?
9. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
10. What do you think should happen next?
Write a message about the story and post it on the BtN guestbook
http://abc.net.au/btn/guestbook.html
Satellites
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Briefly summarise the BtN Satellites story.
How did satellite images help those in Cyclone Yasi’s path?
What sorts of functions do satellites perform?
What are the benefits of satellites?
All satellites are the same distance from Earth. True or False?
Describe what a geostationary satellite is and what is it used for?
How do satellites get into orbit?
Why does the weather bureau rely on satellites?
Illustrate an aspect of this story.
Name three facts you learnt from the Satellites story.
Investigate the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik. Collect some interesting facts
about Sputnik and reflect on why it was a significant event in world history.
Reel sport
1.
2.
3.
Brainstorm a list of words you associate with fishing.
About how many Australians go fishing regularly?
Another word for fishing is…
a) Boating
b) Angling
c) Dipping
4. Why does James enjoy fishing?
5. Describe some different types of fishing.
6. How do the rules of sport fishing vary?
7. What do you need to do if you catch an undersized fish?
8. Why do you think this law is in place?
9. Do you like to go fishing? Why or why not?
10. What was surprising about this story?
Test your knowledge in the online fishing quiz. Go to the BtN website and follow the
links.
Teen obesity
Focus Questions
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Briefly summarise the main issues raised in the Teen obesity story.
What did a recent national survey find out about Australian teenagers?
What health problems can obesity lead to?
Draw a diagram to illustrate heart disease.
What diet and lifestyle habits have contributed to the obesity problem?
Who do you think is responsible for tackling the weight problem? Explain
your answer.
What have the government and schools done to address the issue?
How has your school addressed the issue? Give some examples.
What else do you think could be done to encourage young people to make
healthy diet and lifestyle choices?
What diet and lifestyle changes would you make to improve your health?
EPISODE 2
TH
15 FEBRUARY 2011
Learning Area
Society and Environment
Key learning
Teen obesity
Please consider the sensitive nature of this topic when discussing the issue of
obesity with students.
Students will be investigating solutions to the teenage obesity problem in
Australia. Begin with a class discussion focussing on the following questions:
What is obesity?
What are the contributing factors to teenage obesity? Factors such as
changes to diet (more fast food/convenience food), changes in lifestyle
(busy, less time for exercise), advertising fast food that is directed at young
people.
What are the factors influencing food choice? (Consider cultural/family
background, personal likes/dislikes, money available, time available for
shopping and food preparation.)
Who is responsible for tackling the problem? Why?
How can we get the message through?
Working in pairs or small groups, students will create a public education campaign
to address the issue of obesity. Discuss with students different approaches that
could be taken about the issue. Here are some examples:
Who will you target for the campaign – kids, adults or both?
What approach will you use? Consider creating a cartoon/animation, using
celebrities or humour to get the message across or shock tactics (think
about the anti-smoking campaigns).
Include a logo, jingle or gimmick to help get the message across.
Students will develop a
public awareness campaign
to change diet and lifestyle
choices of young people.
Will you advertise on TV, radio, print or online?
Offer incentives for young people who make healthy food and lifestyle
choices.
Negotiate with students how they will present their ideas for a public education
campaign to the class and other students in the school. Each group needs to give
reasons why they think their campaign would be effective at changing diet and
lifestyle habits of young people.
Reflection
How has this investigation changed your thinking and actions about making
healthy food choices?
Further investigations
Reflect on your own diet and lifestyle choices by completing the survey at the
following website http://www3.health.nsw.gov.au/cihfap/form/surveyform.cfm Name
three changes you are going to make to improve your own health.
Analyse food advertising during children’s viewing times. What percentage of healthy
and unhealthy food is advertised over the period of a week? Do you think there should
be restrictions on junk food advertising to children? Give reasons for your answer.
 Related Research Links
ABC News – Today’s teens `the heart attack victims of tomorrow’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/09/3133692.htm
ABC Behind the News – Obesity action
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2345631.htm
Cancer council – High school students graduating to be tomorrow’s cancer and
cardiovascular patients
http://www.cancer.org.au/Newsmedia/mediareleases/mediareleases2011/9Febru
ary2011.htm
Heart Foundation – Healthy weight
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Healthy_Living/Healthy_Weight/Pages/defaul
t.aspx
Victorian Government – Go for your life
http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/hav/articles.nsf/webl1/teenagers?open
Satellites
Focus Questions
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Briefly summarise the BtN Satellites story.
How did satellite images help those in Cyclone Yasi’s path?
What sorts of functions do satellites perform?
What are the benefits of satellites?
All satellites are the same distance from Earth. True or False?
Describe what a geostationary satellite is and what is it used for?
How do satellites get into orbit?
Why does the weather bureau rely on satellites?
Illustrate an aspect of this story.
Name three facts you learnt from the Satellites story.
Satellites
Negotiate with students how many activities they will need to complete from each
section.
Remember and understand
Define the following terms: Natural satellite and artificial satellite. Give an
example of each.
Create an illustrated glossary of satellite words. Some words to include:
orbit, communication, navigation, gravity, launch.
Create a true or false quiz about satellites. Use the BtN Satellites script and
the internet to help write the questions.
Apply and Analyse
Choose a type of satellite to research in depth: Weather, communications,
navigation, military, scientific research.
Write a response to the following question: `How do satellites impact on
our daily life?’ Include in your response the benefits of satellites and
satellite imagery.
Investigate the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik. Collect some
interesting facts about Sputnik and reflect on why it was a significant
event in world history.
Evaluate and create
EPISODE 2
TH
15 FEBRUARY 2011
Learning Area
Science
Key learning
Students will investigate
different types of satellites
and the impact they have
on our lives.
Understand how a satellite stays in orbit by completing the following task:
Put a tennis ball inside one leg of a pair of stockings. Hold the end of the
stocking and whirl the ball over your head. The ball is held in its `orbit’
around your head by the stocking, which is similar to the force of gravity
that pulls satellites toward the Earth. If the `gravity’ of the stocking were
not acting on the ball, the ball would continue in one direction.
Research what happens to satellites when they stop working. Are they
repaired in orbit, brought back to Earth to be repaired or recycled, or left
in space? What are the potential hazards?
Satellite sighting information is available at the following NASA website
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ Check which satellites can
be viewed from your location. There are some viewing tips at this website
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/help.html Report back to
your class what you saw as the satellite passed over.
Self assessment
What do you understand more clearly since completing these activities?
What would you do differently next time? Why?
 Related Research Links
ABC Behind the News – Spy satellites
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/v3/stories/s1385249.htm
NASA – What is a satellite?
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/what-is-a-satellite-58.html
Astronomy WA – What is a satellite?
http://www.astronomywa.net.au/education/astronomy-primers/43-satellites/182-what-isa-satellite
Bureau of Meteorology – Satellite images
http://www.bom.gov.au/satellite/index.shtml
How do satellites work?
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/kidszone/satellite/kidz/into_space.html
National Geographic – History of satellites
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/satellites.html
BtN: Episode 37 Transcript
15/02/11
On this week's Behind the News:
Growing problem: Why obesity in kids is causing concern.
Driven to distraction: Should hands-free mobile phones be
banned from cars?
And pictures from above: We learn more about satellites.
Hi I'm Nathan Bazley, welcome to Behind the News.
Also on the show today, Tash gets hooked on fishing and finds out it's
more than just a hobby.
But first to a shocking report about kids health.
Teen Obesity
Reporter: Kirsty Bennett
INTRO: It's no secret that eating fruit and veg and exercising is the
key to a healthy body.
But it seems like lots of Aussie kids just aren't getting the message.
A new study has come out that shows obesity could end the lives of
teens much sooner.
Here's Kirsty
KIRSTY BENNETT, REPORTER: A war between junk food and fruit
and veg is on. In the computer world and in the real world, it seems
like fruit and veg just can't compete. A national survey of 12,000
Aussie teenagers has found that kids aren't taking good care of their
health. It's the biggest piece of research that's been done on teens for
about 25 years.
And it found that the Aussie diet is a recipe for disaster. One in four
kids are overweight or obese. They drink four or more cups of sweet
drinks a week. Half of them have a TV in their bedroom and most
have at least three in their house, so let's put in some TV snacks. So to
get rid of all this, they need to exercise, but according to the study that
isn't happening. So when this is all mixed together the result isn't
pretty.
Health experts warn that this mix could lead to health problems like
diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Heart disease is the biggest killer
in Australia, so what is it?
Your heart works like a pump, moving blood around the body. The
heart itself needs a blood supply but if the arteries supplying it get
blocked, then you're in trouble. Too much bad food can cause them to
get blocked up with stuff called plaque. This narrows the arteries and
makes it harder for the blood and oxygen to flow to the heart muscle.
Without oxygen, part of the heart muscle begins to die and that can
lead to a heart attack.
Experts have looked at the diet and lifestyle habits of kids in the new
survey. And they reckon that it all points to one thing: that this
generation could die earlier. So how did kids get to this point?
There are a few things involved. Kids used to walk to school every day,
but now, many are driven. And more time's spent playing with
technology than playing a sport. The average Aussie kid watches
around a dozen junk food ads a day and according to the new survey,
half said they'd tried a new food in the past month because of an ad.
A quarter said they sometimes bought fast food because of a special
offer like a free toy. So, who's responsible for tackling the weight
problem?
JOSH, STUDENT: My family and my friends could give me advice.
KUSINI, STUDENT: Myself, my parents, my family.
MARISA, STUDENT: Because so I learn what I should put in my
lunchbox so when I get older I know what to feed my family.
REPORTER: Some people think the government should step in and
ban junk food ads from TV at times when kids might be watching. But
it's not like governments aren't doing anything. They've spent millions
on a whole load of different schemes to tackle obesity ranging from
breakfast clubs in poor communities to taking parents around
supermarkets to teach them about healthy eating. In school, there
have been some changes too like offering healthier options in
canteens. But when pies and pizzas are available, they're usually the
most popular things with kids.
So perhaps it's time for you to choose the healthy option, otherwise it
could be game over.
Presenter: After that I think we need a very healthy quiz!
Quiz 1
Which of the following foods contains the most vitamin C?
Capsicum
Oranges
Strawberries
Answer: Capsicum
Particularly red capsicum which actually contains around 4 times
more vitamin C than strawberries and oranges.
OK, let's get on with some more of the week's news now in the wire.
The Wire
After 18 days of massive protests in Egypt, Hosni Mubarak has
stepped down as president.
The military is now in charge, and will govern for six months or until
elections take place.
But some protesters said they still weren't happy with the plan.
**********
Back home and a special health reform deal has been signed.
After an 8 hour meeting yesterday, state and territory leaders told
Prime Minister Julia Gillard they would support a plan to change the
way hospitals are funded.
In the future state governments and the federal government will put
money into one national funding pool to pay for the health system.
The funds will then be paid out to the states and territories depending
on how many medical procedures they perform.
The deal also means the Federal Government will give another 16
billion dollars to hospitals over 10 years.
Disaster Insurance
Reporter: Nathan Bazley
INTRO: Both Queensland and Victoria are still cleaning up after big
flooding disasters there but something is making some people very
angry as they start to rebuild.
When the waters in both states swept through thousands of homes
most owners relied on the thought that their homes were insured so
they'd be able to afford to start again.
But when they went to claim many found that there was bad news in
store.
Let's find out more about insurance and why it always pays to read
the small print.
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: What do David Beckham's feet,
Jennifer Lopez's bottom, Heidi Klum's legs and Fernando Alonso's
thumbs all have in common?
They've all been insured against damage; some for tens of millions of
dollars!
But it's not just stars who take out insurance; there is a good chance
your parents have some too; although probably on something more
normal, like your house.
And it's just this type of insurance that's been hitting the headlines
over the last few weeks.
Before we look at that though, let's work out exactly what insurance
is.
Say you have something that would be expensive for you to replace if
it was damaged - like your laptop.
You can insure it!
First, they'll ask what you want it insured against.
KID: Well I want it to be replaced if I drop it and break it and if I get
caught in the rain and it gets wet.
Then they calculate the premium, which is the amount they'll charge
you each month to keep your laptop insured.
The insurance company decides how likely it is that you could damage
your laptop, so if things happen to them a lot, you'll end up paying
more money on your premium.
Finally, you sign your policy and now your laptop is protected!
If something goes wrong, you just make a claim and as long as it's
covered in your policy, you'll get the money to buy a new one!
But what if something goes wrong that isn't listed?
KID: My computer has been water damaged. I dropped a glass of
water on it.
INSURANCE: Sorry, you're not covered. Your policy says that you're
only covered if it get's rained on.
Unfortunately, a similar situation is happening in Queensland after
the flooding there last month.
IPSWICH RESIDENT: We're all in the same boat. It's all different
companies - people thinking they're insured but they ring up and find
out they're not.
The problem comes from the definition insurance companies use for a
flood.
They break it up into two main types. There is flash flooding, which is
caused by rapidly falling rain and there is riverine flooding, when
rivers rise as lots of water flows down them.
Unfortunately, many homes were only covered for flash flooding. But
the majority of damage in Queensland was through riverine flooding,
meaning thousands would get no help.
IPSWICH RESIDENT: A flood is a flood no matter where it comes
from. Either the river rises or it comes out of the sky it's still a flood.
IPSWICH RESIDENT: You hear on the radio about the flood that we
had. We didn't have a flood, we just had a river rising.
Victorians have also been hit after the flooding there.
Many are now calling for just one definition of a flood, so it doesn't
matter how the flooding happens, if it's listed then you're covered.
But insurance companies say the definitions have always been
available to their customers, many just don't bother checking.
JULIA GILLARD: My message to insurance companies, is to show the
same spirit as the people of QLD have been showing, as they've pulled
together in these very difficult circumstances.
The fight between flood victims and insurance groups will go on for a
while, but hopefully the headlines surrounding this issue will warn
others to check before the next disaster strikes.
Mobile Driving
Reporter: Natasha Thiele
INTRO: Using a mobile phone while driving is against the law and
now politicians are thinking about banning hands-free devices too to
make our roads safer.
But for some businesses taking calls from customers on the road is
part of their job.
So what would it mean for them if a ban was in place?
Tash went to find out
NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: Lots of people depend on using
mobiles phones to run their business, like Simon.
He's an electrician so he's always on the run.
And customers rely on him to answer their call, otherwise they'll go
elsewhere!
SIMON, ELECTRICIAN: It's okay when you're at a job, but you're
often in a van and it's your office sort of during the day, so that's the
time to make calls back to people or sometimes receive calls.
But this electrician's mobile office could soon be about to shortcircuit.
Transport experts from around the country want to cut down the
number of deaths on our roads over the next 10 years.
So they've come up with a road safety report and part of that suggests
going further than the current ban on mobile phones. They want
hands free devices banned too!
A hands-free device can be something like this bluetooth piece.
You don't need to physically hold your phone, it uses wireless
technology in your car or through an ear piece!
They're supposed to stop drivers from touching their phone while
driving, but the report says hands-free kits can still lead to accidents.
Each State and Territory has different laws when it comes to using
mobiles in the car.
Some won't even allow you to touch your phone to answer a call; it
needs to be on a special mount.
Well, I thought I'd test the hands-free theory out for myself by
heading to a driving training centre.
And I had driving instructor Marg watching over me!
But let's see if I was distracted when I got a call on the hands-free.
REPORTER: So Marg, how did I go?
MARG PEARCE, DRIVING INSTRUCTOR: Well you certainly did so
much better when you weren't on the mobile phone. When the phone
rang, it was definitely a distraction. I noticed you had your hands
inside the steering wheel a lot more and also you were also
considerably slower going through the cones and of course you
almost collected a couple of the cones. So definitely much better
without the phone.
Some people argue that there are many distractions in a car and that
hands-free mobile phones are being unfairly targeted.
REPORTER: There's putting on make-up, having a sip of coffee,
changing the CD and really annoying people in the back!
REPORTER: Can you guys keep it down!
Some question that if there was to be a ban on hands-free kits, then
why wouldn't these distractions be taken into account too?
Well, that's because with driving, there always has to be some risk
involved.
It's not possible to take out all the danger, otherwise speed limits
might as well come down to walking pace.
So, there's often a balancing act between making roads safer and
being realistic about how people use their cars.
A ban on hands-free kits would be hard for people like Simon who
rely on it so much and experts also think it would be hard for police to
check if people are following the rules.
The first step could be to encourage drivers to stop using them
voluntarily.
But there are lots of different points of view, so it could be some time
before they make a final call.
Presenter: OK that's an issue that's given you a lot to think about.
Let's make it our poll this week.
Online Poll
The question is:
Should drivers be banned from using hands free mobile phones?
To vote just head to our website.
Satellites
Reporter: Kirsty Bennett
INTRO: In the program so far, we've talked about mobile phones
and about people coping with extreme weather events.
Well, both of these things rely on satellite technology.
Think back to Cyclone Yasi and you might remember the constant
use of satellite weather pictures to show people where the storm was
heading.
So satellites are really useful but how do they work?
Kirsty investigates.
KIRSTY BENNETT, REPORTER: On the ground, this is how people
saw Cyclone Yasi. But before the winds came, all eyes were fixed on a
different type of picture. The view from above undoubtedly helped
many people to prepare for the storm and survive it. So how do we get
these sky-high pictures?
Well, it's all thanks to satellites. There are thousands of them orbiting
the Earth and they do different things. Some receive and send out
signals so we can talk on the phone and watch TV. Even shows like
BtN go through a satellite at some stage before it hits your TV screens.
NATHAN BAZLEY, PRESENTER: Hi I'm Nathan welcome to Behind
the News.
REPORTER: They can help us to navigate our way around in the car.
At the end of the road turn left.
REPORTER: And that same technology can be a vital tool in tracking
down someone who might be lost at sea.
There are spy satellites too but not many people know what they're
looking at because it's top secret!
And as we saw they can give us great pics of what the weather is like
where you are now and what weather systems might be just around
the corner.
So let's look at some of these different satellites. They can be found in
different orbits around Earth. Some sit around 300 kilometres from
the Earth's surface. It might sound far, but it's just like travelling from
Sydney to Canberra. They move constantly around different parts of
the earth, taking pictures and sending information. There are also
some even further away called "geostationary" satellites. Their
movement matches the earth's rotation, which means they actually
appear to stay in the same place, which is in line above the equator.
These are used for communications, like satellite TV and mobile
phones.
So if you had a big satellite dish like this one that picks up TV signals,
it has to be on an angle, so this pointy part could get in touch with the
geostationary satellite about 36000 kilometres away in space.
So how do we get satellites up there in the first place?
Satellites are shot up into orbit by a rocket. Once it gets to a certain
distance, speed and trajectory the rocket releases the satellite so it
orbits the earth in the correct position. It depends on absolute
precision.
The weather bureau is one organisation that has come to rely on
satellites. They use ones that are about 850 kilometres above the
Earth, so they can get high quality pictures like this. And remember
those geostationary satellites? They use them too to get a wider
picture of the Earth and the weather patterns. Being able to track the
directions of extreme weather events means they are in a better
position now to make accurate forecasts. And as we've seen in recent
weeks, it can mean the difference between life and death.
PAUL, SENIOR METEOROLOGIST: So we've taken or got a picture
every hour from the satellite we join them together into a loop and
then we can see in this case tropical cyclone Yasi passing across the
Queensland coast.
REPORTER: As people find more uses for satellites, more are being
sent into orbit meaning space could one day resemble a busy car park.
Presenter: OK, let's see how closely you were listening to that story.
Here's a quiz
Quiz 2
The question is:
How high up is a geostationary satellite?
3,600 kms
36,000 kms
360,000 kms
Answer: 36,000 kms
That's about a tenth of the way to the moon.
Now from space to sport. Here's the score.
The Score
To cricket first where Australia have shown some shaky form in a
warm-up match against India in preparation for their world cup
campaign next week.
After dismissing India for a modest total of 215, Australia started off
well cruising to 1 for 118 courtesy of a solid 57 from skipper Ricky
Ponting in his first match back after a broken finger.
But from there things went pear-shaped quickly and the Aussies soon
found themselves all out for 176.
The team will be hoping for better fortunes in their first match against
Zimbabwe if they are to defend their title.
***********
To soccer now where Brisbane Roar has claimed the W-League
championship with a 2-1 victory over reigning champions Sydney FC.
The scores were level at half-time, but substitute Lisa De Vanna
scored the winner midway through the second half.
***********
And finally we have what could easily be the goal of the year in the
English premier league.
Wayne Rooney pulled off this bicycle kick in Manchester United's 2 - 1
win over Man city over the weekend.
And not surprisingly the commentators thought it was pretty good.
The goal kept Manchester United four points clear at the top of the
table.
Fishing
Reporter: Natasha Thiele
INTRO: It's one of the most popular participation sports in Australia
but you're unlikely to find it on the back pages of a newspaper.
And you'd be hard pressed to name the current world champion.
So why is it the sport of fishing so often goes under the radar?
We sent Tash to find out.
NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: They're world champions, leaders
of their field, top of their sporting tree.
But hang on! Who's this guy?
He's an American called Mike Iaconelli and he's one of the best in the
world in the sport of fishing!
Five million Aussies regularly go fishing. That's more than who play
most other sports like rugby and football.
Like many kids, James enjoys fishing on weekends with his dad.
REPORTER: So what do you like about fishing so much?
JAMES: When you catch a big snapper and it goes zzz and you almost
get pulled off of the boat!
In the past and even for some communities now, fishing has been an
important way to get food.
For others it's a sport, or just something to do for fun with your
mates.
JAMES: I was fishing with my friends and this big snapped was on
both of my friends' line and then I said 'why can't I catch a big
snapper' and as soon as I said that this big snapper came on and it
went zzz and it took me 15 minutes to wind up!
REPORTER: Did you get some help winding it up?
JAMES: Nah, I did it all myself because my dad wanted me to.
REPORTER: And how big was it?
JAMES: Pretty big, it was about seven kilos or eight.
James caught the fish on a boat, but there are stacks of different types
of fishing you can do.
There's land-based fishing, like at a jetty or rocks.
Off-shore fishing, that's usually on big boats in the ocean. Often the
fish are bigger so the rod and line need to be extra strong.
And there's fly fishing. That's pretty popular in Tasmania where they
catch trout.
The rod is light-weight and flexible and it takes a lot of skill to master
it.
Fishing can also be a seriously competitive sport, especially in places
like the United States.
Guys like Mike Iaconelli, who you met before, can earn around a
million dollars a year!
The rules vary in each tournament.
Sometimes it's about who catches and tags the most fish, in others it's
about who can catch the heaviest fish.
But even if you're fishing for fun there are lots of rules and regulations
you need to follow.
In some states in Australia, adults need to buy a permit to fish in
certain places.
And when you catch a fish, you need to make sure that it's big enough,
otherwise you have to release it back into the water.
That's where these size charts come in. You may have seen them down
at the beach.
There are also limits on how many fish you can take.
The idea is to make sure we're not taking out the young little fish,
before they've had a chance to breed.
That helps the sustainability of our fish population.
So as long everyone sticks to the rules, then kids like James can enjoy
successful fishing trips for many years to come.
But if fishing's going to gain more popularity as a glamorous sport, it's
going to have to compete against other sports that are hooking kids
in!
JAMES: I want to be a football player!
Closer
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