Reef watcher

Issue 2, number 1, February 1998

Program News

Thanks to ongoing funding from Coastcare and a new grant from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Reef Watch is well placed financially for 1998.

This should be a big year for the Reef Watch program. The groundwork is now complete, including the monitoring methods, kits and training manuals. It is important now to establish a momentum for the project. This will include regular training for new volunteer divers, training in the Advanced Survey techniques for existing Reef Watchers and planning schedules of monitoring.

It is important too that the opportunity to participate in Reef Watch is offered to as many divers as possible throughout 1998. If you have not yet been able to attend a training session, you could consider the dates offered in this newsletter. Alternatively, if you would like to organise a talk or training for people in your club, please let me know, on
8223 5155.

Reef Watch Interstate

We are starting to attract some attention interstate, particularly from other temperate states. A Coastcare grant has been lodged to create a monitoring program based on Reef Watch in NSW and the program will also be suited to reefs in Victoria and southern Western Australia.

Reef Watch Training - Progress Report

Training in the Reef Watch survey techniques began in December and has been held on a fortnightly basis. So far around 30 people have participated in both the theory session, held at the Conservation Centre, 120 Wakefield St, Adelaide, and the following Saturday's practical dive day, held at either Pt Noarlunga or Hallett Cove. This varies depending on either the weather conditions or people's preferences.

Training has been conducted for the students at the Port Vincent School and Reef Watch has also begun at Kangaroo Island. A further regional visit is planned in early March for Whyalla and again to Port Vincent.

Feedback from the training sessions has been very positive, and from my perspective as the project facilitator, extremely encouraging. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have attended thus far, both for making the sessions fun and for the helpful suggestions and ideas that have come up.

During the theory training sessions, divers are provided with their kit and training manual. We then run through the different activities involved and do a mock 'practise run' using our charts to identify algaes and so on.

During the practical dive sessions, you get the opportunity to put the theory into practise and these dives are supervised so you can query anything you are unsure of.

At all times the emphasis is definitely on having a bit of fun and allowing people to learn at their own pace.

Dates for Training - March, April and May 1998
The following dates have been set for Reef Watch training. Note that some sessions are for the Basic Survey method and some for the Advanced Survey method. If you can attend any of the following sessions, please let me know on 8223 5155.

March 1998
Wednesday 11th ~ Advanced Survey method
Wednesday 25th ~ Basic Survey method

April 1998
Wednesday 8th ~ Advanced Survey method
Wednesday 29th ~ booked for Adelaide University Dive Club

May 1998
Wednesday 13th ~ Basic Survey method
Wednesday 27th ~ Advanced Survey method

Reef Watch Monitoring Dives ~ 1998 Schedule

To ensure that we monitor each of the six main metropolitan sites at least twice per year, the following schedule has been devised. All Reef Watch divers are most welcome to attend these dive days, held on the last Saturday of each month. Please call if you can attend, on 8223 5155.

It's not intended that these dives take the place of your own schedule of monitoring at your own particular adopted site - its mainly a way to ensure the main metropolitan sites are covered. It is also a good way of meeting and keeping in touch with others participating in Reef Watch.

1998 is International Year of the Ocean

Happy International Year of the Ocean to you! Just as 1997 was declared by the United Nations to be the International Year of the Reef, efforts in 1998 will be devoted more broadly to the world's Oceans. In Australia, the IYO was launched through the recent Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

As an island nation with over 80% of its population residing at or near the coast, Australians have a particularly close relationship with the sea. For many of us, our love of the coast and sea has defined us culturally.

The International Year of the Ocean is dedicated to raising awareness of the important role the oceans play in supporting life on earth, as well as the many other benefits humans derive from them. It is an opportunity to think about the important role the oceans play in our lives. It is also an opportunity to think about the nature of our activities, some of which threaten the ability of the oceans to maintain that life supporting role.

Over the next year, activities in both Australia and around the world will encourage people to focus on our relationship with the ocean. Also this year, the Commonwealth Government will introduce its new Oceans Policy, a blueprint for managing Australia's massive ocean estate. It is hoped that the Oceans Polcy will provide a framework for the effective protection and sensitive management of our oceans, thus reflecting and supporting the special relationship we all have with the ocean.

The Marine and Coastal Community Network have developed a Calendar of Events for 1998, as well as World Ocean Fact Sheets and Australian Ocean Fact Sheets. Contact Tony Flaherty (MCCN SA Coordinator) on 8200 2455 for further details, or look at MCCN's website at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~mccnet

Alternatively, look at the UNESCO website at http://www.unesco.org/ioc/iyo/oceancharter.htm

For a summary of activities associated with the International Year of the Reef (1997), look at:
IYOR World Wide Web Homepage, at http://www.coral.org/IYOR/
or IYOR Australia, at http://www.reef.edu.au

Marine and Estuarine Strategy for South Australia

~ Have Your Say!!

Over the last year the state government has been in the process of developing a Marine and Estuarine Strategy for the conservation and resource use management of South Australia's marine environment. The recent release of the Consolidated Discussion Paper provides an opportunity for the broader community to comment on the adequacy of the government's coverage of the task.

Although public workshops were held in 1997, the Conservation Council of SA has concerns over the poor representation of non-industry based groups and individuals. A further series of workshops are being facilitated by CCSA throughout February and March to encourage the community to make responses.

This is a particularly important opportunity as the Conservation Council and others have expressed strong concerns over the development of the Strategy. In its quest to encourage the development of marine based industries, it appears that the protection of the marine environment has not been considered a priority.

Contact Rowena McLean at the Conservation Council (8223 5155) for a copy of CCSA information package on how to make a contribution to this process. The deadline for contributions is Friday March 6th. Alternatively contact the Strategy Coordinator, Nicholas Newland at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet on 8226 3525.

Sabbelid Worm Discovered at Port Noarlunga

Mary Anne Stacey of the Pt Noarlunga Aquatics Centre recently discovered an unusual fan worm on a pylon of the Pt Noarlunga Jetty. Suspecting it to be a Sabbella worm (a species introduced from Spanish waters in ships ballast) Mary Anne organised for it to be identified. Her fears proved correct.

This is especially disturbing as although this highly competitive worm is particularly abundant in the Port River area, they were not thought to have spread further south than the 'Blocks' at Glenelg. Sabbella competes very successfully with native species for growing space and nutrients and is capable of rapidly colonising large areas. As such it poses a considerable threat to the diversity of reef fauna and flora. It is also extremely difficult to eradicate.

Please report the exact location of any other suspect fan worms you encounter (don't remove them) and we will assist you to have them identified.

Dragon Search Update

Many divers have been reporting sightings of Leafy Seadragons lately. Don't forget that Vicki-Jo Russell and Tony Flaherty of the Dragon Search project are very keen to hear of sightings and locations of this little known creature. Contact Vicki-Jo on 8223 5155 if you have spotted dragons recently.

Commonwealth announces extension of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park

Recently, Federal Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill announced a Notice of Intent to declare the Commonwealth waters component of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park. The combined state and Commonwealth waters have created the second largest Marine Park in Australia and the first large multiple use Marine Park in southern, temperate Australia.

The Commonwealth's proposal includes a marine mammal protection zone intended to build on the state waters protected zones for the breeding areas of the rare Australian Sea Lion and the endangered Southern Right Whale. Also included is a 'Benthic Protection Zone', 20 nautical miles wide and extending to the edge of the Commonwealth waters.

The announcement was greeted warmly by the Conservation Council of SA and the Adelaide Branch of the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Both organisations, however, have expressed concerns over the Commonwealth's and State's preference for a 'multiple-use' management framework for the marine park.

It is critically important that the management of the area is underpinned by the need to protect the incredible biological diversity and unique species of the Great Australian Bight. Several industries have interests in the area and it remains to be seen whether economic or environmental criteria is the deciding influence in the decision making process.

Great White Shark - Protected in SA

In December 1997 the Commonwealth Government announced the Great White Shark would be protected under the Endangered Species Act 1992. This is an important move which responds to long-held concerns over the status of this species, such as its listing on the World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species.

The Great White is now protected in Commonwealth waters and the waters of some states. Given the significance of South Australian waters for this species the State Government has acted wisely to follow the Commonwealth's lead and draft regulations for its protection throughout the state waters too.

1998 Gulf St Vincent Drilling Program

Many readers will remember the accident involving the Maersk Victory Offshore Drilling Unit in November 1996. Through February to April 1998 drilling will commence on two offshore exploration wells in Gulf St Vincent using the Santa Fe Parameswara Rig.

Book Review - 'Blueback' (Tim Winton)

Published by Pan Macmillan, 1997
Reviewed by Eva Squire

Blueback is a wonderful children's novel by award winning Australian author Tim Winton. The story focuses on the characters of Dora and her son Abel Jackson, descendants of a whaling family in Western Australia. The book explores their relationship with the marine environment, especially with Blueback, a large blue groper.

The author touches sensitively upon issues such as death, exploitation of the marine environment and threats and obstacles faced by Dora from Government departments, corporations and individuals when she attempts to proclaim an area as a Marine Park. Good wins out in the end but its cost to Dora is explored in the book

Tim Winton uses rich imagery and takes the reader down below the water's surface to enjoy the flora and fauna of the marine environment. Although aimed at children, the book is a pleasure for adults to read. Essential reading

TOP