Reef watcher

Issue 2, number 2, May 1998

Divers involved in Reef Watch are starting to highlight some isssues of concern for the management of reefs and the marine environment. The following articles show the importance of divers alerting decision makers to issues requiring attention.

Reef Watch divers monitor fishing of Whyalla cuttlefish

Adapted from an article by Tony Flaherty, Marine and Coastal Community Network, and including observations by divers from the Whyalla Sports Divers Club.

The Giant Cuttlefish is a creature unique to Southern Australian waters. As an inhabitant of reefs, they are frequently encountered by divers, and their obvious intelligence and amazing ability to quickly change colour make them a fascinating creature.

Each year, from April to June, large numbers of cuttlefish congregate in a relatively small area in the Point Lowly/Black Point region near Whyalla. Their primary reason for visiting this area is to breed. They choose this location as it is one of the few substantial rocky reef areas in the upper Spencer Gulf region. Cuttlefish prefer not to lay their eggs in sand or seagrass.

Although the animals have gathered to breed, the cuttlefish congregations now attract large numbers of commercial fishers. Three years ago, the fishing effort was "negligible", but now more than 200 tonnes of cuttlefish may be removed in a season. This explosion in fishing effort has outpaced research into the population and breeding habits of the species. This year, despite evidence of a population collapse, the heavy fishing effort continues.

Some researchers and marine conservation groups have described this situation as "one of the most urgent marine conservation issues in South Australia." In addition, they have called for "an immediate moratorium on all cuttlefish fishing in the Point Lowly/Black Point region until the extent, nature and timing of this unique event are better understood."

Local divers have worked hard to draw attention to the plight of the cuttlefish and support the moratorium until research is complete. They believe the impact is visual and obvious - there are less cuttlefish and less eggs than there should be. For some months now, divers have been using the Reef Watch survey methods to monitor the health of the reefs that comprise the cuttlefish breeding grounds. The fish survey process in particular has been very useful in monitoring the numbers of cuttlefish at the site. Surveys have been timed to monitor changes in cuttlefish abundance both during fishing operations, during intervals in fishing, and continuing beyond the fishing season, to try to assess the overall impact.

Despite repeated attempts over the last year to bring this to the attention of the Minister for Fisheries, the divers feel they have been largely ignored. Earlier this year, PIRSA - Fisheries established a small marine reserve in the area. This was supposedly located to provide protection for a portion of the breeding stock, while still permitting fishing of breeding stocks in adjacent areas. However, it has been suggested that the location of the sanctuary will be of little benefit to the cuttlefish as, unfortunately, it incorporates very little of the reef habitat required by the cuttlefish to lay their eggs. Some divers feel that the design of the sanctuary is meaningless in conservation terms and that it reflects the needs of the commercial fishers rather than the cuttlefish it is supposedly there to protect.

Despite the recent initiation of a research project by the South Australian Research and Development Institute, it would seem that the continued fishing of this species, before the research is complete, is an abuse of the 'precautionary principle' of sound environmental management. As we continue to progress toward the government's preferred model of 'multiple use' management of the marine environment and protected areas, this apparent disregard for the protection of marine species, and the precautionary principle, is alarming.

Impact of Dredging - some further observations

The dredging operation at Port Stanvac last November has had a deteriorating impact on Port Noarlunga reef. Mary Anne Stacey takes us on a guided tour of our local underwater world.

"For the occasional scuba diver and recreational snorkeller, Port Noarlunga reef may look active and healthy, but get a little closer and you will see all is not well.

The first impression you get as you approach the reef is a colourful whirlwind of fish darting through reef crevices and hidey holes. A closer look reveals a fine layer of 'dust' covering the surface of the reef. This 'dust' is the silt which came from the dredging operations. Unfortunately, this dust doesn't float away with the changing of the tide. Instead, it has settled, sticking to the sides of many different little reef animals, choking colourful corals, turning some of them dead white and scarring the flesh of the pink, heart shaped ascidians.

For the untrained eye, it is hard to tell as there are so many colours amongst the caves - sponges of yellow, pink and orange, hard corals of pale blue, luminescent green and brown, large-leafed kelp and the tough but lacy Sargassum seaweed.

But the reef is my classroom and workplace. I have spent six hours a day, five months of the year discovering its mysteries, getting to know its moods and seasonal changes and showing its wonders to my students.

Reefs are their own ecosystems made up of thousands of creatures from micro-organisms to large fish. Some of these are not more than 10 mm long, hardly a significant life form but critical in the balance of the reef.

The well-being and existence of the reef and the animals that call the reef home, depends on a complicated series of interdependent relationships. When external change occurs like silt from the dredging operation, it impacts on the life of the reef in many ways.

For instance, I have noticed the disappearance of creatures like the black cowry. These have a diet of sponges, many of which are now damaged and disintegrated into piles of debris.

February and March is the most active time in the reef's calendar, being the breeding season for fish. All is appearing pretty much as normal. Balls of whitebait and yellowheaded hulafish forming, snapper, bream and tommy ruffs skirt around the baitballs. Sweep, leatherjackets and silver drummer congregating in great numbers and pike keeping residence at the jetty pylons. But where have all the salmon gone?

To the occasional diver, all might appear well. They might only come down at low tide or when there is no swell.. They may not notice the silt dust storms they flick up from the seabed as they rummage around the nooks and crannies trying to catch sight of the elusive crayfish.

Now don't misunderstand me, Port Noarlunga reef is still a sensational place to dive. The diversity of life, the colours and the excitement of finding something new is motivating and invigorating. However, the silt has caused significant damage. It has changed the way things look and the abundance of the reef fauna and flora. A return to full health is going to take time.

Following earlier observations printed in Reef Watcher, (Issue 1 No 4, Nov 1997), questions were asked about the sand dredging in the Legislative Council, 26 February, 1998. Questions asked by the Hon Mike Elliott were:

What monitoring of the environmental impacts of the sediment has the Government undertaken?
What is planned in the way of ongoing monitoring along the coast, and particularly on the leeward side of the reef?
Has the Minister set up a program to analyse the long term impact of sediment on our metropolitan coast?
Is the Government planing future dredging operations to extract further sand or is it examining other ways to get sand, such as on-shore excavation? If so what sources are envisaged?
If further sand dredging is planned what controls will be in place and under what conditions will the dredge be used?
The Hon. Diana Laidlaw said "I will refer that question to the Minister and bring back a reply." (quoted from transcript, Legislative Council, 26 February, 1998)

(Mary-Anne Stacey - Senior Snorkelling Instructor. She has spent the last ten years working from October through to April on Port Noarlunga reef teaching kids to snorkel and showing them the marvels of the underwater backyard.)

Program News ~ Diver training

Over 80 divers have now been trained in the Reef Watch monitoring techniques and training will continue throughout the winter. And, although the temperature may be dropping, it is still important that we receive monitoring data from your adopted reef for the winter season too.

If you have not yet attended a training evening, and wish to be involved in the monitoring program, call Jon Emmett on 8223 5155 for details and times of dates.

Reef Watch given Ministerial support

Many thanks to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affair, the Hon. Dorothy Kotz, and the Environment Protection Authority for their recent involvement in a major promotional event for Reef Watch. The Minister endorsed the efforts of Reef Watch divers through both an Advertiser article and radio interviews. The launch also included the provision of forty Reef Watch kits which have now been distributed to divers.

Internet and Database development

Work has begun on both the Internet site and database. Reef Watch now has its own domain which you can visit at the following address http://www.reefwatch.asn.au If you do visit the siote, please bear in mind that the work will be in progress for some time. Many thanks to Ralph Richardson and Cobweb Internet Services for their assistance with these developments. You can also send emails to [email protected]

"Ocean by Night" Art Exhibition

Adelaide artist Sue Stranger (Untamed Art) is assembling a unique art exhibition depicting the amazing nocturnal creatures of Australia's southern, temperate waters. The display will compliment the International Year of the Ocean and provide a valuable education tool, especially for those members of the public who do not dive and have no other opportunity to view our diverse and spectacular marine life. Sue also aims to represent some of those rare species which are only occasionally seen by recreational divers.

Keep an eye out for the exhibition, which is to be held at the South Australian Museum, beginning in early August and running for at least a month. Some of the display pieces will be for sale with a percentage of sales going towards research and protection of our temperate waters.

Oceans Policy evening

The Federal Government has released a discussion paper as part of the process of developing an Oceans Policy for Australia. The community is invited to make comment. Mr Phil Burgess from the Portfolio Marine Group, Environment Australia, will be discussing the Oceans Policy at a public meeting, Thursday, June 18, 7.00pm at the Local Government Association office, 16A, Hutt St Adelaide.

If you wish to attend, or want a copy of the Oceans Policy documents, call Tony Flaherty on 8302 6568.

A gentle reminder...

We rely on subscriptions to Reef Watcher to fund its production. To help you remember when your subscription is due, please look above your name on the mailing label. It will contain the date which you are paid up to, or simply the word "due".

Coastcare applications due soon

If you have been considering a community-based project to help manage the marine and coastal environment, the Coastcare program may be a potential source of funds to assist your group. Applications for funding close on Friday June 26 and successful projects will be announced in December.

CoastNet

Have those of you with access to the Internet seen the CoastNet site? CoastNet has an abundance of information on coastal and marine environmental issues and, best of all, it is interactive. You are welcome to contribute to the discussion groups, enabling you to share ideas, debate issues and generate solutions. It is open to everyone who is interested in the coast, from community groups to professional organisations and government departments. And, access to CoastNet is free. It can be accessed directly at http://www.erin.gov.au/marine/coastnet

No tuna farms for KI

The Development Assessment Commission announced recently that the application for tuna farms near the American River area, Kangaroo Island, would not be permitted to proceed. This decision pleased many local residents who were deeply concerned about the effects of the tuna cages on the local marine environment. The area contains numerous reefs and extensive seagrass beds, most in beautiful condition, and the unique and ecologically sensitive Pelican Lagoon Aquatic Reserve, an important fish breeding area.

Potential impacts from tuna farming, or 'feedlotting', include nutrient overloading of the local marine area due to accumulations of tuna feed and excrement, entanglements of mammals such as seals and dolphins, attraction of white sharks and bronze whaler sharks, impacts on local seabird populations and impacts on feedstock populations, namely pilchards. Although all are significant, it is the nutrient overloading of the area, potentially causing algal blooms and reduced water quality, which could impact most heavily on reefs.

This decision verifies that potential impacts on the environment should be a primary consideration in the approval of aquaculture activities.

Looking for a dive buddy?

A dive buddy is wanted by a keen diver, 43, who dives throughout the year. Looking to dive weekends regularly. Call Peter Kennedy on 8294 8769 after 3pm weekdays.

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