11 April 2000 - Leafy seadragon declared South Australia's marine emblem

It Really is the Year of the Dragon! State's New Marine Emblem Welcomed
 

Researchers and marine conservationists have welcomed the South Australian Government's decision to proclaim the Leafy Seadragon as the States marine emblem.

For many years marine conservationists, including divers, have recognised the "Leafy" as South Australia's "unofficial state fish". It joins the Sturt Desert Pea and the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat as our state's other wildlife emblems.

Since 1996 international and Australian researchers, local and national conservation groups and the eco-tourism industry called upon the South Australia to improve its efforts to conserve and manage Seadragons.  Back then they also asked for the Leafy to be proclaimed as the state's official marine fish.

"South Australia's Environment Minister, the Honourable Iain Evans is to be congratulated on recognising this community driven initiative", said Dragon Search spokesperson Tony Flaherty. "The Environment Minister appears to have taken heed of community calls to improve awareness of our marine environment. The Leafy Seadragon is a perfect symbol of our unique Southern seas."

Seadragons are spectacular fish found only in southern Australian waters. Related to seahorses and pipefish two species of seadragons occur in southern Australia, the "common" or Weedy Seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) and the Leafy Seadragon (Phycodurus eques). Both species of Seadragon have been listed on the International Red list of Threatened
Animals due to the lack of information on the species.

"I do not think that earlier concerns expressed by Primary Industries over a possible increase in poaching by proclaiming the "Leafy" as a State Fish are warranted", said Mr Flaherty. "Our years of community-based surveys have not revealed illegal poaching to be a significant threat. Because these fish are so difficult to keep there is a limited market and overseas
aquaria tend to go through the legal channels," he said.

"A real problem until now had actually been the high number of permits issued by Primary Industries themselves for collection of these fish from the wild in popular dive areas," said Mr Flaherty. "However we think habitat loss from pollution, impacts of recreational and commercial fishing and lack of adequate marine reserves are significant threats."

These fish highlight the high degree of uniqueness of species that exists in southern temperate waters. Scientists use the word 'endemic' to describe this "uniqueness". Up to ninety percent of many of the marine animal groups found in Southern Australia are endemic. Many of these are found off of our offshore islands and are unprotected by the few existing marine parks or
marine reserves. Australians are not generally aware of the immense marine biodiversity they have off their southern coast and the spectacular and unique environments that exist there.

"With the growing international and local interest in South Australia's unique marine environment, and the developing dive- tourism industry, wild seadragons and their habitat are a valuable asset to the South Australia environment and economy," said Mr Flaherty."

Researchers and conservationists have also asked that the "Leafies" cousin, the Weedy Seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) also be proclaimed as a protected species and that marine reserves be established for the conservation of both species of seadragons in South Australian waters.
 

Tony Flaherty
Dragon Search (SA) & Marine & Coastal Community Network (SA)