seagrass

In celebration of Seaweek, 20 keen science students from Year 9 Browns Plains High School will visit Sea World on March 7th for a special tour before moving to the Gold Coast Spit to monitor seagrass. Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre teacher, Gina Ygoa, said that Seaweek, from 2nd to 8th March, is held annually to focus people's attention on the marine environment and its sustainable management. “The theme for this year’s Seaweek is ‘Extinction – a Saw point’, highlighting the plight of the declining sawfish and threats to our other marine plants and animals. “At Sea World, the students will see turtles, sharks and sting rays, and, of course, dolphins and pelicans,” said Ms Ygoa. “And, after the tour, they’ll have the opportunity to adopt an area of seagrass to monitor its growth and health on a quarterly basis.” Gold Coast Seagrass Watch Coordinators Linda Ray and Sheila Davis will be joining the class at Sea World and will take them out in the afternoon to the Broadwater where they are likely to establish a seagrass monitoring site. “The Gold Coast has it all,” said Ms Davis. “There are many sites with shorebirds, soldier crabs, stingrays and seagrass – all vulnerable to the on-going impacts of fishing and boating traffic. Some of these sites were threatened by the proposed cruise ship terminal and super yacht marina project and are now threatened by the predicted impacts of climate change, as are all marine environments. By monitoring seagrass, we help ensure its protection.” In engaging the students in the curriculum of shoreline studies, Ms Ygoa said that she will introduce the students to the natural processes of: shorebirds preparing for their long migratory flights back to the northern hemisphere, the marching of the bright aqua soldier crabs in their thousands, and the seagrass beds and their role in the coastal ecosystems. “Local diver, Ian Banks’ extraordinary underwater photography, showing the beauty of the wildlife in the Seaway and in the seagrass beds, will also be featured,” said Ms Davis. “Ian’s recent dives monitoring the seagrass bed in the front of Wave Break Island have netted great photos of the amazing wildlife found there, which will inspire many budding photographers and marine biologists. Ian may even provide the students with some underwater photography tips.” “It will be a real hands-on experience,” said Ms Ygoa. “We will also give the students information about the legislation and agreements designed to protect these values and how well they have been working to make the link between the law and natural processes.” Seagrass in the Gold Coast is monitored three times a year and the next sessions will be Saturday, 29th March at Currumbin Creek and Saturday 5th April in the Broadwater. Interested participants should email [email protected] or ring 5530-6600 for more info. For more information about Seaweek visit the Marine Education Society of Australasia www.mesa.edu.au. For more information: Sheila Davis 5530-6600 / 0423-305-478 or Gina Ygoa 0409-349-640.

Media Release Thursday, 29th November 2007

Gold Coast seagrasses are valuable fish habitat

The Gold Coast’s seagrass beds are valuable resources that provide food and shelter for a multitude of species, including prawns, fish, sea turtles, dugongs and shorebirds and they should be on the maps, a Seagrass-Watch training workshop was told on the weekend.

Chief Scientist of the Northern Fisheries Centre at Cairns and Program Coordinator for Seagrass-Watch HQ, Mr Len McKenzie, speaking at the workshop held at Gecko House in Currumbin last Sunday, 25th November, said that it would be very useful to have all the Gold Coast’s seagrasses mapped.

Gold Coast Seagrass-Watch Coordinator, Sheila Davis, said that the Gold Coast is developing a team to keep an eye on the Gold Coast Broadwater’s vital seagrass beds and volunteers are keen to map seagrasses in the rest of the waterways.

Participants at the workshop were trained on scientific procedures to collect data on the health and condition of seagrass, monitoring it three times a year. “We did our fieldwork in Currumbin Creek and used seagrass beds that are not on the map,” said Ms Davis. “Workshop participants are keen to find more and ensure that all the Gold Coast’s seagrass beds are mapped.”

“The health of our seagrass is under constant threat from both natural and human impacts, and Seagrass-Watch experts train volunteers to monitor its condition,” said Ms Davis. “This data is sent to Seagrass-Watch HQ where it adds to the knowledge about seagrass throughout the Asia Pacific and contributes to the management of our waterways.”

Seagrass-Watch is an award winning, community based, habitat assessment program, monitoring the health and extent of seagrass beds over time. Survey methods are scientifically rigorous but simple and easy to learn and the results help guide decision making in areas such as Marine Park planning and ecosystem health monitoring. The Gold Coast team is funded by SEQ Catchments as part of the Moreton Bay Seagrass-Watch.

“If the idea of an afternoon with nature, and the knowledge that one’s participation assists in the management of our natural resources appeals to people, then they are welcome to join the Seagrass-Watch team,” said Ms Davis. “It’s a fun activity and provides a great opportunity to get to know our waterways and their wildlife including many interesting birds and invertebrates and the chance to spot turtles and dugong.

Call Sheila Davis, Gold Coast Seagrass-Watch Coordinator (ph: 5530-6600) or email gcseagras|AT|vis.id.au to find out how you can get involved with this program.

Gold Coast Seagrass-Watch, PO Box 199, Mudgeeraba Qld 4213 5530-6600 0423-305-478