Reefwatcher

Issue 3, No.2, August 1999

Launch of the new Reef Watch Web site

~ www.reefwatch.asn.au

The new Reef Watch webpage is now up and running. The website provides information about the program, up to date information about marine issues, links to other marine sites, information on sponsors and a section on Who's Hot – information about YOU – our Reef Watch divers. Check out the first Reef Watch – Who's hot diver - Daryl Metters!. There is also up to date information about dive details, including training sessions, monthly reef watch dives and local site details. Information will be updated regularly and look out for the Reef Watcher newsletters and photo gallery, soon to be added.

For those of you who have been waiting to electronically enter your survey forms, it is now possible via the webpage. Fill in the survey forms attached to the web page, and press send. All data will be directly mailed the Reef Watch database. Divers will be sent a Diver Identification code shortly, which needs to be included each time a survey is sent in.

The Reef Watch website can be viewed at:< www.reefwatch.asn.au>

Reef Watch also has a new email address: It is still possible to use the old address as emails are being diverted.

Reef Watch would like to thank "The Net Enterprises" for hosting the site and Geoff Prideaux for the design, layout and continual updating of the new site. The net can be contacted on Ph: 8410 5443 or via their website:

Anyone wishing to contribute to the site, either with relevant articles, photos or new ideas, please contact the Reef Watch Project Officer at the Conservation Council (8223 5155) or via email.

Royal Australian Navy – Dive Team #9

Reef Watch would like to officially welcome the Navy Dive Team #9 to the Reef Watch Program. The Navy Divers joined Reef Watch in August. The team have selected Semaphore Reef as their adopted site. Semaphore Reef is one of Reef Watch's least monitored sites in metropolitan area. Divers have completed the training session (a very entertaining evening) and will complete their first dive shortly. Reef Watch is looking forward to further forging the relationship with the Navy through promotional displays and other events. Look out for more information about the Diving Team on the Reef Watch Internet site!

From The Reef Top... Down

19 months on, How is Port Noarlunga Reef Faring?

Port Noarlunga Reef is the most highly dived area in the Southern Hemisphere. Remember the dredging operations in November 1997? Remember the grey mud-like sand on Brighton Beach, the black chopped scallop shells that are still in evidence today, scattered upon the shores?. Remember the hue and cry about the silty plume that enveloped the southern coast, choking and asphyxiating the sea life?

How is it faring now? The acute crisis is over but chronic fatigue is still observed. Fact: it has taken 18 months for the silt to settle and achieve good visibility, this has been particularly helped by the lack of winds and calm seas typical of Adelaide's glorious Autumn weather.

The Reef is a process of living and dying. The Question is whether it is in balance? In my daily workplace, I am able to intimately observe the littoral and sublittoral zones of Pt Noarlunga Reef, from the minute and startling purple and orange frilled Spanish Dancer, to the young, walking 2mm long muscles, to the daily frenzied feeding of Leather Jackets.

I have come to these general conclusions:

Nature is exceedingly adaptable. Given a chance, it endeavours to heal, balance and to go on;
Only the fit, strong and healthy will survive

The initial dredging, in my opinion, caused mass destruction of filter feeding animals such as sponges, ascidians, as well as nudibranchs, which choked in the cloudy water. The carcasses of many of these appeared in the shoreline, most of which I was unaware of their existence. The silt settled and laid on plants and animals and encrusted rocks. The algal plants (seaweeds) found the encrusted rocks were a poor foundation to settle on. Despite this, their desire to survive was strong, with some settling on sponges, forming huge encrusting pimples and carbuncles.

Last summer, reef fish such as the Sweep and Moonlighter didn't breed. There were no Rock Shrimps fossicking in the detritus. The hermit crab didn't proliferate. I didn't see one nudibranch Spanish Dancer, the zoanthids shrivelled but survived. The hard corals pumped hard each day to rid their external body of silt. Most made it, those that were buried, expired. Opportunistic organisms settled, such as the Spanish Fan Worm, some starfish were born with a sixth leg and the growth of several ascidians were stunted. Mutations are often a sign of stress.

A summer later, the short term sponges have returned after the breeding season. Once again their growth has been stunted, but none the less they are there. The real shock is the medium to long term life sponges, ascidians and bryzoans which have survived thus far, are now showing signs of stress, such as huge carbuncles of plant and algal growth and the partial destruction or breakdown of their structure. Some have given up and died. Some struggle on with a pale pallor. The silt is still there, whirling and swirling in these winter storms. I hope it works its way out deeper into the matrix of the ocean floor.

Their have been discussions of further dredging. The winter/summer cycle of beaches with and without sand, combined with the encroachment of buildings onto the sand dune, is an ongoing problem for the Adelaide coastline.

There is much conjecture on how much sand replenishment is required. Strategically where should it go?

Has the appropriate research been done?

Where does this sand end up? Can we see through the short term guise of money and look at the long range plan?

After dredging operations on Brighton Beach, the Government stated they would not have to dredge for five years. Eighteen months later, blind Freddy can tell you that the sand has recently gone from the beaches.

Is dredging the only answer? If it is, I hope the current Government keep to their word of not repeating a major dredging program, and stick to smaller, regular programs that appear to have caused lesser impacts in the past.

Article submitted by Reef Watcher - Mary Anne Stacey

National Threatened Species Day 1999

The Leafy Seadragon – the land and sea connection

National Threatened Species Day is celebrated on 7 September each year and marks the day the last known Tasmanian Tiger died in captivity in the Hobart Zoo. The day is used to highlight the plight of Australia's threatened species and to encourage the community to become involved in recovery actions in their local area.

The theme in South Australia for the fifth annual National Threatened Species Day is 'The Leafy Seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus). Both have spectacular leaf-like appendages on their heads and bodies. Seadragons are found only in southern Australian waters. Along with seahorses and pipefish these spectacular fish belong to the family Syngnathidae. Syngnathids are long, slender fish with bony plates surrounding their body.

One of the truly amazing features of the seadragons is that they resemble swaying seaweed, which can make them difficult to find in their natural habitats. Their bright colours are revealed in sun dappled waters or under bright camera lights.

There is increasing concern about the future of seadragons which are threatened by both habitat destruction and collection for the aquarium fish trade. Seadragons rely on seagrass meadows and algal beds which are under threat off the coast of South Australia. The seadragon's habitat is largely disappearing, a result of decreased water quality, primarily due to land-based pollution and sediment run-off. The direct impacts of some fishing operations are also a potential threat.

Groups such as Dragon Search (SA), Reef Watch, Our Patch and the Leafy Seadragon Friendly Catchment project are highlighting the importance of catchment care to the seadragon. A free booklet will soon be available to inform the community about 'leafy events' planned by many groups and organisations across the state during September that involve the care of South Australia's waterways, catchments or marine and coastal environment. Fun and informative guided walks, hands-on activities at the beach and interesting bird surveys are just some of the activities that you, your family and your friends can become involved in during the month.

The booklet will be packed with interesting facts, activities and practical ways to help threatened species. It will contain interesting information about the Threatened Species Network and Threatened Species Day. Find out about 'leafy events' and other 'leafy' groups and contacts. There will be also a section dedicated to important work being done to help threatened species across the state.

A free public talk 'Into the Dragon's Lair" by Tony Flaherty, SA Dragon Search Co-ordinator, will focus on the seadragon and the community-based monitoring program Dragon Search. The talk will be held on Threatened Species Day, September 7 at 7pm in The Armoury at the South Australian Museum. Everyone is welcome to come along to find out about this fascinating creature and this innovative program.

For more information about National Threatened Species Day 1999 or to order a copy of the free booklet, please contact Vicki-Jo Russell or Eva Squire at the Threatened Species Network (SA) on oh (08) 8223 5155.

To find out more about the Dragon Search project or to request seadragon sighting forms, please contact Jeremy Gramp, Dragon Search on Ph: 8223 5155.
Dive at Second Valley – Threatened Species Day 1999

Dive ~ September 5th 1999
Second Valley
10am

To mark National Threatened Species Day in SA, Reef Watch will be holding a 'Come and Try' monitoring dive at Second Valley. The format of the day will involve pairing up reef Watch divers with those new to the program, to assist and learn the monitoring process. We will be diving at Lassitter's Reef. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to dive at this location before, come along and join in. We would like to hear from any Reef Watchers who would like to provide assistance for new recruits on the day. The day will provide a good opportunity for you to meet other divers, learn about the monitoring process as well us brushing up on you marine identification skills. We will also be holding several survey training and marine identification sessions prior to the day. If you are yet to complete a training session and would like to do so, please contact the Conservation Council. Alternatively, for those who are yet to complete the training dive, this will provide you with just the right opportunity. For Dive Club members, it could provide a great opportunity to take part in an important event – why not get your club involved – write it in your diary now!

So, come along and enjoy the day. Remember summer is just around the corner – why not start your diving season now!. If you would like more information about the day or would like to attend, please contact Sheralee at the Conservation Council on Ph: 8223 5155.

Lassiters Reef

Second Valley is a popular dive location close enough to Adelaide to be a half day return trip. Most divers don't venture beyond the cave filled rocky headlands and cliff faces. A dive that is as good and maybe better than these is Lassiters reef. The reef lies about 200m north of the jetty and rises up from seagrass beds at 9m to about 3m-4m. It has a circular shape and is about 50m across. The reef itself consists of large boulders with many deep crevices. The marine life is abundant, with schools of; leather jackets, hulafish, oldwives and bullseyes. The rock surface is covered with a wide range of invertebrates including sponges, sea squirts, sea urchins, sea stars, molluscs and algae. An interesting creature can be seen in the surrounding seagrass beds. It is a free living (or unattached) swimming anemone and as the name suggests, they just roll around on the seabed. They are about 10-15mm in diameter and look and feel a bit like a surf ball.

Article submitted by Daryl Metters.

For those of you who are yet to dive Lassiters reef, meet other Reef Watch divers in the carpark, next to the jetty at Second Valley on Sunday September 5th.

Rapid Bay Seadragons future still murky

One of the State's most important Jetty dive sites for watching leafy seadragons may be under threat from demolition. Dive groups and 'dragon-lovers' fear that Transport SA may demolish the end of the Rapid Bay Jetty destroying the marine life and possibly impacting on the seadragon colony there.

Possible changes to the jetty range from total removal of the end section, including pylons, to removal of upper decking. Divers are worried about the removal of the end 'T' section of the Jetty. This is where the seadragons are usually seen. The least extreme option of removing planking, which shades the pylons, may change light conditions, resulting in permanent loss of some of the shade-tolerant marine life, including the dragons apparent feeding habitat.

A significant number of sightings (23.1% of all dive sightings) from the Dragon Search records, are from Rapid Bay Jetty. The seadragon colony at the Rapid Bay Jetty have featured in international dive and wildlife publications including BBC Wildlife, and the site is known nationally and around the world as one of the 'spots' to dive with dragons. Most other dragon dive sites require boat access. Seadragons are protected in South Australia under the Fisheries Act 1982, and recently Tourism SA has been promoting the Leafy Seadragon in its international literature as a focus for marine tourism.

The Minister for Transport has stated to the SA Recreational Fishing Advisory Council that options for the repair of the areas of the jetty, such as the dolphin decking (the end 'T' section) are marginally cheaper than demolition. However the Minister adds that irrespective of cost of repair, consideration has also to be given to the costs of maintenance. The jetty itself is no longer used for commercial purposes and is classed as a recreational jetty. Funding which was made available for the upgrade of recreational jetties is only available on the condition that local councils assume responsibility for on-going maintenance. An unnamed consortium has apparently expressed interest in the jetty to the Minister's office for an as yet unclarified proposal. There was rumour that a developer had expressed interest to use the jetty for fish farming activities.

The problem would appear to be perceived risk for any future lessees of the jetty. Also the local District Council of Yankalilla is understandably reticent to take control of the structure, with associated long-term maintenance expenses.

Concerned divers and others may wish to contact the Minister for Transport The Honourable Diana Laidlaw at Parliament House, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, Phone (08) 803 0940, or the District Council of Yankalilla with any concerns over this proposal.

Tony Flaherty, MCCN & Dragon Search (SA)

SA'S CUTTLEFISH CAPITAL

Reef Watchers may have read in a previous edition of Reef Watcher about the plight of the Whyalla Diving club to close the cuttlefish spawning grounds during spawning session. Here's a progress report_.

Whyalla is proclaiming itself the Cuttlefish Capital of the World, going international with a web site devoted to Whyalla's Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia apama) spawning. Each year, between early May and mid August, hundreds of thousands of Cuttlefish aggregate to mate and spawn and attach their eggs on the few rocky reefs in the area. The spawning aggregation has long been an attraction for divers. Now it is being flagged as one of Australia's prime marine tourism attractions. Mayor John Smith, who says they are hoping for a cuttlefish-lead recovery for the regional city, opened the website on World Environment Day

So far this season, as well as local and Adelaide divers, the site has attracted marine biologists from Canada and USA, and a documentary crew from New South Wales.

The first cuttlefish arrived in late April and the spectacular spawning displays are well under way.

The commercial fishing of the spawning aggregations drastically increased in 1997 and 1998 (see Regional Ripples March 98 & October 1998). Dr Mark Norman of the University of Melbourne and the Museum of Victoria, who had undertaken research surveys in the region, expressed alarm at the decline in and the increased fishing pressures and serious concerns, that if fishing continued, collapse of this stock was imminent (see Regional Ripples June 98).

Two years of lobbying by local dive club, conservationists and interstate researchers persuaded the state government to close the local cuttlefish spawning grounds over two seasons (between March and September 1999 and 2000) for further research to be conducted.

The Whyalla Sports Divers' Club continue to encourage the Government to establish a substantial area as a Marine Sanctuary to ensure the conservation of the cuttlefish and the myriad of marine life that rely on them for food.

For more information visit the web site at http://www.cuttlefishcapital.com.au/

The webmasters note that there is also a November 1998 South Australian Fisheries Assessment Series No.98/9 on Cuttlefish (Sepia apama) which they were not given permission to include an overview on their site. It may be available through the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) Aquatic Sciences Centre (08) 82002400.

For more information on Cephalopods from around the world visit the 'The Cephalopod Page' by James B. Wood, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada at http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/index.html.

Tony Flaherty, MCCN & Dragon Search (SA)

National Science Week 1999

As part of National Science Week in May, Reef Watch held an event encouraging everyone to "come and take a dive with Reef Watch"

The event was held on May 1st at Port Noarlunga Reef and was publicised through dive shops, clubs, the internet and promotional material produced by the ABC. The idea of the day was for people not familiar with Reef Watch to come and take part in a survey dive and learn about the monitoring process.

The day began with a general information session about Reef Watch's aims and provided a demonstration of kit usage and monitoring methodologies. Those new to the monitoring program were "matched up" with Reef Watch divers, who were eagre to teach others the monitoring process.

Divers and a group of snorkellers entered the water, with each new participant carrying a fish and a benthic identification chart, with a survey form attached, to help them to recognise marine life, whilst they were assisted in completing a "mock" survey.

Those new to the Reef Watch program were amazed by the ease of the methods used to survey the reef. In addition, they were astounded by their new found ability to identify marine life with the assistance of the identification charts and the knowledge shared by Reef Watch divers.

The day demonstrated the increasing interest and support the program is generating. With those new to the Reef Watch program eagre to attend future training sessions, and with current members eagre to host another event, the day can only be declared a success.

Look out for the 'Come and Try Monitoring dive' planned for Second Valley on Sunday September 5th, as part of National Threatened Species Day activities. Inform us of your interest now!

Congratulations – Port Vincent Primary School & Aquatic Centre!

Winner of the National Keep Australia Beautiful School Environment Award – 1999, 1997, 1996

Congratulations to Port Vincent Primary School for winning the National Keep Australia Beautiful School Environment Award for the third time!

Students undertook a year long project which involved surveying the fish life at their local reef. The students, who are over ten years old and are all capable snorkellers, head out in a group of four and one instructor to complete fish counts on the local marine life. Fifteen fish counts have been completed thus far, with the students becoming Reef Watch's most dedicated monitors. Following each snorkel, students return to the classroom, where data is graphically analysed and stored for future reference.

Students are currently learning to identify algae and seagrasses and have begun a herbarium. It wont be long before they will be able to complete a full survey.

As part of their year long ' Year of the Ocean' project students have created a 'hitting wall'. One side demonstrates the bio-diversity of marine life seen at their local reef on Reef Watch dives, with the opposing side having Reef Watch divers and pelicans.

Keep up the good work – we hope to see many more surveys in the near future!

Change of Address

To ensure you get your copy of Reef Watcher, make sure you inform Reef Watch of your change of address. There is a tear off slip available on the reverse page of the newsletter.

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