| News |
April 2010 updateAndy Myers (RLS Coordinator NSW) has finished up his role as Reef Life Survey (RLS) Sydney-based volunteer coordinator at People & Parks Foundation. Andy has been a valuable member of the PPF and RLS team in his time with us - leading numerous group surveys and both maintaining and promoting volunteer enthusiasm for the program. Andy has taken up a position at Oceanwatch and we thank him for his contributions and wish him all the best. We're also happy to mention that Andy has continued to conduct RLS surveys since he started his new job - testament to his commitment to the program goals and his genuine interest in marine conservation - and we look forward to catching up with him next time we're in Sydney for a survey or two! Reef Life Survey has been busy in Victoria with survey sites including; Elwood, Point Cooke, Altona, and Williamstown.
Jervis Bay, 26-29th March 2010 A huge crew of 15 from NSW piled onboard Ocean Trek for a super intense 3.5 day survey extravaganza! Once again, RLS engaged the local expertise of Lyn Cleary and Mick Saliwon and their crew from the Jervis Bay based live aboard, Ocean Trek over the weekend of 26-29th March. The RLS group included: Andrew, Bill from down south; Kate, Tom, Margo and Ash from Nelson Bay; Isabelle from Forster; Steve and Dave from Laurieton; Jen and Kim from Canberra; and Andy, Jack, and newcomer Martin from Sydney. Click here for more information. Kangaroo Island, 12-15th March 2010 RLS re-joined forces with the Kangaroo Island NRM Board again, for another weekend of surveys on Kangaroo Island (12th-15th March). Click here for more information.
Reef Life Survey have been diving all over the country this summer, with survey trips taking place in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Western Australia. Derwent Estuary Survey Trip TAS, 13-15 November 2009 The RLS team got together for some local surveys in the Derwent Estuary in Hobart from November 13-15 – on Sue Wragge’s boat ‘Underwater Adventures’. Throughout the trip, we surveyed a range of noticeably impacted and relatively natural reefs on both sides of the estuary, including sites at Manning Reef, Ralph’s Bay and also in the proposed extension to the Tinderbox Marine Reserve. Sites varied from rubbly reef with no macroalgae in Ralphs Bay to Ecklonia dominated sites near Tinderbox. Overall, we recorded 30 species of fish and over 60 macroinvertebrate and cryptic fish species. Jurien Bay Survey Trip WA, 28-30th November 2009 In November, the RLS crew ventured over to the west coast for a survey trip at Jurien Bay, WA. For those of you that don’t know, Jurien Bay is approximately 3 hours north of Perth and is famous for its wild winds and western rock lobsters! 6 new trainees were inducted into the Reef Life Survey crew this trip. Port Phillip Bay VIC, December 4-7 2009 RLS conducted a training/survey trip in Port Phillip Bay from 4-7 December, based in Queenscliff VIC. We trained three new volunteers – Sylvia and Ian Buchanan and Andrew Potter and were absolutely stoked with their enthusiasm, attention to detail and support for the program. Sydney Harbour/Botany Bay NSW, December 10-13 2009 Following the Port Phillip Bay trip, we headed to Sydney were we were able to survey a number of transects around Bare Island and also went out with local Skipper Peter, organised through one of our favourite local dive shops Abyss Scuba. Port Phillip Bay VIC/ Two Bays Program, January 2010 RLS recently headed back to Port Phillip Bay VIC as part of the Two Bays program through Pelican Expeditions. For this, we were invited to do a day’s diving from the SV Pelican – a fantastic 19m catamaran set up specifically for marine research. From the Pelican we surveyed Parks Victoria Marine Park monitoring sites at Point Nepean in Port Phillip Bay. The surveys were successful and allowed the completion of the set of sites in the Point Nepean Sanctuary Zone of the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park for this summer. Overall, 48 species of fish and 51 invertebrates & cryptic fish species were recorded.
|
.JPG "Photo (c) Reef Life Survey")
.JPG "Photo (c) Reef Life Survey")
