It has been a busy summer for Sea Search, with multiple events happening nearly every weekend, and the odd weekday session thrown in also. Having expanded our program to now include mangrove habitat, our Sea Search program is going from strength to strength and we hope to see many new faces over the coming months. Our thanks to our regular and dedicated team of Sea Searchers, who help make this program so successful.

Here's a look at what we have been doing all summer! 

CORNER INLET SEAGRASS MONITORING

On November 7th-8th a total of 8 sites were monitored in Corner Inlet MNP which was brilliant. The weather was fabulous and it was great to see such support for the project on both days with Steven Dodd, Tim Forster, Jo James, Dave James, Heather Maginn, Rob Timmers, Gary Fox, Nik Salter, Ashley Clacy, Claire Lewis, Ryan Commerford, Ryan Fitzclarence, Bruce Atkin and Ross Robinson and Jono Stevenson all getting into the water to collect vital information on Broad-leaf seagrass.

Thanks to Jonathon Stevenson from Parks Victoria and Rob Timmers from SEAL diving services.

MUSHROOM REEF MARINE SANCTUARY INTERTIDAL MONITORING

Seven Sea Searchers monitored the intertidal reef at Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary on November 28th after our previous attempt at monitoring was stopped early due to strong winds.  Some travelled far, some were local, but the weather was much kinder and the day a success. Thanks to Darren Mitchell from Parks Victoria.

SUMMER BY THE SEA 2010

Sea Search held events as part of the annual Coast Action/Coastcare Summer by the Sea program which runs all over Victoria in early January.  Successful intertidal monitoring events were held at Pt Addis Marine National Park and Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary.  Thanks to Joanne Ludbrook, Phillip Wierzbowski, Bruce Atkin, EcoLogic, The Marine Discovery Centre Queenscliff, Bunurong Environment Centre and all participants of the activities.

 TWO BAYS 2010

Both Sea Search and Reef Life Survey had events run as part of the Two Bays Program 2010 Pelican Expeditions. The first event was the official launch of the Mangrove Monitoring program at Tooradin in Westernport bay on Saturday January 16th.  Thanks to Denis Cox & Thierry Rolland for their ongoing support for the Mangrove program.

The Second event was Reef Life Survey at Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park on January 19th.  A big thank you to Garry McKechnie and Natalie Davey at Pelican Expeditions and to Steffan Howe, Mark Rodrigue and Chris Hayward at Parks Victoria for organising the event – and of course thank you to all our volunteer participants.

CHARLES LATROBE COLLEGE: MANGROVES AT CHURCHILL ISLAND MARINE NATIONAL PARK
Eleven students and their teacher Kerry Norton from Charles Latrobe College ventured out to get muddy and discover how exciting mangroves can be.  We collected some really useful data so a big thanks to all that participated.  Thanks to Thierry Rolland and Chris Hayward from Parks Victoria for their assistance.