NEWS DESK

EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB PROJECT - Update!
(This project was made possible by a Grant through the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority)

Under the guidance of Associate Professor Ron West from the University of Wollongong and with the help of a team of volunteers and Marine Education Officer Luke Brown, SCMDC is helping to control and reduce numbers of the introduced pest species known as Carcinus Maenus (European Green crab) in Twofold Bay. Beginning in February 2007 at Fisheries Beach (Google Earth Placemark), south of Eden, the work involves the monthly setting of traps to monitor the numbers and gender of these pests.

SCMDC has a DPI Fisheries Collection Permit for this work and will be collecting data for its new Resource Centre database of marine species occurring on our Sapphire Coast.

To date, the program has been an outstanding success, with a large number of dedicated volunteers joining Luke each month to count, establish the gender and size the animals before they are humanely destroyed. These pests are now known to have spread as far north as Bermagui and DPI Fisheries are considering providing assistance to expand the program as it recognizes its potential negative effect on the local oyster industry.

Anyone interested in helping out can contact SCMDC Marine Education Officer Luke Brown on 6494 4143 or you can leave a message on the office phone 02 6496 1699.
Excellent website reference available here or you can Download a NSW Fisheries PDF (141k) of this introduced species here!

WHAT'S THE LATEST WITH OUR MOBILE MARINE LABORATORY?
(Our mobile marine laboratory and the employment of Luke Brown, our Marine Education Officer, was made possible through a Grant from the NSW Environmental Trust.)

Since its launch in March 2007, our Mobile Marine Laboratory has been involved with a number of exciting educational and research programs up and down the Sapphire Coast. Luke Brown has worked closely with regional schools – both State and private and involving all ages – to develop educational programs that mean we can help deliver the most up-to-date information on marine research on our own environment.

The Mobile Lab has featured in a number of regional community events such as the Bermagui Seaside Fair, the Eden Whale Festival and Pambula Markets and has been spotted a number of times near both Merimbula and Wallagoot Lakes where its equipment has helped with species survey work.

For more information, call the office on 02 6496 1699

Species survey work:

The Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre has once again attracted a large number of interested volunteers to participate in a marine species survey – this time at Wallagoot Lake in Bournda National Park on Saturday 27th August.

Made possible through an Envirofund Grant from the Australian Government, the SCMDC has now held three extremely successful workshops where volunteers have been able to mix it with marine experts from a number of fields to learn more about the rich marine environment in our region.  Previous workshops were held at Edrom Lodge on Twofold Bay and at the Blue Pool at Bermagui.

The latest workshop at Wallagoot Lake involved 37 people from across the Shire and beyond, including two scientists from Australian National University Earth & Marine Sciences, SCMDC Executive Board member Dr Anne Felton and her partner Dr Keith Crook who are both marine geologists and Visiting Fellows with ANU.  Leading the group for the day was well-known marine educator Alan Scrymgeour who was ably assisted by his wife Lyn. 

Participants worked in teams, gathering small creatures in their nets and transferring them to shore in trays so that they could be examined further under microscopes, which were kindly lent by the science department of Eden Marine High School.  A comprehensive list, including scientific names, common names and a corresponding photograph is now being compiled for posting on the SCMDC website and distribution to research bodies and universities. 

The day was an outstanding success, attracting not only Professors from our closest University, but also children as young as eight years – all enjoying sharing the experience and learning from each other.

Staff from the Bournda Environmental Education Centre also participated in the workshop, expanding the research to include water monitoring for such things as salinity and turbidity.  Bournda EEC also kindly lent a number of canoes to enable sampling to take place in deeper sections of water.

Alan Scrymgeour identifies the species found in Wallagoot Lake.

A “PERFECT PATRON” FOR THE MARINE CENTRE

The Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre (formerly the Eden Whale and Marine Discovery Centre) Executive Board is very pleased to announce that well known environmentalist and founder of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World Ian Kiernan AO, has offered to be a Patron for the Centre.

This news is extremely encouraging for the not-for-profit community organisation members who have been working together for over 8 years to bring the plans for the integrated Marine Centre to fruition.

The Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre will comprise three elements:  a Research Facility, an Education Centre and a Discovery Centre.  “The appointment of Ian Kiernan as our Patron is timely, as the Executive Board is currently preparing proposals to both State and Federal Government to assist with the acquisition of a suitable site for the infrastructure," Project Co-Ordinator Jenny Robb said.  “Ian is very well known and respected throughout Australia and internationally for his many years of work in encouraging Australians to help clean up their environment.  Everyone knows about Clean Up’s iconic event – Clean Up Australia Day with many locals regularly participating annually on the Far South Coast," she said. 

Mr Kiernan earned the title of Australian of the Year in 1994, and was made United Nations Environment Programme Global 500 Laureate in 1998 for “mobilising tens of millions of people around the globe to take responsibility for their own environment."

The work of this great Australian is not restricted to our shores; Clean Up the World annually mobilises some 40 million people from more than 120 countries who take to the streets, beaches, river banks and parks to clean and conserve their local environment.

The Marine Centre members, supporters and community volunteers are honoured to be associated with such a great ambassador for the environment.

Ian Kiernan, AO, Patron of the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre.