FERAL OR IN PERIL; AUSMEPA ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD WINNERS 2013

The Conservation Council of South Australia Inc (CCSA) has been awarded AUSMEPA's highest acknowledgement for its marine citizen science program, Feral or In Peril (FIP).www.ausmepa.org.au

FIP has delivered significant achievements in contributing to protection of the marine environment in during the last 12 years. Hundreds of volunteers both in South Australia and in Victoria (via Reef Watch Victoria) have contributed to the success of the program.

The program was one of the first marine programs of this kind in Australia and since its implementation the program has received almost 500 reports of sightings and engaged with more than 85,000 people. It is a effective, easily replicable program to prevent and manage the spread of marine pests.

Volunteers directly input data into the new FIP online reporting system is hosted by the Atlas of Living Australia here: http://feralperil.ala.org.au The website system generates real time email alerts directly to biosecurity agencies.

Photo courtesy of Kangaroo Island NRM Board

One of the most significant achievements of the program happened in 2008 when a volunteer reported the first sighting of the European fan worm (Sabella spallanzanii) on Kangaroo Island. This instigated a major marine pest program by the KI Natural Resources Management Board.

In 2008 CCSA was able to secure funding to assist Reef Watch Victoria to set up an FIP program. They had early success with their program when reports of western and eastern blue gropers provided by volunteers led to the implementation of a 12 month moratorium on catching these species whilst further research was undertaken. 

The SA and Victorian programs also collaborated on a joint marine pest removal project at Apollo Bay, Victoria, resulting in the removal of 2.5 tonnes of Undaria pinnatifida, an invasive kelp species.

The FIP program has also been collaborating with the SA Research and development Institute (SARDI), Aquatic Sciences along who join a long list of interested and committed partners.

CCSA is the peak conservation body for South Australia, representing 50 of the State’s environment and conservation organisations. It is an independent non-profit, non party-political, community based organisation that provides resources, advice and representation for the SA environment movement, and leads many of the key conservation campaigns in SA.

Space invaders; marine pests

AUSMEPA are strong supporters and education partners with Marine Discovery Centres Australia. Below find news about some lesson plans out of Western Australia that may excite science teachers as suggested on MDCA news page here

Marine Pests…

February 16th, 2012

To kick off the new school year, Marine WATERs (West­ern Aus­tralian Teacher Edu­ca­tion Resources) presents their lat­est suite of edu­ca­tion mate­ri­als on Marine Pests. Check out the Pest Con­trol Les­son Plan, Intro­duced Marine Species Fact Sheet and their most excit­ing inter­ac­tive resource yet – the ‘Pest Line-up’ game!

Marine WATERs is an ini­tia­tive of the Depart­ment of Fish­eries, WA and Wood­side Energy. An inter­ac­tive and fully inte­grated resource that con­nects edu­ca­tors and stu­dents with resources and tools devel­oped specif­i­cally to study West­ern Australia’s unique marine ecosys­tems and address chal­lenges fac­ing the sus­tain­abil­ity of our aquatic resources.

Teachers may like to check out AUSMEPA's Marine Pests and Threats units here




www.ausmepa.org.au

TURTLE CARE, Sunshine Coast

Friday 25 March 2011, Kawana, Queensland  7:30pm

Tonight a dedicated little group hurriedly gathered to watch as one little head after the other emerged out of the loose sand like tiny submarines rising to the surface of the dry sand. Neither foxes or other hungry land hunters had been able to disturb the Loggerhead turtle nest once the Turtle Care volunteers had moved the eggs to a safer place and secured it with a safety mesh several weeks ago. Tonight the young turtles had burst from their eggs for their epic and potentially treacherous flight to the sea. These were the lucky ones.

Looking like little rowboats the hatchlings started flying down the run-way that had been built earlier -  guided on each side by gutter mesh.. 

Younger volunteers at this particular birthday party were tasked with counting how many of the baby reptiles passed the last line of dune grasses. They then helped the grownups make sure that a muted light was there to draw them down to the water's edge.

The challenge tonight was to keep the babies aimed toward the ocean instead of the fireworks that appeared to the east and the lights of the apartment buildings and other structures beyond the dunes. 

Clutches vary along the Sunshine Coast with generally four different turtles types in any year and not returning again for two or more years afterwards. Most of the babies this year will be male.

Here is another little turtle that got lucky earlier this summer when it wandered into a kitchen only to be saved by Alex and returned to where it belonged. Clearly an exception to the look, don't touch rule of thumb (or flipper as the case may be).

For more information on Turtle Care click here

For more information on Australian Turtles click here

For fun facts on an exclusively Aussie Sea Turtle click here

To learn more about how to keep our oceans clean for our wonderful turtles visit AUSMEPA and view general information and teacher notes on ocean health issues like  stormwater pollution, climate change, marine pests and threats by clicking here.