MLSSA

Newsletter

APRIL 2003

No. 298

"Understanding, enjoying & caring for our oceans"


Next Meeting

Our April meeting will be held at the Conservation Centre, 120 Wakefield Street, Adelaide on Wednesday 16th April commencing at 7.30pm.

Our speaker will be MLSSA member David Offord. He will be discussing sealion research, the EPBC Act & Fisheries Act.


Contents

Dive Cut Short At Penneshaw Jetty

MV Falie Easter 2002 Part 2

Applying Pain Theory In Fish Spine Envenomation Part 1

After The Encounter Part 4

Incidental bycatch: seahorse relatives help focus attention on fisheries issues


Contributors

This month our authors are Steve Reynolds, Chris Hall, David Muirhead and Keith Martin-Smith.


Membership

As mentioned last month your membership is now due. Existing members should find a membership renewal form included with their Newsletter. Please assist us by paying promptly. If you have already renewed your membership then please ignore the notice.


Dive Cut Short At Penneshaw Jetty

When David Muirhead showed some underwater slides at our August General Meeting I had some bad mental flashes. Some of David’s slides were of Basket Stars on Gorgonian Fans under the Penneshaw jetty at Kangaroo Island. So why the bad flashes?

Southern Basket Star under Penneshaw Jetty

photographed by

David Muirhead

At the end of the slide show that evening I explained everything. I have only ever dived at the Penneshaw jetty once and I had a bad experience then. It was back in April 1988 when I made my first ever trip to Kangaroo Island. I was suffering from a bad head cold of some kind at the start but after a couple of days I was ready to try doing some dives there. My second dive on the island was at the Penneshaw jetty. Just prior to the dive we saw that there was a rip offshore from the breakwater. Under the jetty we had fair to good visibility. I carried a catch bag containing an underwater writing slate and a specimen collection jar. I also had an underwater camera attached to my wrist. My logbook tells me that I saw soft corals, compound and colonial ascidians, sponges, featherduster worms and nudibranchs under the jetty. I also found a seahare which I collected for research by the RAH Hyperbari Medicine Unit (see our Nov. 1987 Newsletter, No.124). I put the seahare into my specimen collection jar. I then came across a basket star sitting on some gorgonian and took some photos of it. When my buddy also saw the basket star he pointed it out to me. I just nodded and smiled back through my regulator. He then pointed back at the basket star and then at my camera. I tried to signal back that I had already photographed the basket star but he couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t take a photo. I took my slate out of my catch bag and wrote that I had already taken a shot. About the time that I put the slate back into my catch bag I realised that my specimen collection jar had vanished. I looked around me but couldn’t see it. It must have floated away so I surfaced (presumably after informing my buddy of my intentions). At the surface I looked around for the floating jar and a fisherman called out that it was somewhere ahead of me. I swam off after it (without informing my buddy of my intentions). I caught up to my jar and slipped in into my catch bag before realising that I was now caught up in the rip that we had seen out from the breakwater. The jetty seemed to suddenly grow smaller as I was being whisked away by the rip. There was no time for thinking about the situation, I just screamed out for help. People on the jetty heard my call(s) and dispatched a small tinnie that had just tied up at the jetty steps. The little tinnie had a couple of fishermen in it when it reached me. I clung to the side of the little boat and they asked me if I could climb into it. "Not with my weightbelt and tank on" I replied. I shoved my camera into my catch bag and then I proceeded to remove my weightbelt (with the catch bag still attached to the belt). Two weights started to fall off of my belt, taking my catch bag with them. I watched in horror as my weights and catch bag complete with camera, slate and specimen collection jar sank to the bottom in the middle of the rip. I was in the process of handing my belt over to the fishermen and quite unable (or unwilling) to go after my bag. I probably removed my tank in a hurry and was helped into the boat. The boat returned me to the jetty steps where a small crowd may have gathered to witness my embarrassment. I stood there on the steps waiting for my former buddy whom I had left behind. When he finally returned to the steps he just said "What happened to you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost". I think that I indicated that I had, more or less. The report in my logbook starts off with the comment "Short dive only due to dramatic rescue". Although I have since returned to Penneshaw a couple of times, I’ve never been able to finish that dive that was cut short so dramatically. That same day I tried another dive close by but the seas were much too swirly for my liking. We had to leave the island on the ferry early the next morning. When we departed from the jetty the conditions were perfect for diving there and there was no sign of that rip. I could only dream about my camera, jar, catch bag, weights and slate (in that order) laying there on the bottom somewhere for someone to find later on. For a full report about my trip to the island back then see our May 1988 Newsletter (No.130).

And the name of Penneshaw? That is a combination of Pennefather and Shaw, a name selected by Governor Jervois in 1881/2. Penneshaw was surveyed by HL Beddome in 1881. Beddome had a Private Secretary called Pennefather. Shaw was a Miss FL Shaw who apparently used to call in on the Governor at Government House. I don’t know why though.

And the Penneshaw jetty? That was built in 1902 when it was called Hog Bay jetty. Well that’s the name of the bay. French explorer Nicolas Baudin left wild pigs there on the island in 1803. Henry Wallen kept pigs in the area in the 1820s and since then pigs used to mysteriously arrive at the spot. The jetty was extended further in 1908-9.

Steve Reynolds


MV Falie

Easter 2002

PART 2

Next morning saw us awake well rested and raring to go. The weather was fine, the wind had dropped and the sea had a slight swell but certainly an improvement on the previous day.

We breakfasted again on a feast of cereal, fruit juice, bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, toast, tea and coffee. Having filled our bellies it was back on deck to sort out the dive boats and gear. Again the crew did most of the manual labour as we just stood around or kitted up depending on which dive group you were in.

My group was first to go so we were busy getting ready. I was busy giving instructions to Kevin who had borrowed my Motormarine II camera. I was still getting used to my new Nikon F80 so taking two cameras with me was really out of the question. Kevin had a camera similar to mine but had flooded it just before the trip so he knew a little about underwater photography. Silly to lend my camera to someone I hardly knew some might say but I loaded the film and did all the camera maintenance myself so no mishaps would occurred. Actually it worked out very well as I had brought along plenty of film and Kevin managed to take some really good photos over the next six dives.

Having finished Kevin's instruction it was into the boat and off to the dive site. However yours truly was humbled as an experienced diver. In the rush to get into the water I didn’t hold onto my mask properly as I rolled out of the boat. It came off and was heading for the Davy Jones locker when I yelled out what had happened and a quick acting Steve managed to retrieve it, saving me further embarrassment. I guess the moral is that incidents can happen to anyone so make sure you do it right and don’t rush.

 Blue Groper

This dive was very similar to the previous dive but I still found plenty of subjects to photograph. About halfway through the dive I noticed a large male western blue groper was following me. He came close enough to touch and at about a metre and a half in length made a good photographic model. In appreciation of his modelling I decided to give him a treat. I prised of a large green lip abalone and fed it to him. He attacked it with such voracity that he ripped it out of my hand. As it fell to the seabed he attacked it again and you could hear this almighty thump as he tore the abalone meat out of the shell. This attracted a multitude of other fish and after a few minutes it was like bees around a honey pot. The main free loaders were blue throated and black spotted wrasse.

I left the feeding orgy and disappeared into the distance in pursuit of that one special photograph. That wasn’t achieved but for the rest of the dive I could hear this thump as the blue groper attacked the abalone. I was quite amazed at the noise it made and the distance the sound travelled.

Back on board Falie and after the diving/camera gear was cleaned and stowed, morning tea was served. While supping tea and coffee as well as eating hot scones straight from the galley we relaxed, chatted and waited for the next group of divers to depart and return. Once everyone was back on board we compared notes and experiences from the dive. By now the cray catchers had found light of day and those skilled in their use had returned with a few sizeable crays (lobsters). The larger ones were displayed to the assembled on lookers inspiring a few of the divers to improve their cray catching skills.

Lunch rapidly approached as all this activity continued so we made our way below decks to another culinary delight. Lunch was relaxed as we had plenty of time before the next dive. We probably could have fitted in three dives a day but it was a lot more relaxed and enjoyable without the rush.

During our free time most found plenty to do with checking gear, filling in log books, fishing, etc. A few of the divers had brought their fishing rods with them and tried their luck. No luck. Although it’s a great area for fishing they weren’t biting that day.

Lunch now suitably digested it was time for our dive group to kit up again. As there were only ten divers in the water at one time the two boats could adequately cover the area so we could pick and choose where we wanted to be dropped off. Kevin and I picked a dive site and the crew dropped us off. It proved the right choice.

We had been diving about ten minutes when a dark shadow appeared over us and being great white territory caused a flutter of the heart. We were diving in a gully and as we turned to see what it was we saw something disappearing into the distance. Then suddenly out of the blue appearing like an alien spacecraft heading straight for us was this ginormous ray. It passed us by about three times but in my haste to get some good photos I only observed it through the lens of a camera. We didn’t get any really good photos but when looking at the slides Kevin and I took it appears there were two different species of ray. One was a smooth ray and about two maybe two and a half metres across which is big for this species. The other was black ray and about one and a half to two metres across. The reason we didn't pick the two different species was that we both had our faces glued to our viewfinders and they disappeared as quickly as they appeared. Anyway it was the highlight of this dive. We continued on with the dive still excited at our experience. There was still plenty to photograph, so we continued until our air supply reached about 70 bar and made a slow assent with the obligatory five metre stop. The crew picked us up but we had to wait for the other two who had gone off in search of crays. Finally they surfaced and it was back to the Falie.

Showered, gear cleaned and our diving finished for the day we were allowed to partake of some alcoholic beverages served with some nachos with hot melted cheese straight from the galley. This was the life relaxing with a quiet drink, good food, a gentle sea breeze and the gentle rocking of the boat. We sat around chatting until the second group returned from their dive, then the activity began as the boats were loaded back on deck.

The plan was that we ready the ship and set sail for the northwest coast of Kangaroo Island however Murphy got in on the act and our plans went awry. The pump that pumps all the waste water had failed and the ship was heavy in the water. It was decided that this had to be repaired before we could set sail. To make things worse the access to the pump was in the dining room and with dinner rapidly approaching. What to do about eating? All credit to the chef, he managed to provide us with another magnificent three-course meal, which the crew served to us on deck. While we were stuffing our faces the engineer, skipper and first mate struggled with the pump.

Eventually they managed to do a temporary repair and we were under way. This delayed us a number of hours and instead of getting a good nights sleep at anchor it was thump, thump, thump of the diesel engine as we steamed off into the dark of the night.

Chris Hall

 


Applying Pain Theory In Fish Spine Envenomation

By David Muirhead

Part 1

The references listed will be given in the final part of this article.

Key words

Envenomation, first aid, injuries, toxins, pain, marine animals

Abstract

Personal experience of catfish spine envenomation leads the author to question the long-accepted heat-labile toxin denaturation hypothesis as explanation for the established and very effective first aid treatment using hot water immersion of the envenomed limb. An alternative hypothesis compatible with contemporary pain theory is proposed.

Pain hypotheses in current usage, including Gate Control theory and Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Control (DNIC) theory, have evolved substantially from observations that interference stimuli such as vibration, heat or cold, applied to the peripheral skin can induce pain relief at remote anatomical sites.

Have we overlooked the obvious in continuing to accept the hypothesis, entrenched in the diving medical community,1,2,3 that heat-labile properties offish spine toxins explain the well-documented analgesic effectiveness of hot water limb immersion in fish spine envenomation? A literature search has revealed a remarkable paucity of papers addressing this issue. Those that do, appear to assume that the proven heat lability of the few fish toxins so far analysed is the actual mechanism.

In April 2000, the author received a minor envenomation by an Estuary Catfish, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus, while snorkelling in an estuary south of Adelaide as described above.

As a South Australian coastal general practitioner, with occasional experience of treating mostly minor marine fish-spine injuries, I am familiar with the core first aid management using hot water (approx 46°C) immersion of the affected limb. I expected excellent pain relief as I placed my envenomed right forearm into a bucket of hot water, after first testing the water with my contralateral hand to avoid burns.

My confidence was vindicated, with almost instantaneous pain relief. But I was puzzled as to why, if the hot water was indeed inactivating the toxin, the pain would recur so promptly and at the same intensity upon removal of my arm from the hot water. I initially reasoned that until all the venom had been denatured, pain would continue, but this begged the question: why the dramatic pain relief within seconds of immersion in the first place? Perhaps the toxin is reversibly inactivated by heat? It might be capable of reconstitution with falling temperature, at least until persistent exposure to heat effects a more permanent decomposition, for example by allowing irreversible binding of component molecules to tissue substrate.

This explanation fails to address the fact that whilst both my puncture wound and those of patients I’d treated by hot water immersion were small in external appearance, there could be little doubt that the sting had penetrated to a depth of at least some millimetres into the soft tissues. Diving medical texts recommend that water used for pain relief be in the 45-50°C range, yet human tissues other than perhaps the dermis, necrose before reaching these temperatures.

It seems improbable that exposure of the cutaneous portion of a puncture wound to such temperature would be capable of raising more deeply embedded subcutaneous or intramuscular residuae to temperatures sufficient to inactivate toxin without also causing significant tissue necrosis to the full depth of the puncture wound. This would in itself be very painful and thus defeat the objective. Further, all the fish spine wounds Ive successfully treated by this method have been accompanied by sufficient localised oedema and serosanguinous ooze to make it unlikely in the first place that hot water could traverse the length of the puncture track, again discrediting this theory.

This article is reproduced by kind permission of:

South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) Journal Volume 32 No. 3 September 2002


After The Encounter

Part 4

By Steve Reynolds

Events were held on the next two days at Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island and at Carpenter Rocks in the south-east. The event on KI was at the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse. There were one-hour public tours of the light station in its 150th year with an encounter theme. Modified tours continued for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, two tall ships had left Port Adelaide to sail to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island for more events.

Lisette Flinders Petrie, Flinders’ great-great-grand-daughter, gave a lecture at Flinders University (named after Matthew Flinders) on 2nd April. It was titled "A Personal View of the Public Perception of Science since 1802". Flinders’ great-great-great nephew, Witgar Hitchcock, also gave a lecture titled "A Tropical Interlude: Matthew Flinders in Mauritius 1803 –1810".

At Carpenter Rocks on 2nd April there was a community celebration titled "A Tribute to Baudin". It was the official opening of a viewing platform to celebrate the starting point of Baudin’s entry into the uncharted waters of SA and his meeting with Flinders at Encounter Bay.

On Wednesday 3rd April there was the official opening of the Baudin and Lesueur Conservation Parks on the island by the Environment Minister, John Hill. Baudin Conservation Park is some 164ha adjoining Penneshaw. Cape Hart Conservation Park has had 300ha added to it and it has been renamed the Lesueur Conservation Park in memory of French artist Charles-Alexandre Lesueur.

Also on 3rd April, a 1:48 scale model of Flinders’ ship, Investigator, by David Prior was placed in the Penneshaw Maritime and Folk Museum. The fully-rigged model is made from timber and it is valued at $20,000. David built the model from the original set of plans owned by Adelaide’s Robert Sexton.

Other events at Penneshaw included the "Island Encounter – Nature-based" community lunch and entertainment, unveiling of a new plaque at Frenchman’s Rock and unveiling of the "Contemplation Seat". The "Seat" was made by sculptor Indiana James who carved it from red gum in recognition of the Aboriginal women taken to the island by sealers. The seat was placed near the beach at Hog Bay, Penneshaw. Schoolchildren presented framed botanical prints of local specimens at Frenchmans Rock.

The next day, in a joint ceremony, the author Anthony Brown and Anne Levy, the Honorary French consul, unveiled the sculpture of English convict girl Mary Beckworth at American Beach which was being renamed (changed to) Baudin Beach (and Bay).

 Le Geographe and Le Naturaliste

Mary Beckworth had been mistress to Baudin on board the Geographe. She is believed to have been the first European woman to set foot on SA soil. For further reading on this topic try to obtain a copy of Anthony Brown’s paper "The Captain and The Convict Maid – A chapter in the life of Nicolas Baudin", 1988.

The memorial sculpture of Mary Beckworth at Baudin Beach was done by sculptor Deborah Sleeman. The upper section of the sculpture symbolises the sails and winds of fate that brought Mary and others to the island before official settlement. The second section, the skirt, represents Mary herself and the forgotten women of the island.

Later that day Mount Thisby was renamed (re-affirmed, changed back to) Prospect Hill and interpretive signage on Encounter Walkway was launched. Prospect Hill is a huge dune that received its name from Matthew Flinders. The Encounter Walkway follows the path that Flinders took from Pelican Lagoon to the base of Prospect Hill.

Meanwhile, the ships One and All and Enterprize had sailed on to Marina St Vincent in Yankalilla Bay at Second Valley. Some 600 schoolchildren from the Fleurieu Peninsula visited the ships and participated in various activities. The tall ships were open to the public as part of "Experience the Encounter". There were interactive workshops on a maritime theme depicting the cultural, scientific and heritage links. There were also cultural performances and cuisine highlighting British, French and Aboriginal Australian cultures.

Australia Post released a joint stamp issue regarding the encounter between Flinders and Baudin on 4th April. Details are in the Australian Stamp Bulletin No.264, March-May 2002.


Incidental bycatch: seahorse relatives help focus attention on fisheries issues

Pipehorses, large relatives of seahorses, are acting as a promising test case for issues surrounding incidental bycatch in Australia. New management measures announced by the government in July offer potential for discovering and addressing conservation problems that may result from this exploitation.

Pipehorses (genus Solegnathus) are beautiful, graceful marine fishes that we know very little about. Like seahorses, they have prehensile tails without fins that they use to anchor themselves to objects. However, their heads are in line with their bodies like pipefishes – hence their common name. They are the largest members of their family, growing to over 50 cm in total length. They generally live in deep water (>40 m) and are only rarely encountered by divers.

Two species are caught during prawn and fish trawling operations off the Queensland coast. They are dried, accumulated, and exported to Hong Kong, China and Taiwan for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Pipehorses, along with seahorses, pipefish and seadragons became protected marine species in Australia in 1998 following concerns over their global trade. Thereafter, their exploitation had to be assessed for sustainability by Australian authorities in order to gain an export licence.

Environment Australia has been consulting with non-governmental organizations and fisheries management authorities on how to ensure persistence of wild pipehorse populations under pressure from trawling. This process involves assessing management plans against sustainability criteria with input from stakeholder groups. The end result is a promising move towards dealing with this difficult global issue.

The export permit granted by Environment Australia uses a common sense approach that address bycatch concerns yet is acceptable to fishers and resource managers. Whilst fishers are allowed to retain and export pipehorses, five significant conditions are attached to the permit: data recording of catches by species, fisheries-independent surveys, implementation of an observer programme, identification of measures to reduce bycatch and a full review of existing information. Reports on compliance with the conditions have to be submitted annually. By July 2005, the end of the permit period, a risk analysis of the vulnerability of pipehorses has to be completed. Further export of pipehorses will be contingent on satisfactory performance at each stage.

The full terms and conditions are available at http://www.ea.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/assessment/qld/syngnathid/index.html

The long-term solution to bycatch is to phase out the use of fishing gears that are indiscriminate in what they catch. Pipehorses are among the thousands of species worldwide caught inadvertently, without management plans or population assessment. In their case, however, there is some prospect of future management. The integrated approach in Australia is a step in the right direction.

 Pipehorse

Keith Martin-Smith

Research Fellow, Project Seahorse, University of Tasmania

This article appeared in the Summer 2003 edition of the of the MCCN, Waves Newsletter, Volume 9, No. 2 .


 

 

 

 

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