Marine Life Society of
South Australia Inc.
Newsletter
February 2009 No. 362
“understanding,
enjoying & caring for our oceans”
Next Meeting
The next General Meeting will be held on Tuesday
the 17th February.
This will be held at the Adventure Blue
clubrooms on the Patawalonga frontage at 8.00pm. Please enter via the
stairs at the side of the building. If you cannot find us on the night then
phone me on 0407395566 and I will give you directions.
Our speaker will be MLSSA member Neville Skinner. Neville
will present the video showing two Australian snorkelling videographers, Mark
Priest and Rob Torelli, who dive to impressive depths to get eye-to-eye footage
of various shark species including the Great White.
50 mins duration.
This was the video that could not be shown in September due to lack of time –
do not miss!
CONTENTS
Email received
“SARDI
Reef Health Education Package” (Alex Gaut)
The Protection of Ewens Ponds (Neville Skinner)
2009 Calendar
We have almost sold out, I have about 10 left and
just had a request for some copies. Looks like another good year.
Apologies for the 29th
missing from January and the extra 31st in April. We did correct these but the corrected file was somehow not used by the
printers.
This email arrived recently
and it was agreed by the Committee that we take part. We considered it a great
honour for the Society and also for the site creators, Ralph Richardson and
Danny Gibbins.
Dear MLSSA,
The State Library of South Australia has entered a
partnership with the National Library of Australia, and is responsible for
identifying South Australian web sites for preservation and will archive the
titles, using appropriate 'gathering' software, onto the National Library's
PANDORA Archive (Preserving and Accessing Networked Documentary Resources of
Australia).
The National Library of Australia aims to build a
comprehensive collection of Australian publications to ensure that Australians
have access to their documentary heritage now and in the future. The
National Library and Australian State Libraries have traditionally collected
items in print, but are also committed to preserving electronic publications of
lasting cultural value.
We would like to include http://www.mlssa.asn.au/ in the PANDORA
Archive and I would be grateful if you would let me know whether you are
willing to permit us to do so, that is, grant us licence under the Copyright
Act 1968, to copy your publication into the Archive and to provide public
access to it via the Web.
A small form is provided at the end of this
message for your convenience. It would be greatly appreciated if you could
complete it and send it back to me.
The PANDORA Archive was set up by the Library in
1996 to enable the archiving and provision of long-term access to online
Australian publications. Since then we have been identifying online
publications and archiving those that we consider have national significance.
Additional information about PANDORA can be found on the Library's server at:
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/index.html
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to
contact me, Joanne Hocking, by telephone on 08 8207 7281 or by email at hocking.joanne@slsa.sa.gov.au.
Yours sincerely,
Joanne Hocking
Heritage Collection
Development Officer
State Library of South
Australia
“SARDI Reef Health
Education Package”
by Alex Gaut
As some of you
would be aware, SARDI Aquatic Sciences managed a large research project called
‘Reef Health’, which has now finished. It was research directed at a
greater understanding of South Australian temperate reefs and involved Reef
Watch as well as a large number of significant stakeholders such as the
Department for Environment and Heritage, SA Water, the Environment Protection
Authority and many more. As part of the project they planned to undertake
some kind of educational project, so in 2006 I was contracted to develop a
teaching resource about temperate reefs.
The resource was
finished in 2007 and although a number of teacher workshops were held around
South Australia, the resource was never produced to be widely disseminated to
teachers. Currently Reef Watch volunteers are reformatting it for upload
to a new website, but this is going to take a long time and in the meantime is
not accessible by teachers. So, late in 2008, with both SARDI and MLSSA’s
permissions I applied for a small grant from the Adelaide and Mount Lofty
Ranges Natural Resources Management Board to produce the resource as a CD that
will be distributed to all South Australian schools.
The package
contains information and suggested activities for students from primary to
senior years, including a large number of photographs of South Australian
marine life, kindly donated by eight photographers. The package also
includes files with real data from research papers, and some references for use
with some of the activities.
Topics include:
1. Introducing and
exploring reefs
a. What is a temperate reef? (including powerpoint ‘What does a temperate reef look
like?’)
b. Reef ecology
c. Classification & biology
2. Temperate reefs
and humans
a. Why reefs are important
b. How we affect reefs
3. Protecting
temperate reefs
a. Marine environmental management
b. What can you & your school do to help reefs?
The resource also
contains information about links to the state curriculum framework, to help
teachers see the links. Activities range from maths and science, to
English, arts and field trip suggestions. There are lots of resources such
as websites and suggested books for different level students and for the
teachers.
I will be giving a
demonstration of the resource at the April MLSSA meeting. Thank you to
MLSSA for kindly agreeing to administer the grant.
by Neville Skinner
We have heard much
in recent years about the poor state of one of South Australia’s key icons
Ewens Ponds, and several of us have dived there and witnessed first-hand the
problem involving algal bloom in the Ponds.
Past articles have
been written in this newsletter on the subject, and these have expressed
concern over the management of the Ponds with respect to the level of nutrients
getting into the system, coupled with a decrease in the flow of water through
the system, presumably caused by the excessive removal of ground water for
irrigation that exceeds the input of water into the system. This leads to a
decrease in the head of pressure from the aquifer that feeds Ewens Ponds.
On Sunday 22nd
January 2006, I dived in Ewens Ponds for the purpose of monitoring the
condition of both the Ponds and Eight Mile Creek, following a short-lived
embargo on the dredging of the creek.
The following are a few of the
photos that I recorded that day:
This photo was taken in Pond 1
in that area where the water is often seen aggressively boiling up through the
limestone particles. On this day there was visually no water flow, and no
particulate limestone matter was evident in the water.
These two photos, taken in the
channel from Pond 1 to Pond 2, show the water clarity in this part of the
system was murky and the aquatic vegetation was suffering immensely from algae that was smothering the plants. The poor water clarity
was not caused by divers, but by algae present in the water.
Upon entering Pond
2, I was shocked at what I saw – visibility had rapidly dropped to less than 5
metres in places, and the water had become quite dark, reminding me of pea
soup. The darkness was like I had suddenly gone from diving in the sun at
midday, to diving at dusk. The alga that was floating on the surface was
forming large clusters, then falling to the bottom.
This was not a pleasant experience.
Blue-green (or
Black) algae are microscopic single-celled forms of plant life that are always
present in the environment and are usually carried to the water by winds and
rain (including run-off). They thrive in the presence of nutrients such as
phosphorus and nitrogen, and warm shallow water. Thus, in hot weather the algae
forms on the surface where the water temperature is at its warmest, and with
sufficient levels of nutrients, bloom into large clusters. This may also
explain why the thickest algal scum is often found at the base of the entry
jetty in Pond 1. These clusters eventually fall to the bottom where they die,
and it is when this happens that the toxins that are contained within the cell
walls of the blue-green algae are released and the water can become toxic.
Ideal conditions
for blue-green algal blooms are when temperatures are above 25oC, the
pH is between 7.5 - 9.0, and the nutrients Nitrogen,
Phosphorus, Zinc & Iron are present in the water.
A month later (Saturday 25th
February 2006) I went back with MLSSA member Steve Reynolds and recorded the
following images:
It can be seen in this photo
that although the water clarity is returning, the algal bloom has been
devastating for the aquatic vegetation that is now rotting in the water.
Taken in Pond 2,
Steve Reynolds can barely be seen from 20 metres away, and the alga can be seen
totally smothering the floor of Pond 2, which is a relatively shallow Pond and
should be home to healthy aquatic vegetation.
So, when the Dept
for Environment and Heritage released a new management plan for Ewens Ponds,
which suggested that divers disturbing the silt on the bottom was “contributing
to the loss of vegetation in the ponds”, MLSSA felt it was necessary to present
a submission challenging this suggestion.
In this submission
to DEH last December, MLSSA said:
“Dear Mr Irving,
Re: ‘Department
for Environment and Heritage (2008) Ewens Ponds Conservation Park Management
Plan Amendment - Draft, Adelaide, South Australia’.
Thank you for
giving the Marine Life Society of South Australia (MLSSA) the opportunity to
respond to the Ewens Ponds Conservation Park Draft Management Plan and to offer
constructive input into the process.
The Marine Life
Society of South Australia has always had an interest in Ewens Ponds and its
associated Eight Mile Creek because of our concerns for the aquatic vegetation,
crustaceans and the rare and threatened native fish species that inhabit that
ecosystem, all of which we believe are under threat from the effects of
(blue-green) algal bloom. We believe the algal blooms to be caused by increased
water temperatures, reduced water flows and nutrients entering the system from
adjacent farmlands. While little can be done about the first two contributing
factors that are natural functions of the climate in which they are contained,
we believe there are control measures that can be put into place to control
nutrients entering the system.
MLSSA would like to
see a 100m Buffer Zone around the Ponds with appropriate native vegetation to
absorb the nutrients from stormwater run-off from neighbouring farmland.
However, this draft
for comment specifically calls for comment on clause 3.2 only. This appears
designed to actively discourage comment on inter-dependant activities
that we believe should be discussed in conjunction with ‘Visitor Management’.
We believe clauses 3.1 ‘Nature Conservation’, 3.3 ‘Pest Plants & Animals’
and 3.4 ‘Other Uses’ should have been included for comment.
Your proposed
wording, with reference to swimming, diving and snorkelling, “The need to
closely manage recreational use has arisen in response to a number of negative
impacts these activities are having on the natural ecosystem” suggests it is
recreational use alone that is the cause of the current problems with Ewens
Ponds.
We do not agree
with this suggestion.
Ewens Ponds is a
world-renowned tourist icon and habitat for several of Australia’s threatened
native fish and is currently under threat, not from divers, but from the algal
blooms that are suffocating the aquatic vegetation and severely impacting on
the water quality.
We do not believe
this is caused by divers.
The
opening paragraph states: “The long-term vision for Ewens Ponds Conservation
Park is to conserve its natural resources”, but nowhere do we see any mention
or recognition of the impact of droughts, of excessive pumping of water from
the aquifer for irrigation purposes, or of nutrients entering the system from
adjacent dairy farming, on this delicate system. This appears to be a significant oversight.
On their website (http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/eight_mile_archive.html)
the EPA clearly state:
“In Eight Mile
creek, the total nitrogen is mainly in the form of soluble oxidised nitrogen.
Elevated oxidised nitrogen could lead to excessive algal growth, particularly
during warmer months. The poor nutrient results for the recent samples are
consistent with previous results (see graphs below). The amount of nitrogen can
be increased as a result of fertilisers, animal wastes or wastewater
infiltrating the groundwater in the region that is the source of this creek.
Extended dry conditions and excessive irrigation practices could also increase
nitrogen concentrations in the creek. The EPA is involved in a project at Ewens
Ponds and Eight Mile Creek which aims to assess the causes of this problem.”
"The amount of
nitrogen can be increased as a result of fertilisers, animal wastes or
wastewater infiltrating the groundwater that is the source of this creek.
Nitrogen may also come from farms during storms. The poor nutrient results for
the recent samples are consistent with previous results."
We believe that
Section 3.2 should more accurately state in the opening paragraph:
The aquatic
vegetation in Ewens Ponds has greatly deteriorated because of a decrease in
water flow through the system and an increase in the dissolved oxidised
Nitrogen. This has resulted in the
occasional outbreak of blue-green algae, which has decreased sunlight
penetration causing die-back of aquatic vegetation.
On a visit to Ewens
Ponds 12 months ago, I almost stepped in cow excrement within the visitor’s
car-park, immediately adjacent to the path leading to the jetty.
MLSSA believes
improved fencing around the Park and a grid at the vehicle entry point to the
Park should be a high priority.
The current Ewens
Ponds Conservation Park Draft Management Plan (Amendment to Plan of Management,
1999) states:
“At present
however, there is minimal management in place to control the activities of
divers and snorkellers. DEHAA is currently preparing a permit system in
consultation with key stakeholders for managing the scuba diving and
snorkelling activities in Ewens Ponds.
This permit system
will include an annual and daily permit arrangement for both snorkelling and
scuba diving.”
MLSSA supports a
permit system for divers and snorkellers because it:
Limits the number
of people in the water at any one time
Identifies
individuals using the system at any given time or date
Allows recording of
the number and type of people using the Ponds
Provides visibility to Park
Rangers as to who is authorised to be in the ponds at any time.
We cannot
understand why this permit system was not introduced as previously promised,
and yet it is now proposed to ban divers entirely from the ponds.
We believe the presence of
divers to date has been critical in reporting issues such as the outbreak of
algal blooms to the appropriate authorities, as well as photographically
recording the number and types of species in the Ponds, whether it is for
personal pleasure or for the purpose of writing books or presenting papers on
the subject.
It seems to us that
to ban divers is akin to shooting the messenger.
Our Sponsor, and
well-known marine scientist, Dr. Scoresby Shepherd has reported it has been his
observation in the ocean over the years that divers and snorkellers do most
damage when initially getting into the water and while adjusting their
buoyancy; after that they are okay.
Dr. Shepherd
believes a system of entry that assists both snorkellers and divers to start
their dive in the ponds without touching the bottom should be considered.
MLSSA supports the
view that a Stainless Steel grate that is raised 15 - 30cm off the bottom
and placed directly below the front of the entry landing to a distance of about
3m out from the jetty will protect the Ponds from disturbance caused by the
divers and snorkellers feet/fins. It will also provide divers the
opportunity to get their buoyancy correct and snorkellers the opportunity to
lift their fins off the floor of the Pond before swimming off the end of the
grating.
A nearby sign
explaining the purpose of the grating should be installed to warn divers and
snorkellers, and threaten with disciplinary action if they are found to be
disturbing the bottom at any time during their dive.
MLSSA agrees with
the two ‘Objectives’ as outlined in the Plan.
MLSSA believes
the Ponds should be available for diving and snorkelling only, under a permit
system. We agree with the banning of swimming in the Ponds.
MLSSA agrees with the prohibition of the use of inappropriate recreational
equipment as outlined, but feels the
banning of alcohol within the Park should also be included.
MLSSA agrees with the two strategies to investigate
the development of interpretive infrastructure that will promote an
appreciation and understanding of the park’s natural values, and to liaise with
the Department for Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) and
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) regarding the water quality and quantity
of the ponds.
MLSSA does not
agree that it should be necessary to close the ponds for restoration and
rehabilitation; it should be possible to restore and rehabilitate the ponds
under a permit system.
And we believe that
clause 3.2 of the management plan should include provision for the permit
system to be made accessible to overseas tourists through the use of the
worldwide web and/or the email system.
We
trust that our ideas will be seriously considered and would be pleased to see
the final draft once it becomes available.
Thanking
you.
Yours sincerely
Neville Skinner
Secretary, Marine Life Society
of South Australia”
**************************************************************************
MLSSA feels that
unless Government agencies are totally honest about that the real cause(s) of
the environmental problems that face us today, and have the courage and
fortitude to address these issues, and promptly, then we risk losing these
magnificent heritage icons forever.
In the face of
Global Warming, time is running out for both Ewens and Piccaninnie Ponds. The
Government must act now to install a buffer zone of trees around Ewens Ponds
that will remove some of these nutrients that seep through the peat into the
ponds, while providing shade that may also assist in lowering the water
temperature by providing shade from the sun.
It is well recorded
(refer photographs, Mortlock Library of SA) that this area was once overrun by
ti-trees, that towered 5-7 metres high and so thick they were impenetrable.
Surely a wall of
ti-tree could be established down the western side of the ponds and Eight Mile
creek?
Banning divers will not remedy
the problems with Ewens Ponds.
Photo
taken 27th Dec 2000, showing diver departing Pond 1 to enter the
channel to go to Pond 2. This was my first dive of Ewens Ponds, and I could
not believe the stunning beauty of this place.
Compare the health of this
system with recent photos of the ponds, and one can see how the decline of the
system has coincided with dropping water levels caused by the drought
and irrigation practices, increased surface temperatures caused by
global warming and reduced flows, and rising nutrient levels caused by
dairy farming too close to the ponds and current irrigation practices (ie.
irrigated nutrients).
KANGAROO ISLAND
PENGUIN CENTRE
KINGSCOTE WHARF.
P.O. BOX 536,
KINGSCOTE. K.I. SA 5223 PH: 08)8553 3112
FX: 08)8553 3025
OPEN EVERY EVENING
TOURS TAKE 1
HOUR AND INCLUDE OUR GUIDES FEEDING SOME OF THE SEACREATURES IN OUR SALTWATER
AQUARIUMS FOLLOWED BY A TORCHLIT FORESHORE WALK AMONGST KINGSCOTE’S LITTLE
PENGUIN COLONY WHERE ON DARK NIGHTS WE LOOK AT THE EVENING STARS.
IN BETWEEN THE TOURS THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE AQUARIUMS ONLY at $2.00 EACH.
TOURS & OPENING HOURS
(times change during the year due to
daylight saving)
Opening Hours: April, May, June, July, August, September.
7.00 pm. Tours: 7.30 pm & 8.30 pm
Opening Hours: Early October, November, February, March.
8.00 pm. Tours: 8.30 pm & 9.30 pm.
Opening Hours: November, December.
8.15. pm.
Tours: 8.45 pm & 9.30 pm
PRICES
to 1/4/09
Adults:
$15.00
Child: $ 6.00 (3 years old to 14 years inclusive)
Family: $36.00 (2 adults & 2 children, extra child $3.00)
Concession/Student: $13.00
(must show card)
PELICAN FEEDING
5.00 PM EVERYDAY AT THE KINGSCOTE WHARF.
A popular lively & informative talk at the water’s edge at a
cost of $3.00 per person.