Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society and the Surfrider partner in Marine Debris project

Convenience and one-time use packaging has made the amount of garbage that we dispose of skyrocket, and more and more rubbish ends up as litter, a huge amount of it ending up in streams, rivers and the ocean. This marine debris is not only a huge eyesore, but is a threat to our marine environment and everything that lives in it.

1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die a horrifying death every year through ingesting or being entangled in discarded rubbish which floats around our oceans or ends up on our beaches. It is estimated that in every square mile of ocean you’ll find more than 46,000 pieces of rubbish floating around, and that plastics are the most common man-made object sighted at sea. Now let’s look at plastics which can take up to 600 years to break down into a fine plastic powder and the state of our oceans becomes clear – a sea of plastic!

Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society and the Surfrider Foundation have joined forces to help clean up our oceans with the Marine Debris Project. Inviting everyone that loves to spend time along our coast to put aside a little time each month to monitor their beach for marine debris, fill out a data sheet on what was found and submit it to Tangaroa Blue. All data is collated and used to identify the most commonly found items which are then targeted and proactive ways for preventing them from ending up in the ocean in the first place are researched.

The Marine Debris Project started in 2004, and since then more than 1000 volunteers have removed over 300,000 pieces of rubbish from the Australian and New Zealand coastline helping to protect our marine life and seabirds. To help just visit www.oceancare.org.au and register or email heidi@tangaroablue.com. You can then download the Data Collection form and submit your monthly haul of marine debris online.

Help Protect Our Oceans!!!

Save Mays Point from Alien Attack!

Mercury, June 27, 2009

Surfrider and Friends of Mays Point would like to extend “many thanks” to all the early risers that made it to Inside Mays on Saturday (especially those that didn’t let Friday Night antics stop them from having a dig). The Early start was crucial, as the low tide is the best time to attack the Northern Pacific Sea Stars. While there was only a small crew of us, we still managed to remove over 60 kg of invasive and destructive marine pests. Many of the Alien Stars were actively consuming endemic gastropods (snails) and echinoderms (endemic star fish) when they were removed from the rocks – underlining the importance of getting them off out points! Unfortunately we only managed to sweep half of the point at Inside Mays before the tide beat us. If we had a few more willing hands I am sure we could have easily removed all stars from the inside point.

We are planning to get back down to the points and get rid of the rest of the unwelcome pests. So, if you love the waves and shoreline of Mays Point and you are keen to help, then keep an eye on the lowest tides in the coming months and get in touch with me directly or through Surfrider Tasmania.

Yours in Surfing
Jimmy

Hands up all who enjoy the Wonderful Waves and Views of the Mays Point stretch!
Can you volunteer one hour of your Saturday morning to help protect these hallowed breaks from a biological attack?

Did you know that this stretch of coast, along with other parts of Fredrick Henry Bay, is being rapidly colonized by aliens!

The North Pacific Sea Star (NPSS) has landed and is attacking the Points!  They are eating all the food and hogging the environment that belongs to the natives. Are we going to stand back and let it happen?  NO WAY!  Now is the time to act.  Winter is the spawning time, a time when colonies begin to establish themselves.  If we can clear out these relatively new populations now, we can prevent them from really overrunning the natural ecology associated with this Pearl of Southern Tasmanian Surfing!  There is no need to be a Surfrider member or a surfer – all lovers of Mays point are welcome! We have been permitted to attack the alien invasion by the Marine Farming Unit of DPIW.

What do these aliens look like?
Checkout this link to know your enemy!

And the good guys are worth protecting …

So how can you help?
The Southern Tasmanian Chapter of Surfrider is planning to mount a pre dawn attack on the NPSS population at Inside Mays Point on Saturday Morning June 27th 2009!

“Why So Early?”  I hear you cry!
The greatest Low tide for the weekend (0.28) is at 0627 on Saturday morning.  We plan to walk and wade up the point, dragging surfboards and bags so we can clear NPSS from the cobbles down to a depth of about 1 meter.  We encourage those Lovers of the long walls and Barrels of Mays to come along and help out.
Come and find the Dell Brothers (Matt and Jim; You’ll recognise us for sure) at Mays Car park at 7 am and we’ll walk over to Inside Mays for Sunrise, get into the Wetties and spend an hour getting as many Aliens off the Beaches as we can.  If you are a bit late, just come down to the point when you can – we could do with a hand bringing the Bounty back to the car park.

What to Bring?
•    Bring winter steamers, boots and gloves! (no shame in wearing washing up gloves to keep you hands warm!  I’ll definitely be wearing them).
•    Be sure to make yourself known to the Dell Brothers on arrival (I’ll be the one dragging the big blue and red Longboard!)
•    Those without good suits are also welcome.  Just Rug up and bring your Gummies and you can form the shore team!
•    Bring a Thermos and some breakfast treats for a post cleanup snack.
•    And your Froth Head – might be some waves around after we are done!  Perhaps not at the points, but I hear there are some good banks around if you are in the know!

If you are keen contact Jimmy on 0427 32 5182 or james.t.dell@gmail.com

Shock And Dismay Over Bastion Point Decision

Victorian Minister for Planning, Justin Madden MP, has rejected the findings of the Government’s own Independent Panel Inquiry, and approved a plan to construct a large breakwater and boat ramp at Bastion Point, on the east coast of Victoria.

By granting consent to the East Gippsland Shire to proceed with this project, the Minister has ignored advice from within government and gone against the wishes of the majority of the community.

The Independent Panel Inquiry found that there were significant problems with all of the proposed breakwater options. The Panel report cited serious concerns with safety, a poor economic argument, concerns over the long-term viability of the proposal, and the likelihood that the development would be a net detriment to Mallacoota’s tourism potential. The Panel concluded that the proposal offered no significant societal benefit, and that an upgrade of the existing facility was their preferred alternative.

The Independent Panel Report states the following: Weighing up all the different issues and considerations for ocean access at Mallacoota, the Panel has concluded that on balance the development proposals should not proceed. The economic case for the project is very weak and likely to have a benefit cost ratio well below 1.

“The Minister has disregarded the fact that Bastion Point is unique coastal environment. The beauty of Bastion is it’s pristine environment. When you’re out in the surf and looking back to the land, the view looks like it’s been the same for a thousand years. That’s what makes it so special. Now the Point is going to be just another concreted piece of the coastline,” said Tim Frazer, Secretary of the East Gippsland Chapter of Surfrider Foundation.

Mallacoota’s pristine foreshore is registered by the National Trust of Australia for the important aesthetic, historic, scientific, social and spiritual values it has. The proposal will result in the removal of 3000m3 of natural rocky reef and the importation of many thousands of tonnes of rock and concrete to construct a 130-metre long breakwater, and a major road upgrade along a coastal headland will irreversibly damage the area and its scenic and environmental values.

“The loss of the surf break at Bastion Point will have far reaching consequences for the local community,” said Mr Frazer. “More people surf in Bastion Point than participate in any other sport. Bastion Point is the only break within an easy walking distance of town. This will be an incredible loss for the kids in Mallacoota. It’s bad enough that team sports have suffered in recent years due to population change in the town, we really need to hold onto this surf break for the youth,” said Mr Frazer.

“Despite the high level of importance that surfing and the surf lifestyle has for Mallacoota, the Minister has unilaterally ignored the concerns of his own independent inquiry. He may understand a football field but he has no clue on watersports and beaches,” said Dr Rex Campbell, Director of Surfrider Foundation Australia.

“The approval for the project means that a surf break will be ruined plus the construction of a high breakwater, the removal of large sections of the natural reef system and the introduction of a sand bypassing system is a recipe for disaster,”

“The best way you can value add to a natural environment is by keeping it natural. This is what keeps visitors coming back to beautiful places like Mallacoota that could sensibly accommodate both boaties and surfers needs, as proposed by the Panel to the Minister, but now rejected. High quality surf breaks are incredibly rare and should be protected at all costs. Surf breaks are important economic, social and cultural assets for local communities and the tourism sector and should not be sacrificed,” said Dr Campbell.

There are a number of other locations where the intermixing of swimmers, surfers, recreational and commercial boating has been addressed through managed solutions, including The Pass, at Byron Bay.

It’s not too late for the Government to take its own advice and do the right thing and agree with the Independent Panel’s recommendation for a low-key upgrade at the existing site,” said Mr Frazer.

For more information:

Tim Frazer: 0407 580 341

Dr Rex Campbell 0423 889 899

www.savebastionpoint.org