Pacific Oyster Clean-Up Day - 28 June 2008
There are two happenings with respect to the Oyster Cleanup:
1. A training day on Wednesday 18 June, 10:30am start, at the Narooma Sports and Game Fishing Club, 26 Riverside Dr, Narooma; and
2. A work day in Wagonga Inlet (Narooma), date and time TBA, but probably Saturday 28 June.
The plan for the work day is to kill pacific oysters at low tide, and have a look for the green shore crab and the algae Caulerpa taxifolia, which are introduced pests. The training day will aid with identification of all 3 species, as well as practice in exterminating the oysters.
Equipment required is gumboots and a spear (!) You read that correctly: something about the length of a walking stick, but with a sharp point; eg. sharpened steel rod. Don't worry if you can't produce a spear, as there will be some provided. I'm assured it's easier on your back to kill them by poking a hole in them with a spear, rather than trying to collect them or use a knife...
The work day is intended to be fun. Transport to target areas will be via oyster punts, BBQ stuff will be provided etc. It's a big do, involving Southern Rivers CMA staff, Wagonga Rangers, oyster farmers, DPI Fisheries & possibly even the Navy (& of course NCMG and Coastwatchers members).
There is also a role for some scuba divers (but probably not snorkelers) on the work day, to collect pacific oysters at high tide under old oyster stick culture racks. Diving would be no more than about 3m depth, and viz. should be OK at high tide.
If any of you are keen fishers, I am reliably informed that after we have been spearing oysters, all the remains act as an amazing berley, which brings the fish in as the tide rises...so you might do OK (especially with pacific oyster bait)!
There will be a free BBQ at some point during the day. Minimum time commitment is probably 3 hours.
For scuba divers there is the possibility of a social dive on a barge wreck in about 15m, in addition to the one or two shallow dives to collect large pacific oysters under some oyster stick cultures. An all day commitment is probably appropriate though. Air fills may be reimbursed. Likely viz. guesstimated at 2-5m.