As part of its mission to inform the community about the local marine environment, the Nature Coast Marine Group invited the Manager of the Batemans Marine Park, Dr Brendan Kelaher, to address members on Friday, 8 February about the Batemans Marine Park and marine parks generally.
“It was particularly pleasing to hear from Dr Kelaher that his rangers have noticed how generally well-received the park is with both locals and tourists, even at this early stage of its implementation,” NCMG President, Andrew Green, said.
“This complements recent media reports that local businesses have had a bumper holiday season, despite the dire predictions of the anti-marine park lobby,” Mr Green said.
“It seems that our nature coast becomes even more attractive as a tourist destination now that some of its marine features are protected,” he said.
NCMG is working with Dr Kelaher and another marine biologist, Dr Melinda Coleman, from the University of NSW, to develop a survey methodology for snorkelers to collect data at selected sites in Batemans Marine Park, in keeping with another of its aims to carry out and facilitate research into the marine environment.
“Scuba-diving scientists from the University of Tasmania and other researchers are already monitoring the effects of sanctuary zones in the Jervis Bay and Batemans Marine Parks,” Mr Green said.
“Two of our members are involved in the University of Tasmania program as volunteers.”
“But there is always a need for more data, in part due to the high cost of marine research, and volunteer snorkelers can collect useable data from shallow, accessible areas of the park, under appropriate scientific supervision,” he said.
“In fact, the NCMG is morphing from a marine conservation lobby group, to a more active group with an interesting mix of marine-related activities for members, including snorkeling and guided intertidal rock platform excursions,” said Mr Green.
“We must be tapping a thirst for knowledge about the marine environment, because membership is booming!” he said.
The NCMG executive also met recently with well-known diver and marine conservation lobbyist, Val Taylor.
Ms Taylor said that many critics of marine parks had never seen for themselves what lies below the ocean surface.
She knew from her 50 years diving experience that there has been a serious decline in the number and variety of marine species, and said that marine parks were an important mechanism to promote the health of our marine environment.