The Nature Coast Marine Group held its third Annual General Meeting in September. The Eurobodalla-based organisation focuses on promoting better conservation of our marine environment through education and activities. From small beginnings, the Group has gone from strength to strength and now has over 160 members.
The outgoing executive reported on a busy schedule of activities over the past twelve months, which has included rock shelf walks, coast walks, snorkelling trips, snorkelling and scuba diving outings, canoe/kayak trips, research work undertaken by snorkers and divers, assistance with schools outings and talks for members on marine subjects. A highlight has been the establishment of the NCMG website, which provides an information resource on marine subjects for Eurobodalla residents and other interested people.
Members at the AGM elected a new executive, consisting of Jenny Edwards (President), Bill Barker (Vice-President), Nick Blackman (Secretary), Melanie White (Treasurer), Jock Howe (Webmaster) and Andrew Green and Rachel McInnes. This team will guide the Group’s activities for the next twelve months.
The meeting concluded with an entertaining presentation by Bill Barker on ‘Marine Life of the Batemans Marine Park’, illustrated with numerous photographs taken in local waters. The presentation was aimed at helping members identify the wide range of creatures found in our area, most of which can be seen by snorkelers as well as divers and some of which can even be found in rock pools.
The presentation included information about the variety of habitats along our coast and some of the threats they face. Marine life featured varied from sharks and rays to seahorses, solitary reef-dwellers to schooling fish of the open water and included the colourful invertebrates that puzzle observers or are often overlooked.
