Fish Survey Begins Off Ulladulla

May 15, 2008

Release from: Milton Ulladulla Times (Australia)

A team of volunteer divers has started a survey of marine fish in the Ulladulla region.

The divers spent a day in the water on Saturday training to become part of the National Parks Association's CoastKeepers Fish Survey program.

"Ulladulla makes a great addition to the CoastKeepers Fish Survey project," NPA's CoastKeepers coordinator said this week.

"We have Fish Survey groups from Coffs Harbour to Narooma, but this will be the first time the Ulladulla coast has been surveyed as part of this project."

Mr Roe said CoastKeepers Fish Surveys monitor population size and distribution of 50 NSW marine fish including sharks, stingarees and moray eels.

CoastKeepers forwards the data to marine managers who use it to track changes to fish populations.

"Divers are great at gathering this sort of data as they are familiar with their local waters and are the people most likely to see changes in fish populations," Mr Roe said.

"In this way local dive groups are using their dive skills to help care for the NSW marine environment."

Saturday's training course was undertaken at Bawley Point which Mr Roe described as an excellent location.

"The conditions on Saturday were perfect with undoubtedl;y the best in-water visibility I have seen in New South Wales," he told the Times this week.

"We found many of the target species in good numbers in addition to many other fish not in our survey," Mr Roe said.

"Bawley Point is a top dive location and I will recommend it to any diver looking for a great dive."

CoastKeepers builds on the huge success of HarbourKeepers, the community volunteer program that offers regular activities to protect, restore and explore Sydney Harbour.

"CoastKeepers dive groups also complete underwater clean up dives and aquatic weed monitoring whilst land-based volunteers can join activities such as bush regeneration, foreshore clean ups and educational events," Mr Roe said.

"We are looking for existing groups as well as individuals to join CoastKeepers. CoastKeepers offers diverse ways for the community to contribute to conserving the NSW coast such as counting seahorses on its seafloor, removing rubbish from its beaches and planting trees on its islands."

More information and volunteer registration details are available at www.coastkeepers.org.au