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Great Sandy Strait Fauna and Flora Watch
SEAGRASS-WATCH is a global scientific, non-destructive, seagrass assessment and
monitoring program, which commenced in 1998, with the first site established in
Boonooroo in August 1999.
The first volunteer in our region was Mrs Hanne Larsen who, regrettably, has
just announced her retirement due to ill health in her seventieth year. The GSSF&FW
would like to pay special tribute to Hanne for her expertise local knowledge and
‘always ready to assist’ attitude, regardless of conditions. She will be sorely
missed by her fellow volunteers.
In just ten years since its inception, SEAGRASS-WATCH has expanded internationally
with monitoring occurring at approximately 260 sites across 17 countries, with
an additional 9 countries at resource identification stage – a remarkable growth.
In the Great Sandy Strait, there are 24 established sites of which the group
monitors 18 on a regular basis with 10 sites only accessible via boat.
The biggest boost to the group’s activities came in late 2006 with a funding
grant from the Burnett Mary Regional Group for NRM for $30,000 over an 18 month
period.
With assistance provided by Sue Sargent and Cheryl List, the group applied for
and secured funding under EnviroFund (Round 10 – Coastal Communities). GSSF&FW
were then recently successful with a further funding bid under Caring for our
Country - Community Coastcare taking their funding through until 2010.
The group is active out in the community often attending information days and
seafood festivals – where they proudly display the Spot 5 maps of their sites
supplied by Alice Fisher, also of the BMRG.
In August 2008, the group established a new partnership with the VMR21 Boonooroo,
who supplies their vessel, the Pride of Maryborough and a crew of three to carry
out their monthly boat patrols on a fixed GPS track south to Kauri Creek, east
to Brown’s Gutter, north to the Reef Islands and back to Tuan.
So if you want to join the international SEAGRASS WATCH crew, why not give Gordon
Cottle a call on (07) (07) 4153-6917.
The Seagrass Watch Team
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