Introduction

The next monitoring round is scheduled for Mar/Apr 2004. We now have 49 sites established and 40 of these have been adopted. Of the adopted sites, only 25 were monitored during the last round. Our thanks are extended to those people who participated. We hope that those who missed their last survey will be able to monitor their site during this monitoring period, it will provide valuable and needed data. Please see over for suitable tides and phone Paul to book a kit. Please let Paul know if you cannot do the survey as soon as possible as we maybe able to get a back-up team organised.

Survey dates

Seagrass-Watch surveys are undertaken only three times a year (March/April, July/August and November/December). The Mar/Apr survey period is approaching so good tides for seagrass monitoring are listed below (times are for Brisbane Bar). Those who have been trained and set up at sites should select a suitable day and then contact Paul to book out the equipment. Four kits are available.

Spotlighting

There are two more mudflat spotlighting trips coming up on the nights of the 6th and 7th of April at Wellington Point and Manly respectively. The meeting time for both trips is 5:30pm. If you are keen to see the mudflats come alive with bizarre creatures of the night contact Simon to book your spot.

Workshop

We are holding another two seagrass workshops in the next couple of months. The first will be held at the Redcliffe Leagues Club (Klingner Rd Redcliffe) on the 14th of March and the second will be at the Redlands Indigiscapes Centre (Runnymede Road, Capalaba) on the 18th of April. Start time 9:30am. Both workshops will focus on seagrass, Lyngbya and animal species identification with live specimens, should be interesting and informative. An excellent opportunity for Seagrass-Watchers to fine-tune their skills. Please contact Simon for details and or to notify him if you wish to attend.

Crocodiles

The Townsville Bulletin on 23/2/04 reported: "The sighting of a large crocodile swimming out the front of Bushland Beach caused the cancellation of a Seagrass-Watch planned for Saturday morning." Hopefully this won't happen in Moreton Bay!

Contacts

Paul Finn Seagrass-Watch 3821 9029 paul.finn@epa.qld.gov.au