South Coast scientific conference on kelp forests & urchin barrens
Thursday 17 June
We are pleased that we are going to see a symposium take place in Narooma on the importance of healthy kelp forests and of controlling numbers of long-spined sea urchins. Many of you will know that the Nature Coast Marine Group has been working hard over recent years to get this major problem on the government’s agenda, with a view to encouraging action that will tackle the serious problem of “urchin barrens”.
This is an issue that unites a wide range of South Coast stakeholders - conservationists, Indigenous people, urchin and abalone fishers, ecotourism operators, kelp harvesters, recreational fishers and others. It holds out the promise of cooperative community-wide action aimed at caring for our marine surroundings and maintaining ocean health.
We are represented on the steering committee that is preparing the meeting. Quite a few other stakeholder groups have been significantly engaged in relevant work and are also represented. The symposium will be led by scientists from the University of New South Wales. The intention is to have a science-based introduction, followed by practical discussions as to what action is feasible and how it should be progressed. Central to this will be various approaches to culling urchins, but we will also be urging strengthening natural controls. We are also working for citizen science involvement and a central role for the Batemans Marine Park.
The symposium has to be regarded as a significant step, as we can’t recall any other such broad-based scientific conference on marine issues in the area. It has the potential to bring a wide range of interest groups together in a common effort to protect our marine environment. If anyone would like to inquire about attending or to get further information please call Bill on 0417237639.
And for your information, here are links to a couple of videos that can help you understand what it is all about.
"Hidden Deserts” - a short video showing what urchin barrens are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGYj8YItrXA&t=8s
“Sea Urchin Science” - A discussion with University of Tasmania scientist, Dr Scott Ling, taken when he was in the area doing research:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGYj8YItrXA&t=8s
Photo: By John Turnbull