S eagrass-Watch Seagrass-WatchnewsLocal eyes Global wise Issue 32 March 2008

Seagrass-Watch is off to a great start for Defying the global trend 2008 with reports of healthy seagrass from While recent publications from around the world are reporting significant many regions. However, not everyone has human impacts on marine ecosystems (see Science 15 February 2008), the been able to start monitoring for the year due seagrasses of northern Australia, in particular northern Queensland, appear to to unsuitable tides. It is hoped that recent contradict the global trend. Monitoring over the past few months has reported some of the floods and elevated sea temperatures have had minimal impact. highest seagrass abundances and distributions in the last 10 years. In this issue you'll find articles on recent Although no area is unaffected by human influence, large areas of relatively little human surveys conducted in the Torres Strait, to impact remain in northern Australia. This may be due to a number of factors, including: map seagrass and locate ghost nets, and the general “remoteness” of the region; relatively low levels of coastal and urban how seagrass information has assisted with development; or good management. the declaration of MPAs in Palawan Throughout Queensland, seagrass meadows in 2007 were in a better condition (Philippines). Read about community compared to previous years. This could have been a consequence of reduced coastal seagrass outreach workshops in runoff as much of state experienced a severe drought. and Australia (New South Wales), and the Monitoring sites in Townsville, Cairns and Torres Strait were development of a marine biodiversity examined in Jan and Feb 2008, and results indicate they continued database for Papua New Guinea. Catch up to improve. Not only were the seagrasses reported to look healthier with Hervey Bay and the recovery of their than ever (both abundance and extent), but the number of seagrass seagrass. You'll also find our regular flowers, dugong grazing and associated fauna (e.g., juvenile updates from groups in Queensland and prawns, juvenile sea cucumbers) were high. . Of particular interest are the meadows at Yule Point, near Cairns. Included are also articles on education The meadows are typical of coastal seagrass communities in activities such as EcoCamps in Rotuma (Fiji), SeaWeek activities on the Gold Coast northern Australia, dominated by Halodule uninervis and and the Seagrass Angels in Singapore. You Halophila ovalis. These meadows were first examined by Prof den can also learn about epibionts and the Hartog in October 1967 and reported within his effects of anchoring on seagrass in the seminal text “The Sea-Grasses of the World”. The October 1967 January 2008 Whitsundays. species and abundances he reported 40 years ago In May 2008 Seagrass-Watch turns 10. look similar today. Over the past 10 years, the With several workshops planned and seagrasses at Yule Point have been monitored and intended presentations at international seasonal patterns are evident. Being on the coast, conferences, Seagrass-Watch continues to the seagrasses are exposed to acute impacts such go from strength to strength. as storm events. These can mobilize the sand and change the locations of sand banks, tidal drainage channels and consequently the distribution of the Images from the top: What’s inside: meadows. Nevertheless, the species that exist in Juvenile sea cucumber Holothuria scabra (Jan08); Article page these meadows are clearly adapted to the dynamic Halodule uninervis male flowers (Jan08); Ghost net & seagrass survey...... 2 Yule Pt meadow 2008 and 1967 nature of the environment. Torres Strait ...... 3 Boundary of meadow within 100m of monitoring site YP1 50 Yule Point YP1 1 October 2005 20 January 2008 Townsville...... 4 YP2 45 Hervey Bay...... 5 40 r

e 35 v o Great Sandy Strait...... 5 c 30 s s

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Moreton Bay...... 6 e s 15 % Gold Coast...... 6 10 5 New South Wales...... 6 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ------n c n c n c n c n c n c n c n c

Singapore...... 7 u e u e u e u e u e u e u e u e J J J J J J J J D D D D D D D D SOS, Malaysia...... 8 Roxas MPAs, Philippines...... 9 Unfortunately, not all seagrass areas are defying the global trend. With the extensive Motupore Island, PNG...... 10 flooding in central and southern Queensland, it is likely that some seagrass meadows Rotuma, Fiji...... 10 could be severely impacted from the runoff of sediments, pollutants and nutrients from the Impacts of anchors on seagrass...... 11 land. Only the results of monitoring in the coming months will reveal the true extent of any Seagrass epibionts...... 12 damage. Seagrass-Watch acknowledges the Traditional Owners on whose sea country we monitor ISSN 1441-4236 DISCLAIMER: while all efforts have been made to verify facts, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries & For more information about the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre visit Fisheries takes no responsibility for the accuracy of information supplied in Seagrass-Watch News. The views expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Queensland Government. http://www.rrrc.org.au Queensland, Australia Torres Strait

Ghost Net Survey and Marine The information recorded will be used to generate Habitat Mapping habitat maps which will allow Helen Taylor (DPI&F) reports a more strategic approach for One of the responsibilities shipping accident prevention of the Marine Ecology Group and response, and (Department of Primary help to protect the Industries & Fisheries valuable fisheries Queensland) is working with habitat of the Torres industry to help ensure that Strait. fish habitats are protected All in all, the team from damage. had a fantastic Mike Rasheed, Skye McKenna, Pearson In February we were lucky week in a very Wigness and Helen Taylor prepare to search enough to be asked by the special place and were sad to the Islands for ghost nets Torres Strait Regional head home at the end. The Authority (TSRA) to islands were spectacular, the undertake a survey looking people were friendly and the for ghost nets and to map the seafood was fresh. We would Images from the top: marine habitats adjacent to like to thank Cape York Helen identifying seagrass on Masig Island; the helicopter used to map sensitive marine the Great North East Helicopters for their hard habitats; Shipping Channel in the work, and the Torres Strait an intertidal reef flat. Torres Strait. These areas Islanders who allowed us to contain some of the most spend some time in their beautiful home! Dumped oyster cages and a ghost net sensitive marine habitats in entangled within the mangrove roots Australia including coral, seagrass, mangroves and algae and are highly susceptible to damage What are Ghost Nets? caused by shipping accidents Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been lost and oil spills. Ghost nets are accidentally, deliberately discarded, or simply abandoned, tangled fishing abandoned at sea. They travel the oceans of the nets, most of them from world with the currents and tides continually fishing foreign fishing vessels. The as they progress through the waters. As they are A large washed up ghost net on Masig Island nets continually catch and unattended and roaming, they fish indiscriminately, often kill any marine life in not only catching threatened species but their way as they are carried along by currents and the tides. undersized and protected fish as well. On day one of the survey, two team members set off at low tide The largest nets found in the Gulf of Carpentaria so far are gill nets estimated at weighing as much as 5 tonnes, approx. 4 kms in a Robinson 44 helicopter to search for the destructive nets. We in length with a drop of 12mts. In other parts of the world nets have been were joined by Pearson Wigness, a local Torres Strait Elder who is reported 2-3 times this size. also the Ngurupai Dugong & Turtle Project Officer and a Seagrass-Watch participant. We were able to use Pearson's local Carpentaria Ghost Net Programme knowledge to direct us to areas where he believed nets might be In Northern Australia Indigenous Sea found. Rangers noted that many turtles were After 4 hours of flying around, sadly almost 350 nets had been being captured in ghost nets that were located. I asked Pearson after we landed whether he had washing up on the beaches. As much of expected to see so many nets and he dejectedly shook his head this coastline is the breeding and and said “too many”. Most were found in the upper intertidal foraging ground for 6 culturally and area having being washed up on the tide around the Inner Island ecologically important species of marine Cluster (Palilug (Goods), Gealug (Friday), Muralug (Prince of turtle there was a real concern that so Wales), Ngurupai (Horn) and Mawai (Wednesday) Islands). The many were getting trapped and dying. location of these nets will be given to local community rangers The Rangers collaborated with other involved in cleaning up ghost nets so that they can focus their non-government organisations, calling efforts to remove as many nets as possible from the large area. themselves “the saltwater people”; a The next 5 days were spent island and reef hopping in the name which recognises the shared concerns & custodianship for marine helicopter at low tide from Poruma Island in the south to Ugar wildlife. The project is managed by the Northern Gulf Resource Island in the north. We recorded information on what type of Management Group (NGRMG) who received funding from the Natural habitat was present (e.g. seagass, coral, algae) as well as Heritage Trust, which is an Australian Government initiative to address information on percent cover and species. A total of 1120 habitat issues relating to the management of our natural resources. assessment sites were conducted during this section of the survey! Source: http://www.ghostnets.com.au Images: Photographs courtesy of the Carpentaira Ghost Nets Programme

www.seagrasswatch.org page 2 Queensland, Australia Torres Strait

Regional Roundup Jane Mellors reports

Torres Strait monitoring was conducted between 15th -18th Feb. During this trip we endured monsoonal downpours in the morning, clearing to blue skies in the afternoons, just in time for monitoring. The first port of Extra hands help with monitoring call was Hammond Island. at Front Beach (Thursday Island) A big “esso” to Anima and Elizabeth for coming down to the site to help us monitor. On this occasion we were also joined by The final day of monitoring and we were at Back Beach (TI1). It Carolyn and Juliet (AFMA) looked like the tide was not going to go down but as usual, all it and Christina Howley (a required was a little patience. When the tide finally dropped it regular Seagrass-Watcher was all systems go and monitoring was completed very quickly from Cooktown). even with a quick taxonomy lesson for Mr Kocho!! Many thanks Sampling on Hammond Is. Cymodocea rotundata was to the teachers and students from the Marine Studies class that extremely long with high coverage of helped the regular crew. See you in May for more Seagrass- epibionts. Watching. The next day saw us monitoring at Wongai. The regular team of Stacee, 70 Back Beach (TI1) Jake, Kanteesha, Jane and 60 Pearson were on hand to 50 40

gather the data. They were r e v

o 30 ably assisted by Lachlan, c Christina and Chanya. % 20 Algae cover at this site was 10 extremely high. The 0 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ------l - l - l - l - t t t t

seagrass was covered by a n r n r n r n r n r u u u u c c c c a p a p a p a p a p J J J J J O J O J O J O J Seed searching and high algae cover blue green algal matte but A A A A A over site (Horn Is.) curiously the seagrass underneath still looked fine. Next on the schedule was TI2 The Back Beach Team complete (Front Beach) and what a turn monitoring in the Strait (until May) out. We had lots of kids checking out the animals in the seagrass meadow until the lure of slipping and sliding in the Thalassia fruit at Front Beach, TI mud (away from TI2) proved too irresistible. The regular crowd was joined by Janelle, Janine and Sally. For the first time since monitoring commenced seeds counts were notably high with Sally proving to be our seed magnet counting 38 seeds in one core!!!! Also of interest was sighting Thalassia fruits.

70 Front Beach (TI2)

60 Enhalus acoroides Cymodocea rotundata Thalassia hemprichii 50 Syringodium isoetifolium Cymodocea serrulata 40 Halodule uninervis r e Halophila ovalis v o 30 c

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0 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ------l - l - l - l - t t t t n r n r n r n r n r u u u u c c c c a p a p a p a p a p J J J J J O J O J O J O J A A A A A www.seagrasswatch.org page 3 Queensland, Australia Townsvsvillele

Regional Roundup has promised to join us, T O W N S V I L L E Posa Skelton reports whenever he can, to continue “They breed them tough keeping an eye on our coastal in Queensland”, said my environment. fellow Seagrass-Watchers about the With infectious enthusiasm, persistent buzzing of mosquitoes, as Jacky Stein has stepped into we zigzagged our way to Shelley Lux's shoes and she's already Beach for our very first seagrass raring to go. We welcome Jacky survey for the year. It was just after to our Seagrass-Watch fold and midnight on the 19th January, when encourage all to join Jacky as she thirteen dedicated Seagrass- leads us in our next survey of Watchers felt their way through a Bushland Beach. winding narrow path lined with out- The merging of Thuringowa of-control weeds to the site. I was with Townsville councils has pre-warned that the mosquitoes provided a perfect opportunity to would be bad, so despite the warm assert our united identity. Ideas humid air, I was appropriately for a new logo and name for our dressed for the ski-fields of the Alps. Townsville-Thuringowa The midnight surveys are now entrenched in our annual Community Seagrass-Watch Townsville Seagrass-Watch programme, thanks largely to were solicited (Issue 29). We had nocturnal low tides. Oddly, they are often the most anticipated many positive responses, and well attended surveys. The turnout for the night was a especially from our local schools blessing, which allowed the surveys to be done expediently. who submitted many beautiful Bushland Beach was next surveyed drawings, sketches and possible again at mid-night 20th January. names. The inspirations they Five of us were able to make it, provided allowed us to come up including Sharon and Mary from the with three logos, which had been Northern Beaches Rotary. Like the circulated for voting. We express Shelley Beach survey, we were ably our sincere thanks to all those led by Jane Mellors and Bec Bowie who voted and provided detailed T O W N S V I L L E from Seagrass-Watch HQ. comments on the designs, and Bushland Beach took on a whole new perspective at night, with special thanks to the teachers and international waders doing their thing in the nearby seagrass students of Belgian Gardens meadows. The ankle deep mud slowed our pace towards the site, School, Hermit Park State School but it was all go once we located our marker. One thing for sure, and Magnetic Island State School the mossies were nowhere near as bad as Shelley Beach. for your support. The International Ocean Institute has kindly The late night-early morning surveys of Shelley and Bushland donated educational material for the participating schools, as a Beach took its toll, and it was left to Jane and Beck to continue the token of appreciation and encouragement for your continued surveys over at Magnetic Island. They completed the surveys of support. Picnic and Cockle Bay on 22nd and 23rd January. A big sigh of The sampling dates for our sites are now on-line and we look relief all-round as it will be another 12 months before we forward to seeing you there. contemplate another midnight splish-splash around our mud flats. The beginning of the year is always Magnetic Island a good time to start new resolutions. Bec Bowie reports. Perhaps with this in mind, our site On the 22nd January, four hardy Seagrass- coordinator for Bushland Beach, Watchers (Jane, Carla, Jolene and myself) Lux Foot, has decided to make a ventured onto the seagrass meadows of Above & Right: Well “tree-change” towards Charters Cockle Bay. With the seagrass so lush and dense, animals were spotted!! Towers. Lux is an inspiration to all spotted everywhere, indicating that the site was a nursery. Thank of us and the gaping hole he you to Carla and Jolene for helping us out. leaves behind will be hard to fill. I Picnic Bay was the last of our early morning monitoring events. was privileged to attend a recent This time the team was down to 2 (Jane and I). We headed out meeting of the Northern Beaches Rotary, where Lux was with all the energy we could muster after 3 successive early explicitly thanked for all his hard work in coordinating sampling. morning monitoring events. But Picnic Bay was the easiest out of The nominal award he recently received as a Coast-Care Local all of them. We set up the transects and got to work. Halodule Hero is well-deserved. On behalf of all the Seagrass-Watchers, I uninervis was the most dominant species on site, with Thalassia thank Lux for his coordination, dedication, leadership and hemprichii and Halophila ovalis found in patches spread over the friendship and wish him all the best with his new adventure. He transects. Seeds were also recorded scattered over the site.

www.seagrasswatch.org page 4 Australia Queensland

Seagrass returns to Urangan Great Sandy Strait roundup Trischelle Lowry reports Gordon Cottle reports Our sites in the Hervey Bay area have continued to It is pleasing to report that our last trip for show improvement across the board, however our 2007 to Reef Islands, using Paul Bailey's actual monitoring sheets don't tell exactly the same tale. Seagrass boat, was very successful. The experienced team of Robyn is still reasonably scarce along our transects and within the Bailey, Hanne Larsen, with recent recruit Helen Duplancic quadrats, but most sites currently support some very promising reported that seagrass cover at RI3 had changed little since the and plentiful patches. last monitoring event in May 2007. The On approach to the TG2 site at Toogoom a wide gutter contains site was still dominated by Zostera a lush crop. Dave and Ronda Kohler capricorni, however the presence of also reported that slightly further to Halophila ovalis was highly variable the north of this site several dugong across the meadow. There was also have been spotted in the channel general evidence of marine activity with entrance to the Toogoom inlet. mud whelks throughout. Dundowran sites also continue to RI1 is a comfortable two kilometre trip between the Islands. support small patches mainly on the Similar to RI3, the predominant seagrass is Zostera capricorni approach to the transects. Lloyd and with light Halophila ovalis cover. The seagrass cover at this site Sandy McKay noted a large amount was slightly lower than recorded in May 2007. There were several Toogoom seagrass of sludgy discharge from a small feeding holes observed in quadrats and exposed rhizome in creek near the DD1 site and others. diligently passed this information onto the EPA for further To get to R12 entails coming out of the main channel and investigation. travelling north along the western bank of the Island, about five kilometres. The most noticeable features were the absence of Halophila ovalis offset by much increased Zostera capricorni, with length of leaf to 9cm, and low epiphyte on transects 2 and 3. This site appeared to have increased the most since our last sampling, possibly a seasonal peak and a consequence of the more favourable conditions over recent months. Shelly Beach (Hervey Bay) seagrass meadow. Insert: Kodee showing off his Overall, seagrass abundance at the Reef Islands appears to be proud discovery relatively steady over the last five years, albeit a slight increase. The Urangan sites are also on the improve with substantial We commenced 2008 on a positive note holding our Annual meadows of Zostera capricorni and Halophila ovalis establishing General Meeting on 25th January, more importantly welcoming on the seaward end of the transects. On a recent school excursion the return of Steve Nicol (an original member), and Gabby and to Shelly Beach, keen volunteer Kodee Lowry proudly reported Mike Williamson to our Team. home that he had found “heaps and heaps” of seagrass. Their first survey was on 9th February at Poona PN2. The most Although not one of our monitoring sites, I was keen to notable feature on the visit was the absence of the algae that investigate the report. He was right!!!!!!! A large meadow, covered the site in August 2007 and a slight increase in seagrass complete with lush seagrass and numerous dugong feeding trails, abundance. was spread over a large area between two rock groynes. This site has deteriorated seriously since 2003, when recordings of up to 38% seagrass cover were made. Whether this decline is the result of some impact or a long term trend is unknown, as Seagrass-Watch Training Workshop current abundances are similar to when the sites were established May 17 - 18 2008 in 1999. What is also unknown is the resilience of the meadows, as coastal development has increased in recent years and the Hervey Bay & Great Sandy Strait level of chronic impacts may have similarly increased. Seed sampling has not been routinely conducted at these sites and without knowledge of the seed banks we can only speculate on Come and learn more about this valuable marine resource and their ability to recover. The next survey in May will be very learn how you can make a difference interesting.

25 Poona PN1 Whether you’re a new participant or a seasoned “watcher”, anyone PN2 20 PN3

with an interest in seagrass monitoring and conservation is welcome. r e v o

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Workshop includes an afternoon of presentations and laboratory r g

a 10 sessions on the 17th, and an afternoon in the field on the 18th. e s % 5 If interested in attending please visit http://www.seagrasswatch.org/training.html to register or contact 0 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Free. 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [email protected] for further information. Registration is ------n n n n n n n n n n c c c c c c c c c u u u u u u u u u u e e e e e e e e e J J J J J J J J J J D D D D D D D D D www.seagrasswatch.org page 5 Australia Qld & NSW

Moreton Bay Update New South Wales Keira Price reports Carla Sbrocchi reports With all the rain that South East Queensland has We've been very busy running training had over the last few months it will be interesting to workshops throughout see how this freshwater NSW. In December 2007, the input may have affected weather was fantastic and Moreton Bay's seagrasses community members in Forster when we begin the first were receptive to undertaking monitoring round of 2008 seagrass monitoring in the Mid- (March/April)! Coast region of NSW. The November/ Throughout February and December 2007 surveys March of this year we've been went well, with the state of undertaking workshops on the seagrasses at sites Central Coast (Lake Macquarie, Volunteers at Moreton Banks monitored looking to be Tuggerah Lakes and Brisbane stable and average for the time Water) and have had some great of year. An increase in macroalgae was noted by volunteers at response! Volunteers are keen to many sites a normal occurrence that may be associated with the start monitoring over 15 sites higher temperatures of the summer season. within these three estuary Above: Keen volunteers at Forster (NSW) After Len and Rudi (Seagrass-Watch HQ) visited late last year systems. Wow! We are very using a bathyscope to estimate seagrass we are planning to start implementing their suggested much looking forward to hearing coverage Below: Observing and estimating epiphyte improvements to our surveying methods starting this March/April more from these groups as they cover period. This will add to the data that we collect and bring us in line begin their monitoring and are with HQ standards and procedures. We have also added some able to provide their first sets of seed core samplers to our kits for volunteers interested in having a data. go at finding some of the so far elusive seeds!

Monitoring at Victoria Point Great Lakes seagrass

Students get sandy studying science on the Gold Coast Sheila Davis reports A class of students got wet and sandy on their visit to the Gold Coast last Friday, March 7th during Seaweek, but they weren't out surfing. The Browns Plains Year 9 Science class was putting science into practice by monitoring the health of a patch of seagrass on the Gold Coast Spit following their visit to Sea World. The visit was arranged by Browns Plains Science teacher Mr Ross Bailey in conjunction with the Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre and Gecko Educators, a program of Gecko (Gold Coast & Hinterland Environment Council). Mr Bailey said that the students learned a lot during their visit to the Gold Coast from the features of marine mammals like dolphins and dugongs to the habitats of various marine environments and why they need protection from threats like siltation, dredging and development. “The students had a fantastic learning experience,” said Ms Gina Ygoa, teacher from the Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre. “There was a lot of fun and excitement, plus a lot of hands-on work. They even had a visit from Diving Gold Coast underwater photographer Ian Banks. They were informed, involved and inspired in caring for our marine environment and that's the whole purpose of Seaweek.” Seagrass-Watch local coordinator for the Gold Coast, Sheila Davis and Linda Ray, said that the students each had a role to play in the activities measuring, estimating, analysing and recording their findings. “They lear ned that seagrass is important, not only as habitat for many fish, crustaceans and other creatures but also as food for turtles and dugongs and feeding areas for migratory bird species preparing for their long flights home. This knowledge made them enthusiastic to protect it.”

www.seagrasswatch.org page 6 Singapore

TeamSeagrass gets Labrador. On top of the usual parameters according to the going for 2008 Seagrass-Watch method, they TeamSeagrass blog also go around 'poking' seagrasses to monitor the Chek Jawa (20 Jan 08) growth rates (see Issue 30). TeamSeagrass was back in The entire shore was covered booties and on the shores of with macro-algae, mainly Chek Jawa this HOT Bryopsis sp. and we were afternoon. We had quite a lot of dismayed at the thought of not seeing the beautiful lush seagrass. first timers aka GreenGrassers, so Nonetheless, the Seagrass Angels persevered and carried on with Siti did a quick quiz on "Is this the survey, trying not to miss out all the various species amidst the Seagrass?", which everyone seaweed-laden substrate. They were pretty sharp and spotted passed with flying colours. some Halophila ovalis hiding below the Thalassia hemprichii, Then it was straight to work on which were in turn 'hidden' by the top cover of macro algae. Well those transects. Above: Siti done for being so meticulous - kudos to the teacher too. quizzing “green The sea hares were Fortunately for the sun-scotched seagrassers, the tide receded grassers” everywhere too! Many were further, and the luscious green seagrasses once again unveiled... Right: Sea hares in huddles...ermh probably everywhere!! On completing the quadrats, we proceeded quickly (well, we got getting ready to lay MORE somewhat distracted along the way by flowering Thalassia eggs? This explosion of sea hemprichii) and chose a lush looking patch of Thalassia hares reminds us of our first monitoring in 2007, also on Chek hemprichii, Mr Lim got the girls to mark a square, within which we Jawa. Wow! This shows that by simply visiting our shores started to 'poke' or pierce a hole in the blades of seagrass, and regularly we learn something about the seasonal cycles that affect with that the day's job was done. them. Very quickly the Team were done and we decided to check out Pulau Semakau (20 Feb 08) the shore for Halophila beccarii, a rare seagrass that is still found Our first weekday monitoring for the year and still we had a great on Chek Jawa and we did find patches of it. It was a great day turnout from the Team! It was a bit tough monitoring with the out, and we did a lot of work and had fun too! strong wind ruffling the water and the water murking up as we stepped nearby. But we found that if we stayed still for a while, Sentosa (24 Jan 08) we could get the job done. Seagrassing over, we headed off to A cool evening over Sentosa and you can see the seagrass and explore the shores. marine life on this marvellous There were some interesting hard corals like Heliofungia natural shore. We wasted no time actiniformis which is actually a mushroom hard coral. It has long (not even taking the traditional tentacles so it's sometimes mistaken for an anemone. Those seen group photo) and got down to are usually brown, so this green was a special find. We also monitoring the seagrass. The tide spotted a pair of mating Jorunna was not very low but the team funebris nudibranchs. worked fast in the fading light. Nudibranchs are This natural shore has lots of hermaphrodites and exchange Enhalus acoroides and Halophila sperm when two individuals of ovalis, and also lots of living corals, the same species meet one (many of the kind that glows in the another. They do it sideways, dark at sunset, see left). We also facing in opposite directions. spotted Copper banded butterfly The front end of this nudibranch Above: Hard coral, Heliofungia fishes (Chelmon rostratus), which has a pair of black edged actiniformis Below: A pair of mating nudibranchs Siti says is a sign that the shore is structures that look like bunny healthy and doing well. ears (these are called rhinophores). The back end of Seagrass Angels @ Labrador (19 Feb 08) the nudibranch has a circle of It's been quite some time since we met up with the Seagrass fluffy feathery structures which Angels from Labrador and the angel commander - Mr Lim. So are its breathing gills. Siti and Shufen went down to get Poor Siti couldn't be with us their hands and feet wet with them. today even though she was also Just a recap, the hardworking trio on Semakau. She was busy and teacher monitor our seagrasses being filmed for the Once Upon A Tree series about our shores. composed mainly of Thalassia Her segment will come up in episode 5! Isn't that fabulous, we hemprichii mixed with Enhalus must look out for it. acoroides and Halophila ovalis at For more information visit : www.teamseagrass.blogspot.com www.seagrasswatch.org page 7 Malaysia

We would like to thank the MNS S.O.S. workshop facilitators: Serina, Effendy, Pendas Johor Rusyanti, Mohala. Rozaimi and Choo Chee Kuang reports Khor Hui Min, not forgetting SOS Save Our Seahorses (S.O.S.) has volunteers who helped out on the carried out a formal seagrass first day: Kuah, Lee, Koa and Cheo. workshop at Pendas, Johor on 25 We are grateful to Cikgu Bakthiar The indigenous Seletar villagers who helped us with the set up and with the Malaysia Nature Society Nov 2007 for the local community volunteers at the Kampung Simpan participants who comprised mainly thanks to Cikgu Zurina for various Arang workshop. inshore fishermen. The workshop assistance. Last but not least, to our started with an introduction to the programme objectives and important collaborators, Sonny goals. Our invited speaker, En. Rozaimi from the Malaysian Wong from the MNS HQ, the ABN Nature Society who also did his master degree on seagrass AMRO Bank representatives and cultivation, gave an the Fishermen introduction on the seagrass Association. and its importance. Choo then continued to elaborate on the seagrass status at Sungai Pulai and the monitoring techniques. The participants then proceeded Sungai Pulai Wetland Above: Choo briefing participants at the to inspect the The Sungai Pulai wetlands, which are Balai Raya Kampung fresh seagrass occupied largely by the Sungai Pulai Ladang, Pendas. specimens and Mangrove Forest Reserve (MFR), Right: Fishermen and village representatives took the consist of mangroves (estuarine, examining a fresh opportunity to riverine and dryland), intertidal seagrass specimen. taste the fruit of mudflats, seagrass meadows and Session handled by freshwater riverine forests. Sungai Ms. Yeong. Enhalus acoroides before they departed to the Photos: Serina and intertidal Merambong seagrass meadow. The Pulai MFR remains as the largest intact Effendy monitoring technique was demonstrated in situ block of mangrove forest in Johor and and three 50m transects the largest remaining intact riverine were run through the mangrove area in . meadow. The species In Feb 2003, the Johor State Menteri Besar, Dato Abdul Ghani declared the area, along with the mangrove codes established by forests in Tanjung Piai and Pulau , Ramsar sites. Seagrass-Watch proved to Sungai Pulai MFR is home to about 24 'true' mangrove plant species as be very effective as all the well as 21 more mangrove-associated species, which demonstrates a participants had no high species richness in the area. Out of these, 3 species are found to be difficulty recognizing and notably uncommon, Avicennia lanata (an endemic species), Bruguiera remembering them. sexangula and Podocarpus polystachus. The Sungai Pulai MFR is also In situ demonstration estimating seagrass rich in fauna: birds (53 species), mammals (26 species), reptiles (12 percent cover (Photo: Serina and Effendy) The following day, a species), amphibians (7 species), fish (111 species) as well as benthic similar workshop was held at the Kampung Simpan Arang for the organisms (39 species). indigenous Seletar community who lives in riverine mangrove The Pulai River Estuary was originally an ancient wetland. Because it is forest of the Pulai River. The turnout was better that expected and relatively pristine, its water supports abundant flora and fauna. room was sold out. Enhalus acoroides, which is also the largest seagrass species in the The Seletar folks were charming people but not too shy to ask world extending up to 2 ft in length, can be found in the Pulai River questions. Serina Rahman, an avid photographer, writer and Estuary. The seagrass meadows support a variety of animals, some of active environmentalist, also gave a talk on the endangered them endangered like the seahorse and dugong. The commercially species that are associated with the seagrass e.g. dugong and sea important fish, crabs, prawns and invertebrates like sea stars, sea cucumbers, anemone etc. also thrive in the seagrass meadows of Pulai. turtles. The crowd was much absorbed by her talk, despite the Malay language which was foreign to her. Source:http://www.wetlands.org/malaysia/en/articlemenu.aspx?id=5bc18f0e-b793-4967-9fb2- Approximately 30 participants later proceeded to the riverine e9236b055b23, http://www.sosmalaysia.org/pulai_estuary.html subtidal seagrass meadow for seagrass mapping. Unfortunately we didn't get any good pictures during the mapping because For further information on SOS Malaysia visit everybody was wet, including our photographers. The seagrasses their website at http://www.sosmalaysia.org/ or were submerged and water visibility was less than a metre. download their latest newsletter at http://www.sosmalaysia.org/publication.html Volunteers plodded in the knee-deep mud and engaged in hard- core mapping with unforgettable spirits.

www.seagrasswatch.org page 8 Philippines

Seagrass areas declared protected areas in The approved municipal ordinance for the network of Roxas, Palawan, Philippines marine protected areas (MPAs) Bella Sheila L. Albasin (Project Manager) reports in the municipal waters of Roxas, Four years after the baseline Palawan included adoption of survey for seagrass in Roxas, the management plans drafted Palawan was conducted (see by people of the community and Issue 23), two marine budget allocation from the protected areas with core barangay and municipal seagrass areas in Caramay government unit. Locals were and Johnson Island, 34 involved in delineating the hectares and 3 hectares, boundaries of their protected respectively, have finally been area and in drafting the established. According to the management plan. Some of criteria used by the them were part of the original environmentally-critical areas group that was trained to network (ECAN) in Palawan, conduct seagrass monitoring in Philippines, core seagrass 2006. areas have: 1. high seagrass The next monitoring of cover (50% and above); 2. seagrasses in Roxas will be high species richness (<5 conducted in April 2008. seagrass species); 3. extensive Tinitian, the area that has been bed width (<500 m); 4. monitored by locals for and/or with dugong feeding Seagrass-Watch will also be trails. visited for monitoring, hopefully, Although seagrass meadows with the same group who had in Barangays Caramay and been trained before. Advocacy Johnson Island had seagrass for the declaration of this site, cover of only 30-50% it had where dugongs are commonly- high species richness (8 sighted, as a seagrass protected species were seen in these area is still being done. areas). Dugongs are commonly seen by the Roxas Population, Health & Environment Project fishermen in these Funded by USAID (Population & Reproductive Health areas. No fishing or Program, Global Health Bureau) under Grant Agreement gleaning is allowed in GPO-A-00-03-00008 with WWF-US core areas.

Images: Above: Seagrass- Watch sampling in Roxas. Right: Examining the Thalssodendron ciliatum patch www.seagrasswatch.org page 9 Pacific

Motupore Island, PNG Maka Bay, Rotuma, Fiji Jane Wia reports Alfred Ralifo reports The Motupore Following the wake of TC Island Research Centre Damon (a tropical cyclone (MIRC) through its specialist that passed through the Fiji arm the Motupore Island Islands) on December 7th, a Marine Biodiversity Unit team of EcoCamp volunteers (MIMBU) continues to spent the day at Maka Bay, support the activities of conducting extensive Seagrass-Watch in Papua seagrass surveys of the only New Guinea (PNG). This has seagrass area (Syringodium been done by providing isoetifolium) to be found in survey material and Rotuma. There were 19 volunteers information on survey who first took part in the orientation methods to members of local of how to conduct Seagrass-Watch community who have survey techniques on the beach expressed an interest to setting before finally taking the measure up seagrass monitoring sites in tape to the water. Four seagrass their villages. MIMBU also survey sites were set up spanning at continues to conduct its own least 400metres along the Maka long term monitoring in the shoreline and extending as far as two sites set up on Motupore 200 metres from shore towards the Island. reef which fringes the lagoon to the MIMBU has recently bay area. Surveys are conducted published the MIMBU Papua only where there is seagrass New Guinea Marine growing, therefore the size of survey Biodiversity Database which area indicated the extent of seagrass lists a total of 1, 474 marine growth. species known to be found in To get a better picture of the health PNG waters. Information for of the seagrass at Maka Bay, annual the development of the extensive seagrass sampling must be Images from top database was sourced from over 200 conducted to monitor seagrass health William, Vamarasi and Monifa: Seagrass-Watching in Maka Bay; published and reputable records. over time. This kind of information Alfred Ralifo briefing volunteers Alongside this is a Human Resource will help towards the protection of before sampling database for individuals with an such an important habitat and action seagrass interest in the marine biodiversity of led by the community Seagrass- 100 macro-algae PNG. This database hold 126 entries Watch team piloted by the 90 and the majority of these are adoption of the seagrass area by 80 internationally based but who still have the Motusa District School. It is 70 r 60 e v

a strong interest in research on through this learning and o 50 c

conservation and management of seagrass field surveys for which % 40 PNG's marine resources. experiences are inadvertently 30 Both this databases are on CD-ROM and are attached to a shared with other schools during 20 10 consultative report on marine biodiversity research prioritization. the EcoCamp program. 0 This report, along with the databases has been distributed widely 2004 2005 2007 to relevant individuals and organizations both local and abroad. The databases will be updated annually and distributed free to EcoCamp interested individuals and organizations. The EcoCamp, a first for Rotuma, was The publication is available free and copies can be obtained by conducted over 3 days in December 2007. contacting Ms Jane Wia on [email protected] or The camp attracted approximately 70 [email protected]. For more information on our activities participants and offered hands-on activities please visit our website: www.mirc.ac.pg that taught participants about the natural world. The camp concept was a LajeRotuma Initiative in partnership with the schools on the island and linked into the ongoing environmental education awareness program that has been part of the Rotuman school curriculum since 2007. The five schools have environmental activities where students adopt different habitats and learn how each habitat is dependent on another. Source : www.fijitimes.com www.seagrasswatch.org page 10 Queensland, Australia Research

Anchors and impacts on seagrass meadows I found that anchoring in highly used areas generally Jo Taylor reports corresponds to a lower seagrass percentage cover. Low anchor In August 2006 I damage was recorded at Mays Bay suggesting heavy boating undertook a research activity results in higher damage to the meadows and overall project analysing the lower seagrass abundance. impact of anchor damage 60 50 disturbed to the biodiversity of non-disturbed r e

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image courtesy Hamilton Island Resort a 20 e

For seagrass meadows to s Whitehaven Beach function effectively they 10

need to be intact. Anchors 0 uproot and break seagrass Tongue Bay Whitehaven Beach Cid Harbour Mays Bay rhizomes, destroying their This data was supported by further statistical tests. Small regenerative capacity, often negative correlations were found between anchor and chain resulting in the loss of damage and seagrass percentage cover. This suggests plants, species and disturbance caused by anchoring could be having a detrimental meadows. However few effect on the meadows and their subsequent fauna and a negative studies have been effect on seagrass abundance. Small positive correlations were conducted to investigate found between anchor and chain damage and bare sand anchor damage percentage further suggests anchoring increases sandy patches disturbance to tropical and fragmentation of the meadows. seagrass communities. This study presented an opportunity to assess the integrity of four chosen meadows. Using underwater visual surveys I recorded seagrass abundance and compared disturbed (highly used) and non- disturbed areas in four locations around Whitsunday Island. Anchor damage was highest at disturbed sites at Whitehaven Scatter plots of relationship between seagrass percent cover and damage from anchors (above left) and anchor chains (above right) Beach and Tongue Bay. Boat numbers were highest at Whitehaven Beach and Cid Harbour. Based on the findings of my research, the following management suggestions were recommended: Average boat sightings Average anchor damage ! Monitoring be continued throughout the year to account for 35 50

e seasonal differences and diversity indices be calculated. This disturbed t 45 disturbed i

30 s

r s non-disturbed non-disturbed t 40 e a data could further assist towards developing a conceptual p o 25 b 35 % f e o model, predicting likely responses to impacts and threats of g

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o 20 e h ! c g Implementation of a system of mooring buoys in high a n 15 r 10 a e v n 10 a anchoring areas to allow for recovery and decrease A 5 e M 5 fragmentation; and 0 0 Tongue Bay Whitehaven Cid Harbour Mays Bay Tongue Bay Whitehaven Cid Harbour Mays Bay ! Educational programmes could be used to inform the public of the negative effects of anchoring by promoting codes of conduct in these vital ecosystems.

www.seagrasswatch.org page 11 Animal facts

Seagrass epibionts In the case of seagrass, the by Keira Price disadvantages of being the host to Epibionts are organisms that grow epibionts can be disastrous. Rigid attached to the surface of a living epizoans (e.g. Bryozoa) reduce the host. They are made up of plants flexibility of the leaves causing them to (epiphytes) and sessile animals become brittle and (epizoans) and in the marine to break off in high environment will attach themselves to turbulence. any firm, exposed surface. Epibionts can also Seagrass blades make a perfect host increase weight for epibionts which can often be seen causing a reduction in the form of brown and white in buoyancy. They scaling (epizoans, such as diatoms, can increase surface bacteria, the larvae of numerous friction resulting in types of organisms, the host plant bryozoans, hydroids, etc) becoming and/or as a furry covering dislocated from the of algae (epiphytes). substrate in high There are many benefits turbulence. for epibionts from this Seagrass blades can be damaged living arrangement: the from grazers of the epibionts. One of advantage of being able to the most drastic effects can be from colonise an unused surface shading of the leaf surface therefore in a highly populated reducing the plant's ability to environment, being able photosynthesise. There are to attach to a flexible host some advantages to the higher in the water seagrass host: nutrients can column bringing a be passed indirectly through better supply of the water column to the nutrients without seagrass from epibiont danger from the outputs, at low levels of increased epibiont cover seagrass turbulence, being leaves may be protected exposed to more light from sunburn when high in an exposed habitat and dry. allowing better The abundance of epibionts on seagrass depends on a number growth, more of factors: the leaf turnover rate, water temperature, availability of nutrients can be made nutrients, salinity levels, current, available from the host velocity, depth and light availability. organism, and in some In general, epizoans are more cases the advantage of abundant on seagrasses in darker being protected by the waters with low salinity, while host's defences. epiphytes are more abundant in There are also lighter waters. disadvantages for the Sources: Wahl, M. (1989) Marine epibiosis. I. epibionts: the potential Fouling and antifouling: some basic aspects. instability of the host due Marine Ecology Progress Series 58: 175-189. to physical disturbances, http://itech.fgcu.edu/&/issues/vol2/issue1/epibionts.htm changes in the host's life cycle, competition for S nutrients with the host, or eagrass-Watch being eaten by a predator of the host organism. However, even Do you want to get Involved? with these disadvantages, the epibionts usually benefit more from Register with Seagrass-Watch HQ this relationship than their hosts. www.seagrasswatch.org

Any comments or suggestions Contact: Seagrass-Watch HQ about Seagrass-Watch or contributions to Northern Fisheries Centre newsletters would be greatly appreciated. PO Box 5396, Cairns. Qld. 4870 AUSTRALIA

Editing & additional text: Len McKenzie & Rudi Yoshida Email: [email protected] Layout & graphic design: Rudi Yoshida & Len McKenzie Front page banner image: Levuka Reef, Fiji NEXT ISSUE OUT JUNE 2008 Phone: +61 7 4057 3731