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Diving with Dragons

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Diving with Dragons Guidelines for Diving with Dragons explained Diving with Dragons 10 Dive right and 12 Remember the 13 Appreciate A Code of Conduct for Diving into + watch your gear ‘regs’ marine reserves 11 Respect the marine the Dragon’s Lair Know the laws relating to the taking of Marine reserves are important places. Be environment other marine organisms. If you choose aware that regulations may prohibit the to take marine animals observe all current taking of fish and other marine organisms Habitats such as seagrass meadows, regulations and take only what you need. from these areas. South Australia’s seaweed beds and sponge gardens All animals contribute to the functioning unique marine environment supports a provide shelter and food, not only for of a healthy ecosystem. Specifically rich diversity of habitats, plants and seadragons but countless other marine targeting and removing certain species animals. Marine reserves protect special organisms. A lot of these organisms and may impact upon the ecosystem as a creatures and plants that may live in or their associated habitats are very fragile. whole. Heavily dived locations are use certain areas. Marine reserves are Dive gear should be rigged and operated particularly vulnerable. Fishing also used to protect fish from human to prevent damage to this habitat. Bumps Regulations related to diving in SA can disturbance in important nursery areas, from tanks, cameras, torches or fins can be found on the PIRSA Fisheries website and help them spawn and grow. cause a lot of damage. Juvenile (www.pir.sa.gov.au). seadragons often shelter beneath fronds of seaweed and kelp, and so are vulnerable to diver disturbance, especially divers with poor buoyancy control. Divers Weedy seadragon in kelp habitat should maintain neutral buoyancy to minimise disturbance of the seafloor by Photograph copyright Stuart Hutchison© fins and should avoid gripping objects for support or to prevent drift. Do not purposely damage or break off plants and marine life. Collecting souvenirs such as shells should be avoided as this not Seadragons are so popular that they attract a lot of attention, which is not necessarily only removes habitat for some marine welcome. This brochure sets out a few simple guidelines that divers can follow to reduce creatures but also decreases the beauty their impact on these marvellous animals. of the dive for the next person. 1 Leave them where they are 8 Turn the lights down Do not attempt to take seadragons from the wild. Leafy Do not expose seadragons to bright light over an seadragons are protected and may not be taken without © extended period, especially at night. This includes Copyright Angela Krok approval of the SA Government. bright torches, excessive use of strobes, and video lighting systems. Some photographers recommend 2 Look but don’t touch limiting flash photography to 3-4 shots per encounter. Do not try to touch seadragons as handling may injure or stress them. 9 Clean up after others If you find discarded or snagged fishing line please 3 Home on the range! collect it and dispose of it thoughtfully. Seadragons can become entangled in discarded fishing line and Copyright Paula Brown © When interacting with seadragons do not surround them or attempt to “herd” or chase them. Seadragons be injured or killed. Due to the limited targeted research on have a “home range” and herding may move them these species the information presented out of their familiar areas, causing stress. You may 10 Dive right and watch your gear in this code is based on the best current also be interrupting important feeding or courtship Dive gear should be rigged and operated to prevent This Code of Conduct is damage to the seadragon’s habitat. Dangling gauges knowledge of experts and people that activities. and equipment should be secured. Divers should supported by: have been working with seadragons and maintain neutral buoyancy to minimise related species. 4 No ups and downs please Do not attempt to move seadragons up and down disturbance of the seafloor by fins and also avoid Dragon Search is preparing a database through the water column. Under stress seadragons gripping objects for support or to prevent drift. of all reported sightings of seadragons are sensitive to quite small changes in pressure due to try and establish a more complete to depth. This may injure or even kill the animal. 11 Respect the marine environment picture of the distribution, and some Do not damage or break off plants and marine life. understanding of the basic ecology of 5 Sea lice are fine in moderation Collection of ‘souvenirs’ should be avoided. seadragons. This information will be Do not attempt to remove isopods (sea lice) from used to determine research and seadragons. Divers are likely to damage the seadragon management priorities for these trying to remove isopods. You should not handle 12 Remember the ‘regs’ Know the laws relating to taking other marine little-known species. seadragons for any reason. organisms. If you choose to take marine animals Seadragon sightings can be reported observe all current regulations and take only what 6 Watch your feet you need. to Dragon Search by phoning Turbulence from divers’ fins may disturb (08) 8223 5155 or via the Dragon seadragons and other marine life. Search website: 13 Appreciate marine reserves (www.dragonsearch.asn.au). 7 Take care, male mother! Marine reserves are declared to protect special areas The content of this Code of Conduct has Take special care with egg-carrying male seadragons. and important species. Be aware that special been supported by the Scuba Divers Egg-bearing males move more slowly and are more regulations may apply in marine reserves for the easily stressed than animals without eggs. Federation of South Australia. taking of fish and other marine life. 200563 © © Copyright Carey Harmer Copyright Graeme Collins© Copyright Carey Harmer Seadragons are spectacular fish found only in southern Australian waters. There are only two species of seadragons in the world - the leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) and the weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus). Along with seahorses and pipefish these remarkable fish belong to the family Syngnathidae. Syngnathids are long, slender fish with bony plates surrounding their bodies. Both species of seadragon have many leaf-like appendages on their heads and bodies. Both inhabit rocky reefs, seaweed beds, seagrass meadows and structures colonised by seaweed. They are most often seen in shallow coastal waters and feed by sucking around plankton, larval fishes and small shrimp-like crustaceans, called mysids, into their small mouths. The leafy seadragon – a protected species in South Australia – is a stunning example of the unique marine life found in southern Australian Male weedy seadragon brooding eggs waters, and is South Australia’s marine emblem. 7 Take care, male Copyright Andrew Bowie© Copyright Graeme Collins© mother! Leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) Weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) Female seadragons produce eggs that are transferred to the underside of a male Guidelines for Diving with Dragons explained seadragon’s tail. The eggs are fertilised 1 Leave them where 4 No ups and downs 6 and carried until they hatch. Take special Watch your feet care with egg-carrying male seadragons. they are please Egg-bearing males move more slowly and are more vulnerable to stress than Leafy seadragons are protected under the Do not attempt to move seadragons up When diving in the vicinity of seadragons seadragons without eggs. The male will SA Fisheries Act 1982 and may not be taken and down through the water column. be aware that the turbulence your fins be at his most sensitive and cautious without Ministerial approval. Report Under stress seadragons are sensitive to create can disturb any seadragons in the during this period. Any trauma may have anyone taking seadragons to FishWatch even small changes in pressure due to area. As seadragons are very well severe repercussions for the unborn SA on the 24 hour hotline 1800 065 522. depth. Although seadragons may change camouflaged you may be unaware of juveniles. Many males keep to a very depth voluntarily quite quickly, problems how many are nearby. As a precaution small area while carrying eggs, and may occur when they are stressed. Seadragons, it is recommended to minimise the power not welcome the intrusion of divers. 2 + 3 Look but don’t touch like other bony fish, have a swim bladder. of your kicking action, utilising any Copyright Graeme Collins © Home on the range! The swim bladder is a gas-containing sac available current to drift away rather than present in the gut that allows them to actively swimming. Seadragons will almost certainly see you maintain their position in the water before you see them. If the seadragon is column. If the seadragon is being touched hiding in seaweed or kelp it is most likely or herded by a human then the resulting Diver with dragons uncomfortable with your presence. Divers stress may cause its swim bladder to cease – look but don’t touch should avoid touching or altering a functioning properly and the animal may 8 9 seadragon’s natural behaviour in any way, not survive. Just as a breath-holding diver Turn the lights down Clean up after others as this kind of harassment can disturb ascending to the surface will damage their important feeding and breeding activities. lungs – due to the change in pressure – Do not expose seadragons to bright light If you find discarded or snagged fishing Seadragons are delicate and handling the swim bladder in the seadragon may over an extended period, especially at line please collect it and dispose of it may injure or stress them. Groups of be damaged, which means that the animal night. This includes bright torches, thoughtfully.
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