Official Newsletter Volume 52 Spring 2013 Dolphin Research Institute ABN 73 097 317 112 PO Box 77 Hastings Vic 3915 [email protected] www.dolphinresearch.org.au www.facebook.com/driface 1300 130 949 Building Marine and Coastal Self Esteem Young leaders like Chloe People who have a strong sense This is why DRI has worked Anstey (pictured) are of self esteem are more likely so hard to develop our ‘i sea, i passionate about their role as to look after their “personal care’ Ambassador Program. ‘i sea, i care’ Ambassadors. environment”. Over 2000 young ambassadors, They are trained as peer We want to develop a like Chloe, have participated educators and public speakers community with strong “self in the program, sharing the to share the experiences they esteem” for our coasts and bays. ‘i sea, i care’ messages to gain at our workshops with This is an important concept many hundreds of thousands. their school community. because we only protect what Building pride and we care about. caring for our bays It is also important because, is critical to not only like personal self esteem, our protecting our dolphins perception of the environment but all our unique is easily damaged and marine treasures. complicated to repair. We all need an injection We talk about the concept of of local marine and It is certainly more than a “Marine and Coastal Self few “awareness” or education coastal self esteem. Esteem”. campaigns can achieve. Concerns Regarding Partnerships Help Nominated for two Moonraker trips the Vessel Impacts on ‘i sea, i care’ Grow 2013 Coastal Awards for DRI Members our Dolphins We are delighted that more We are setting sail on the weekend of November 16 The first hint of spring with schools and young leaders will and 17 for an afternoon of calmer conditions allowed be able to participate with DRI has been nominated ‘i sea, i care’ swimming with Port Phillip’s us to check on “DD” who in the 2013 / in two categories in the 2013 Victorian Coastal Awards of dolphins and seals - or enjoying had recently suffered a major 2014 year thanks to renewed Excellence. the view from aboard the fully trauma to its dorsal fin from a partnerships with the Cities licenced vessel, Moonraker. boat propeller (last newsletter). of Kingston and Casey, and One is for Marine and Coastal a new partnership with the Education and focuses on our Mornington Peninsula Shire. work with the City of Kingston. This means another 120 The other category is for ambassadors from 30 schools Community Partnerships. will be joining the program We will let you know how we go The image shows that DD’s and taking our stories about in the next newsletter. Book direct to Moonraker wound seems to be healing but Victoria’s marine treasures to Charters on 5984 4211. Don’t that it will leave permanent nearly 15,000 people! DRI’s Research forget to tell them that you’re disfigurement. Shared at National a DRI Member. We look Boat strike and entanglements Conference forward to seeing you aboard! can be fatal but are fortunately Sue Mason, DRI’s Research not common. The impacts of Officer, recently presented vessels regularly interrupting her work on the common behaviours could have a greater dolphins at the conference of impact on the population. the Australian Marine Sciences We will feature this more in Association in Queensland. the Summer Newsletter. Letter from the Chair Champions for DRI By Ian Stevenson As you read this edition you will see words like “Building”, “Concern”, “Partnerships”, “Nominated”, “Shared”, “Champions”, “Future” and of its type in the world. So you “Excellence”. could probably add “Pioneer” They say much about DRI’s to the list! positive, collaborative and But it’s more than words, it’s constructive approach and about working with people to culture. make our world a better place. You can’t help but be moved by Look at the faces in the pictures the inspiring image of Chloe on and you can see what I mean. the front page -- helping us to promote Marine and Coastal Our draft annual report is Self Esteem as an ‘i sea, i care’ now posted on the website. It Ambassador. reinforces that we are effectively managing our organization and Elsewhere you will see images of gives confidence that every cent nearly 100 other ambassadors you donate is well directed. Clockwise from top left; Degani’s cafe (Frankston), Tully’s Produce and people in businesses who are (Moorooduc), Mt Eliza Deli, Bayside Fruit and Vegetable Market all doing their bit to support out We are very proud of the (Frankston),and Palamara Village Fruits (Mt Eliza) work. team of staff and volunteers (including the children) and Local businesses are doing Over $500 has already been You will also see the images from all our supporters, who truly their bit to help protect our raised through the efforts our research; DD’s badly injured help us to deliver important very special bay by hosting of these businesses. It will dorsal fin and the VADAR tracks outcomes for our dolphins and collection tins for DRI. support our research and of our common dolphins near the marine environment. education programs. Mornington. The staff in Bayside Fruit and Vegetable Market have turned If you would like to help too, Whilst Sue doesn’t say it, her use it into a competition and call 1300 130 949. of this methodology is the first weigh their tins to see who is raising the most! Thanks to our Supporters Welcome to our new Members! Avante Marine Jeffrey Foden Barbara Vogler Canon Australia Kunyung Primary School Tylah Wallace City of Casey City of Frankston Alexandra Mramor City of Kingston Club Marine Ritchies Community Benefit Card- Coastcare an easy way to help DRI. Get your free Eastern District Computer Services CB card from any Ritchies store, and 5c Esso & BHP Billiton of every $10 you spend comes straight Fantech Good Company to DRI! Or we can send you a card or Ian Potter Foundation key-tag, call us on 1300 130 949! KISS Print Services Lord Mayor’s Fund Martha Cove Christmas or anytime Melbourne Water Midland Insurance Brokers Moonraker Charters The Dolphin Book $17 Cap $15 Mornington Sea Glass Pen $5 Stress Dolphin $3 Mornington Peninsula Shire National Bank Natures Organics Parks Victoria Perpetual Trustees Ritchies Supermarkets Visitor Publications Western Port Marina White Cleland Solicitors Yaringa Marina To order phone 1300 130 949 (plus postage $2) Research News Common dolphin research is making tracks Sue Mason Research By Sue Mason Officer My PhD work has provided VADAR track of common dolphins off Mornington us with some opportunities to further our research methods. For the first time, DRI has There have been disturbing set up a land-based survey reports from Ireland recently site and used a surveyor’s of a bottlenose dolphin theodolite connected to a in Doolin, County Clare computer and the software attacking swimmers. One VADAR to determine the GPS location of the resident person has been hospitalized lookout with a compressed vertebrae, short-beaked common broken rib and injuries to her dolphins while we watch from lungs. Signs have been erected our lookout in Mornington. warning of the dangers of We are now able to track and swimming with this animal monitor both the bottlenose (known as Dusty); these have and common dolphin Mornington often been ignored, with movements from as far away harbour people being injured over the as 4 km without stepping on past two years. a boat. The benefit is that we Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish get to see the ‘big picture’ of is logged into the computer, north off Mornington and Whale and Dolphin Group their movements, and how from a position obtained using went some way into the bay. (IWDG) was reported in the the groups split and join on a the theodolite. From this data, Our thanks to Dr Eric Kneist from Irish Examiner as having said regular basis. the VADAR software plots the movement of the dolphins. the University of Newcastle for the that the dolphin, “tormented” The diagram opposite shows loan of a theodolite and for setting by some swimmers, may kill the tracks plotted of the The arrows above show that up the software specifically for the someone, or she may have to common dolphins on one day the dolphins moved from use at our site. be removed or destroyed. of observation. Each sighting Schnapper Point, spent time This is timely to consider as we approach summer. People need Whales’ Weekend to remember that dolphins are wild animals - let them come For the past thirteen years, the Humpback whales are Several humpbacks have also to you, if they want to. Dolphin Research Institute currently on their northbound been observed in Western Port (DRI) has received reports migration to the warmer this year. of humpback whales in Port Pacific waters. Some whales, Like all wild animals, humpback Phillip over the Queen’s often those not yet sexually REMEMBER whale behaviour can be Birthday long weekend. The mature, visit Port Phillip in unpredictable. Regulations are Don’t deliberately DRI research team has joked what we humans might refer to in place to protect both those that for sometime that the long as pure curiosity. The two sub- approach dolphins closer observe whales and the whales weekend break should be adult animals that were spotted than 100m (jet skis themselves. Remember you are referred to as the ‘Whale in Port Phillip on Saturday left 300m). Severe penalties not permitted to approach within Weekend’, but we are now the bay on Sunday afternoon.