cuttlefish and purple sea urchin at Point Lowly by Dan Monceaux

Fish farming could jeopardise Giant Australian cuttlefish aggregation near Whyalla

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In The Advertiser this week, the CEO of Clean Seas, Rob Gratton, claimed that if yellowtail kingfish farming returns to Fitzgerald Bay, upstream of the Point Lowly giant cuttlefish aggregation in Upper Spencer Gulf, it “will be subject to some of the most intense ongoing monitoring you can imagine”. The […]

A stylised rendition of mangrove leaves as fruits floats upon a yellow background suggestive of the forms of pneumatophores, gentle waves and mangrove fruits

The St Kilda salt fields brine spill – Mangrove disaster and a wake up call for the SA Government

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If you’ve been following the news in South Australia over the past few months, you’re probably aware of the many hectares of dead, dying and distressed vegetation in the St Kilda salt marshes. The most recognisable of these is the iconic grey mangrove, Avicennia marina, which can be seen up […]

Port Playford – the latest in a decade of industrial proposals for Spencer Gulf

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Port Playford – the latest in a decade of industrial proposals for Spencer Gulf by Dan Monceaux Most naturalists probably haven’t committed much thought to the topics of port developments, seawater desalination, shipping and their respective environmental impacts. I found my way into these fields of study back in 2011, […]

Waratah anemones, Port Noarlunga, South Australia - Dan Monceaux

New art exhibition celebrates the marine life of Port Noarlunga, South Australia

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River to Reef is an exhibition of new marine-themed artworks by South Australian artists, documentary filmmakers and amateur naturalists, Dan and Emma Monceaux. Presented by Onkaparinga Arts, the ambitious show includes fifty-five new works and can be viewed online, or in-person at the Arts Centre, Port Noarlunga, South Australia. The […]

Bottlenosed dolphin at the surface MLSSA

List of dolphin watching, conservation and advocacy groups on Facebook in South Australia

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Among South Australia’s most beloved marine species are the bottlenosed dolphins, Tursiops sp. Dolphins which forage, feed and rear their young in inshore environments like Tursiops are vulnerable to various threats in the marine environment. These include the possibility of being struck by a boat, personal water craft or propeller, […]

Potential consequences of the missing Port Noarlunga jetty stairs

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Just 32 kilometres south of Adelaide, the seaside town of Port Noarlunga is one of South Australia’s favourite destinations for aquatic activities. This week, hundreds of school children are in the midst of intensive aquatics programs, where they are introduced to the joys of paddling, ocean swimming, surfing (pending wind […]

Nudibranchs and other sea slugs of the Port River, South Australia

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The Marine Life Society of SA was recently asked which species of sea slugs (which include nudibranchs) are found in the Port (Adelaide) River. We’ve only just started exploring the river underwater, so the list below is very much a work in progress. Prior to 2017, as far as we […]

Aldinga Rd lead merchant, Willunga

What to do with old fishing gear found while snorkeling or diving?

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Divers and snorkelers often come across discarded or entangled fishing gear underwater. Unsurprisingly, the problem is most pronounced around rocky points or jetty structures where people regularly fish. Responsible divers do the right thing, and where practical, cut loose and bring ashore any gear they encounter… though one must be […]

Elysia expansa, Fletcher's Dock 2018

The Port River – over 100 marine and coastal species and counting

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I was first inspired to pay more attention to this often overlooked ecosystem by the discovery of the upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea sp. there in 2016 by MLSSA president and area resident, Steve Reynolds. My personal explorations soon followed, beginning at Garden Island. There, a snorkeller can easily step into the […]