This weekend we did a snorkel at teahouse Ricketts and fossil beach. Fossil beach was relatively clear water on the Saturday. Despite southeast afternoon winds blowing directly into here, the sediment seems to settle quite quickly. The currents to the north and south miss this area and flow further afield. After the rain this week though, it’s been a little bit dirty to the north. There was quite a lot of sediment in the water column at Ricketts Point on Sunday morning. Nevertheless, a great weekend to swim. It’s amazing how different the conditions can be each week. You see new things every time.
Saturday 17 March
I swam north of fossil beach towards the scout hut and saw quite a bit. No eagle rays this time (usually quite common at this site) but some pink nudibranchs, seahorses at the yacht squadron pier and some Pygmy Leatherjackets. These seems to have increased in abundance of late.
I am always astounded at the amount of coral reef in this area. But I do wonder how extensive it would have been before construction of the coastline. Sedimentation build-up is clearly affecting its growth these days.
There continue to be lots of Skipjack Trevally around. The picture below is of a group at fossil beach but there was also a shoal at teahouse on Sunday.
Sunday 18 March
Ricketts Point is covered in a thick layer of filamentous algae at the moment. After two years of heavy summer rains this is becoming a worry. This year, an enormous sewage spill will have affected this spot. The reason Ricketts Point is so rich with life is that it is a nutrientA substance that contains the raw materials for life. At a chemical level, these are contained inside compounds that are absorbed into the body and essential energy-containing molecules are extracted, so that energy can be transformed into other chemical processes that use the energy for living. More deposition zone on the boundary between currents. This means much of the dirt from the north and west settles here. The algae is a response to this. It’s also the reason why sea urchin culls aren’t a good idea. They are algae eaters. Removing the principal herbivores from a reef system means it gets choked with sediment and coral and other fragile habitatsWhat is habitat for animals and people? Habitat, hence the word "habitable" describes the natural surroundings in which any animal (or human) lives, that houses basic needs, such as food and shelter. Vegetation, for example, is habitat for animals. On its own, habitat is not necessarily stable or sustainable, which is why it differs from an ecosystem. Habitat in disrepair More die.
But fish diversity is really high. I saw a Drummer recently. There are lots of Skipjack Trevally; several species of Leatherjacket; at least one adult Blue-throated Wrasse (very rare here); and I even saw a Prickly Toadfish out and about in daylight, which is unusual. I also saw Smallfin Clingfish and several Widebody Pipefish, including one female.
Sapsucker Eruption
Right now at Ricketts there is a wonderful event happening. Literally millions of tiny sapsucking sea slugs are feasting on the remaining caulerpa that dies off this time of year. There are patches where the plants and water column are filled. They are starting to lay eggs too. They are only about 3-5mm long but must be one of the reef’s biggest biomassThe weight of living organisms. Biomass can be measured in relation to the amount of carbon, the dry weight (with all moisture removed) or living weight. In general it can be used to describe the volume of energy that is contained inside systems, as the size of animals relates to their metabolism and therefore, how much energy they contain and More at the moment.
Illegal fishing at Ricketts Point – please sign the petition
Please sign this petition. Marine parks are only 5% of our coast and Illegal fishing is killing their chance of recovery. This is calling on the state environment Minister to launch a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s ineffectiveness and ask for better ways to protect these values. Almost every morning, afternoon, evening and night time (multiple times every day) there are people illegally fishing in Ricketts Point Marine Park.
