JUNE 2024 news
Winter is always a special time for Aussies living along the Great Southern Reef offering a perfect opportunity to appreciate the pristine beauty of our coastal waters.
In this month's issue and to celebrate the arrival of the Southern Right whales, we're thrilled to announce the release of our new film, Eye to Eye. You'll also find updates on our ongoing documentary project White Rock, focused on tackling the urchin crisis, and the heartwarming Now You See Me series. Winter also brings the incredible Australian Giant Cuttlefish aggregation in South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf, and we've got a mini-doc to give you a closer look.
WA's South Coast Marine Park
As the June 16 deadline for public submissions approaching for WA's South Coast Marine Park plans, we strongly encourage people to take a look at the plans and get involved in this important process by sharing your input.
Understanding the details and implications of the proposed management plans is essential. Misunderstandings can lead to unnecessary concerns or missed opportunities to provide constructive feedback. To help you navigate these plans, we have written an article addressing key points of interest and common concerns.
New Film Release! Eye to Eye
Whale season has officially kicked off on the Great Southern Reef. To celebrate, we have released a new film on our YouTube channel Eye to Eye.
Coming face to face with a Southern Right Whale left John Totterdell hooked on whales. He went on to devote his life to understanding them.
In this new GSRF short film, cetacean researcher John Totterdell takes us on a journey to the rugged southwest coast of Western Australia - a place so wild and remote, it is largely unexplored. As a consequence little is known about the marine creatures that call these waters home. In this 6 minute film, Totterdell talks through a once in a lifetime encounter with these gentle giants, which can only be seen to be believed.
Impact Documentary Project: White Rock
Last month we highlighted a Great Southern Reef delegation to Canberra bringing the GSR's urchin issue to the attention of political leaders. Since that visit, the Great Southern Reef Foundation have embarked on a documentary showcasing a comprehensive $55 million strategy to combat the urchin crisis through in-water urchin control, first nations management, habitat rehabilitation and support for emerging urchin industries.
White Rock provides a template for tackling climate driven impacts in the ocean. It showcases the power of cooperation among industries and research sectors. We are seeking support to complete the film and its strategic dissemination including a high impact media campaign and dedicated educational kit for schools. With your support, we can ensure this film has the much-needed impact to build political pressure and garner urgent support to tackle the urchin crisis.
Now You See Me Series
Sarah & Sebastian's fourth cinematic endeavour in the Now You See Me short film series, dives into the deep connection forged between creative director Sarah Munro, filmmaker Alice Wesley-Smith and The Great Southern Reef.
In celebration of World Ocean's Week, GSRF co-founders Scott Bennett and Stefan Andrews took part in a panel discussion, alongside Sarah Munro and Adele Pedder from the Australian Marine Conservation Society at a premiere screening of the film at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. We encourage you to check out this beautifully composed film which is now available to watch online.
Cuttlefish Aggregate at SA's Protected Site
Winter time also means Giant Cuttlefish aggregation time in South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf. Early reports have indicated good numbers again this year, a testament to the significant protections that have been put in place to safeguard this globally significant event. In this 5 minute mini doc, learn all about the boom-and-bust of the population and the science behind this unique spectacle.
In May 2023, the State Government made a ban on cuttlefish fishing in the Upper Spencer Gulf permanent to protect this one-of-a-kind breeding event. To highlight the National significance of this site, the Cuttlefish Coast Sanctuary Zone was also given National Heritage status in May 2023. This status will provide further protection of this spectacular breeding event as well as support further research into the species.
Thinking of making a trip this winter? You still have plenty of time. See this social post for some essential tips to help plan your visit. Also Wildcard Sue is running cuttlefish observational illustration workshops as part of the Cuttlefest activities this year.
Ocean Forests Lock Away Carbon for Centuries
An international team of researchers, led by The University of Western Australia, has made a groundbreaking discovery about the role of seaweed forests in ocean carbon storage. Published in Nature Geoscience, the study estimates that seaweed forests worldwide transport between 10 to 170 million tonnes of carbon to deep ocean sinks each year.
Dr. Karen Filbee-Dexter, the lead author from UWA’s School of Biological Sciences and the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, highlighted the significant impact of this finding. "An important fraction of the carbon could remain sequestered in the deep sinks for at least 100 years," she explained. "Our research highlights the overlooked contribution of macroalgae to oceanic carbon sinks."
Using advanced global ocean models, the international team tracked the journey of seaweed carbon from coastal areas to the deep ocean. Their findings revealed that seaweed-carbon export below 200 meters depth accounts for three to four percent of the ocean carbon sink. This underscores the need to include macroalgae in global ocean carbon budget assessments. [read more]
GSR Ecologist Wins Prestigious Fellowship
Professor Thomas Wernberg from The University of Western Australia has been awarded a prestigious Australian Laureate Fellowship, securing over $3.6 million to protect the Great Southern Reef.
This vital project will leverage cutting-edge ecological data, genomics, and experiments to combat climate change impacts on the reef's kelp forests. The initiative aims to preserve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services, and foster international collaboration while training the next generation of marine scientists.
Engaging with local to national policymakers through white papers and policy briefs, utilising the platforms provided by the GSR Research Partnership and the GSR Foundation, will ensure wide dissemination and practical application of project outcomes and offer a blueprint for safeguarding the GSR and its productive kelp forests.
Optimism in Climate Change
Based at the University of Tasmania, Hunter Forbes conducts surveys of life on the reef for the Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies as part of the Great Southern Reef Research Partnership. This month he’s been featured in the Wilderness Society’s Wilderness Journal highlighting his personal relationship to the Great Southern Reef and optimism for its future [read more].
"Climate change is an opportunity in some ways. It requires such a huge effort and such a huge change, a big change to the way we live and the way we interact with nature, and I think that could be a really positive thing."
Hunter’s recently published research offers new insights into kelp forest diversity in Tasmania, highlighting the impact of climate change on these ecosystems. His research revealed that surface canopy-forming giant kelp forests have significantly declined, being replaced by smaller kelps. Surveys in both types of kelp forests show that while the faunal community composition is largely similar, giant kelp forests still support more than double the abundance of mobile fish.
World Oceans Day Perth Event
As part of World Ocean's Day, the GSRF team were also stoked to be involved in celebrations in Perth. Co-founder and Director of Science Communication, Sahira Bell shared her knowledge and experience working alongside the Reef with an audience of over 500 West Aussies at Gage Roads Brewery. A special thanks to the Jock Clough Marine Foundation for hosting the event, and to the other speakers and panellists for making it a truly inspirational night.
An Orchestra for Oysters
Also in the spotlight, Professor Sean Connell and Dr Dominic McAfee have been awarded South Australia's 2024 Conservation Science Prize Award. Recognised for their innovative work restoring lost oyster reefs and playing music to lure in their reef-building recruits, their research informs the timing, reef configuration, and strategy for constructing new reef restorations in South Australia, and is being applied to restoration projects overseas.
GSR Local Hero
Bec has always loved the ocean. Only recently though, she started forming a deeper connection to her local waters through a daily ritual: sunrise sea swims. In winter these waters drop to a chilly 13 degrees but the cold embrace only strengthens the invigorating, mind-clearing impact of these dips.
Inspired by the local sea creatures that call these waters and the Great Southern Reef home, Bec started incorporating marine life designs of creatures from the GSR into her art; ceramic mugs. Last week Bec has launched her new website with her Great Southern Reef collection, with a portion of the sales going directly to the Great Southern Reef Foundation.
Feature Creator
Jake Mason loves the abundance and variety of life that can be found just offshore his local waters near Perth and the Busselton area. He enjoys showcasing the beauty and unique personalities of the marine life he encounters - from the quirky cartoon-like wobble and grin of a porcupine fish, alienish gaze of a cuttlefish, or the graceful dance of a weedy seadragon amongst the golden kelp.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough to protect it” explained Jake. His new project - Return to the Ocean is his way of doing more. Teaming up with local artist @hollyoliviaart, he will be promoting individual species, illustrated by local artists. The first, is a leafy seadragon - and they have released a line of merch to celebrate these iconic GSR creatures.
Kilometres for Kelp
Interested in a way that you can raise money for the Great Southern Reef Foundation's initiatives and get fit in the process? We have partnered with Grassrootz, Australia's leading community event fundraising platform to to support our initiatives. We are currently affiliated with following upcoming fun runs.
