Pipi Plunder continues

Just in case you missed the item on Channel 7 last night. Here is a link to their story (sorry about the ad at the start but that's the way Yahoo7 have set up the embed link).. There is a lot more to the story than is covered in this news item, and I agree the majority of recreation pipi collectors probably do following the guidelines. Clearly a massive amount of the beach is being turned over all day long in January (and that is a lot of work just to get your 2 litres of fresh pipi). I for one an a bit disappointed that the fisheries department representatives are playing such a conciliatory hand. SO are they blind, or just pretending to be so, perhaps it is time the authorities got stronger feedback. SO if you witness any of the following blatant and clearly organised flouting of the recreational catch limits

1) “mule” family groups tipping their catch into larger buckets and carrying those buckets into the dunes.
2) Young male “runners” (often holding radios or mobile phones)collecting the buckets in the dunes and carrying them along tracks in the dunes.
3)  People with radio or mobile phones marshalling vans in the beach car parks. (Clearly these vehicles are not full of holiday makers) The licence plates on these vans will probably give the best way to find the organizers of these rackets.
Please take photos and/or report you observations to 13 FISH (a free call number)

Adventures in Environmental Science

The Rounded Noon Flower Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum, sometimes called Pigface, an endemic species of our coastline are coming into flower now.





I would also like to post a link to a film I made called Adventures in Environmental Science which is about some of the activities of the Venus Bay Observation Project.


I am hoping that those who do view the film would find it to be educational and entertaining, but most of all I hope it inspires others to be brave and become involved and add their contribution to the Venus Bay Observation Project.

The Summer 2012 edition of Coastline is available for down load at the DSE website.

This cover a wide range of cpastal matters and in particular a lot of local community groups concerned with there part of our beautiful Victorian coastline.

Whilst at the website check out this year Summer by the Sea program.

COASTAL FLOWERS OF THE DUNES

With the great weather we've been having lately it might be time to get outdoors and enjoy the flowers.

The Daisy Bushes Olearia sp. are colouring the dunes with their white flowers.

While the Seaberry Saltbush Rhagodia candolleana red berries attract the eye as well as providing food for the native animals.

There is also an invader from southern Africa hiding in the coastal vegetation. Purple Groundsel Senecio elegans gives itself away with its purple and yellow flowers. It is drought tolerant and can often be found scattered behind the foredunes.

Summer Berm

Despite the near tropical storms and downpours over the past fortnight, the summer berm is developing all along the beach at Venus Bay and only a few fresh erosion scarps can be seen. This upper beach is already flattening under mainly strong northerly winds and this brings promise of a wider summer berm this year. The full moon is tonight and it will be interesting just how high the overnight tide might reach.