5. Citizen Science - SeaSearch Community Monitoring
Aim:
- To provide an opportunity for volunteer marine focused community groups in both Port Phillip and Western Port to develop and enhance skills in scientific monitoring in selected Monitoring
Background:
- The People and Parks Foundation have worked with Parks Victoria to establish a series of protocols that provide communities with guidelines for participation in scientific monitoring of VictoriaÕs Marine National Park system.
- These protocols describe a range of survey techniques that are applied to provide consistent data for use by managers to better understand the parks and to inform management of emerging issues.
- Community monitoring has been shown to provide useful data for researchers and managers alike and provides an important opportunity for communities to contribute to the management of the MNPS in their regions
- Significant issues that are addressed through community monitoring include marine pest monitoring, abundance and distribution of key species within the parks, and changes in the extent of critical habitat types such as seagrass.
- This years Two Bays program will extend the SeaSearch monitoring program to include aspects of the EPAÕs Beach Report program with a focus on water quality testing.
Personnel:
- Rebecca Koss Ð People and Parks Foundation
- Allison Kemp Ð EPA Beach Report
- Parks Victoria Rangers and Staff
Plan:
- This program will see volunteers visiting either Yaringa Marine National Park in Western Port or Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary in Port Phillip.
- Volunteers will meet Pelican 1 at Hastings (W/Port) or Mordialloc (PP) Piers and board the vessel for a briefing by leaders and crew.
- While underway to the marine protected area participants will be reified n the techniques to be used on the day.
- Volunteers will undertake monitoring using techniques for
- Seagrass assessment
- Photo point surveys
- Basic water quality testing
- Once on location volunteers will be guided by leaders into the water and commence surveys
- Data collected will be made collated once participants are back on board.
- Data will be made available for use by Parks Victoria and also provided to the public through the Two Bays website at www.pelicanexpeditions.com.au