South Australia’s seagrass fruit ripe for collecting
OzFish Unlimited is rallying the Adelaide and Fleurieu Peninsula community around the 2023 Seeds For Snapper seagrass restoration initiative, inviting volunteers to start collecting now.
The fruit arriving on beachers marks the official start of the restoration program.
Adelaide Seeds For Snapper
In Adelaide Seeds For Snapper the season officially launched on December 3 and was attended by more than 80 enthusiastic volunteers at the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, setting a vibrant tone for the upcoming activities.
The event kicked off with a Greeting to Spirit of Place by Burka-Senior Cultural Custodian Karl Winda Telfer, reminding us of the deep connection between the restoration efforts and the land’s cultural heritage.
Presenters included Green Adelaide, Associate Professor Jason Tanner from SARDI, Rachel Williams of OzFish, and Lidia Moretti from the United Nations. They each offered valuable insights that emphasised this project’s environmental significance to South Australia’s fisheries and ecosystems.
Participants enjoyed a BBQ followed by a tour of the tank site, which provided a behind-the-scenes look at where the magic of seagrass restoration happens.
Adelaide’s metropolitan beaches are already witnessing the arrival of seagrass fruits, signaling an urgent need for immediate action from local volunteers to start collecting fruit.
“The fruit are ripe and ready now for collection,” said Rachel Williams, OzFish Project Manager South Australia.
“We expect to commence volunteer seeding and deployment within the coming week so volunteers collecting the seeds are needed right now.
This natural event marks a critical phase in the efforts to restore the once prolific seagrass meadows of Gulf of St Vincent.
Seeds for Snapper in Adelaide is funded by Green Adelaide and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing. Project partners include South Australian Research and Development Institute, RecFish SA, Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, Estuary Care Foundation, and Aquatic Biosecurity.
Fleurieu Seeds for Snapper
The Seeds for Snapper initiative in Adelaide extends to its neighbours on the Southern Fleurieu Coast. To mark their start to the season, an information session for the 2023 Fleurieu project was held on November 30. Drawing a similar crowd this groundswell adds to the momentum of both projects.
This year’s Fleurieu project includes a novel initiative of placing sandbags around South Australia’s oldest shipwreck, “The South Australian,” to help protect the wooden hull from damage caused by storm surges, light and organisms that bore into the timber. Speakers included Caroline Taylor from Landscapes SA Hills and Fleurieu, Mark Polzer from the Department for Environment and Water, and volunteers who shared experiences, inspiring new and returning volunteers.
The Fleurieu Seeds for Snapper project is part of OzFish Unlimited’s national seagrass restoration program and has been made possible with funds from the Fleurieu Peninsula by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu and BCF-Boating, Camping Fishing with support from the Department for Environment and Water, Flinders University, SARDI Aquatic Sciences, local councils and community volunteers.
Getting involved
OzFish is encouraging volunteers to register for both events online. Once registered, volunteers post alerts on the Seeds for Snapper SA Volunteers Facebook page to inform fellow fruit collectors about sightings washing up at specific locations.
Volunteer beachcombers and boaters collect the fruit – either with a bucket of salt water if it’s washed ashore or a net if it’s floating on the surface.
The fruits are taken to the specially designed tanks at the Cruising Yacht Club of SA for processing and at the Encounter Bay boat ramp at the Fleurieu coast. Volunteers can also help sew the seeds into biodegradable sandbags, which they then redeploy into the ocean.
Join the effort
With the season now in full swing, we need community members to join South Australia’s two community-driven seagrass restoration projects. Your participation contributes to restoring seagrass meadows and supports our rich marine life.
“It’s as easy as walking the local beach, taking the kayak or boat out for the day, and collecting some seagrass fruit. This is the easiest way for anyone to help restore Adelaide’s seagrass meadows for future generations to enjoy,” said Ms Williams.
OzFish is calling on recreational anglers, boaters, beachcombers, community organisations, and businesses to get involved. Register your interest for the 2023 Seeds for Snapper season today.
Community members wishing to find out more about how they can get involved in this year’s project, are invited to attend the Seeds for Snapper Open Day on December 3 at the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia.