Edithburgh and Wool Bay Jetties Marine Watch

Photogrammetry

admin — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 04:18:17 +0000

Photogrammetric images of Piles 7 and 8 at Wool Bay Jetty (originals captured by Troy Johnson), are part of a broader monitoring program. In addition to species observations recorded on iNaturalist and quadrat-based benthic imagery, we have employed photogrammetry to systematically monitor 14 selected jetty piles at Wool Bay. This method enables us to track structural and biological changes over time with high spatial accuracy.

We are currently updating the website to feature monthly image sets, providing clearer insights into temporal patterns and ecological outcomes. Stay tuned as we continue to expand the visual dataset and deepen our understanding of this dynamic marine environment.

Karenia mikimotoi

admin — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 04:16:55 +0000

From the water samples collected at Edithburgh Jetty on Sunday afternoon, the presence of Karenia mikimotoi was confirmed. This species remains detectable in the area, and while cooler winter temperatures and other environmental factors have likely suppressed its growth, it has persisted through the season. As we approach summer and water temperatures begin to rise, conditions may become more favourable for proliferation – underscoring the importance of ongoing monitoring.

Below is an image of Karenia mikimotoi we have observed under the microscope on the morning of Monday, 22 September 2025.

iNaturalist

admin — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 04:15:05 +0000

Hi Edithburgh and Wool Bay Jetty Marine Watch @followers! We’ve had lots of questions about the names of the critters spotted during dives, and many of you have asked for updates. Instead of manually listing names, we’ve created two dedicated projects on iNaturalist where you can explore all the recorded observations as divers upload them in real time. To make things easier to follow, we’ve separated the observations into two projects – one for Edithburgh Jetty and one for Wool Bay Jetty – so you can track what’s been seen at each location by accessing the following links:

Edithburgh https://www.inaturalist.org/…/edithburgh-jetty-marine…

Wool Bay https://www.inaturalist.org/…/wool-bay-jetty-marine-watch

Feel free to dive in and watch the database grow as we move into the monitoring phase of the project!

Welcome to our first monitoring weekend!

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 10:20:11 +0000

Here’s a quick glimpse of what our divers encountered over the weekend – just a taste of what’s unfolding beneath the surface, with much more to come.

Visibility started at around 6 meters at 9:30am at Wool Bay and 10 meters at Edithburgh, dropping to 5 meters as the tide shifted. Encouragingly, there’s noticeably more life than just a month ago – mostly small critters, juvenile fish, shrimps, and fresh seaweed growth. While we didn’t spot any seahorses, leafy seadragons, pyjama squid, blue-ringed octopus, or other cephalopods this time, signs of regeneration are clearly emerging.

We observed Magpie perch near the end of the jetty and two cowfish – one curiously trailing us at Wool Bay, the other drifting solo at Edithburgh, seemingly without its usual companions. The highlight of the weekend was Paul’s discovery of a prickly anglerfish guarding its eggs – a thrilling sign that nature is beginning to rebound, especially with the hope that harmful algal blooms (HABs) won’t return.

Adding to the excitement, four seals were spotted at the start of the Edithburgh dive – two basking in the sun and two playfully gliding through the water near the northern jetty steps.

There’s still a long way to go, but the signs are promising. Stay tuned – more updates to come as we continue our underwater monitoring journey.