BRIEFS

The Eastbourne Wharf to Wharf swim is scheduled for Sunday the 5th March 2023. This non-competitive event has been running for more than 100 years, however due to Covid restrictions it hasn't been run since 2020. The 1.25km course starts at Days Bay Wharf and ends at Rona Bay wharf. This event focuses on participation and having fun, and the organisers would love to see as many locals enter as possible. There will be age group and spot prizes on the day. More information can be found at https://wharf2wharf.wordpress.com/

At a New Year's Eve checkpoint on Hutt Rd, Petone, three people were found to be over the breath alcohol limit of 250mcg. A further three were found to be over the limit at a checkpoint on Marine Drive, Days Bay, in Eastbourne. One of those attempted to do a U-turn, allegedly to try to evade the Days Bay checkpoint. Between both checkpoints, 640 drivers were stopped and tested. Twenty-six tested positive for alcohol, and of those 26, six were processed for exceeding the breath alcohol limit. The other 20 were under the limit.

At just a few centimetres long, salps are near the bottom of the food chain.

They graze on phytoplanktons, microscopic plant-like organisms in the sea that absorb CO2 for their photosynthesis, and perform an important function in capturing surface carbon and pooping it so it eventually sinks to the bottom.

Of 48 species of salps, 14 are found in New Zealand waters, says NIWA’s Dr Moira Decima, who led a 2018 scientific expedition on NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa, nicknamed the “SalpPOOP expedition” (Salp and Particle expOrt Ocean Production).

“They are more closely related to us than to jellyfish.”

As Island Bay Marine Education Centre’s Boris the Blue Cod says: “Don’t worry if you see heaps of them washed up on the beach. They won’t hurt you and they’re good for our Planet. Salps rock.”

The best thing is that their poop sinks to the bottom of the ocean and that’s a good way of removing carbon from the sea surface.

Salps are very important for cycling nutrients through the different depths of the ocean.

As they move up and down through the ocean eating and pooping eating and pooping they spread nutrients downwards to other hungry ocean neighbourhoods.

Glad I don’t live in THAT neighbourhood.