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Wednesday 2 December 2020
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Sea ponies a high tide delight
SHEREE Marris gets up close and personal with one of the many baby sea ponies taking their chances off Blargowrie. Picture: Jules Casey
GIVEN her scientific knowledge, underwater experience and background it takes something really special in the marine world to excite Sheree Marris. But what she saw during a dive off Blairgowrie a couple of weeks ago left her scrambling to find a comparison. “I was greeted by a sea of baby sea ponies. It was like a thick soup of these delicate little jewels,” Marris said of what she described as “one of the most spectacular events I’ve seen in all of my years exploring Port Phillip”. “These baby sea ponies - or fry - measuring a tiny two to three centimetres, were jostling for position on floating seagrass, each other and anything that floated by.” The young short-headed seahorses had been delivered by the males of species all giving birth (to about 60 “ponies”) around the time of extremely high tides “Yes, they’re the only males in the animal kingdom to do so and I'm all here for I” Marris said. Although there were thousands of “sea ponies” Marris said most would be eaten by wrasse and other predators. “The few that survive will spend their first two or three weeks of life floating around and moving where the currents take them until they eventually settle down on seaweed,” she said. “It was a memorable and unique experience. It’s part of the magic and lure of our local marine environment, one that I’m incredibly grateful for. “Our blue backyard is a showcase of incredible marine life and habitats that changes with the seasons; rivalling any tropical reef in colour and diversity.” More of Sheree Marris’s underwater imagery is on Instagram @shereemarris Keith Platt
Early call makes for happy campers Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au FORESHORE camping at Rye, Rosebud and Sorrento will resume on 2 January. This is one month earlier than was anticipated when Mornington Peninsula Shire CEO John Baker emailed campers that sites would be closed until February.
It is estimated that the camp grounds will operate at about 80 per cent capacity to support social distancing and to ensure adequate space between sites. There will be no casual booking offered at this stage. Mr Baker said the postponement was the “right decision with [COVID-19] restrictions still in place for the foreseeable future” (“Foreshore campers locked out” The News 9/11/20). “We concluded this was the most
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prudent approach after careful consideration of the state government’s coronavirus roadmap and to ensure the health and safety of all Victorians.” Last week’s decision to reopen early was taken “after undertaking a detailed risk assessment following the state government’s coronavirus roadmap announcement of Sunday 22 November”. “The overall easing of restrictions and, in particular, an increase in outdoor gathering numbers guided our
thinking,” Mr Baker said. The state’s 28 days without any new COVID-19 cases would no doubt have influenced his decision – and pleased campers at 1136 shire-run sites which generate up to $3 million in camping fees. Mr Baker said: “We have been monitoring the situation on a weekly basis with the health and wellbeing of our community, campers, visitors and staff at the forefront of our thinking. After
reviewing the details in the Premier’s recent announcement and considering the risks, we concluded it was safe to resume camping, albeit with some ongoing COVID-19 requirements in place. “I’m delighted we can allow the camping tradition to continue on the peninsula this summer and I implore our campers to do the right thing to ensure a safe and successful season.” Continued Page 8
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