Recent reports from the north and south of the Bay of thousands of fresh, washed-up Thin-ribbed cockle shells (Fulvia tenuicostata) raise concerns about the impact of Northern Pacific Seastars (Asterias amurensis) on this species; particularly as … [Read more...]
Fake grass adds plastics to the Bay
Even after several months of collecting and documenting tufts of synthetic turf leaking from a sportsfield installation by the Darebin Creek, it still came as quite a shock to find some had made its way to St Kilda beach. Fake grass is just another … [Read more...]
Summer dredging to dump more contaminated sediments in the Bay
The plan to conduct shipping channel maintenance dredging of from mid November to February 2020 (peak season for recreational swimmers) raises serious questions about our ability to manage the Port of Melbourne for the benefit of all Victorians. … [Read more...]
What’s not to like about the kite?
Calling all dare devils! Do you like to race across the water and make spectacular leaps up to 4 metres in the air, totally impressing crowds on piers and beaches? Would you like a hobby that compared to motorised personal water craft costs less to … [Read more...]
Melbourne’s world class water – well worth protecting
In the week when we're wondering if newly discovered planets have life-supporting water, it's exciting to see the Victorian Government launch of the Yarra River Action Plan Wilip-gin Birrarung murron (pdf) Caring for the Yarra and its water … [Read more...]
Common Violet Snails – climate message on a bubble
Big thanks to Emma Royer for sending this pic of a Common Violet Snail (Janthina janthina) found on Point Lonsdale dog beach on 26-11-2016. There were 30-40 or so washed up among their preferred prey: By-the-Wind-Sailors (Velella … [Read more...]
Bluebottles: to swim or not to swim?
Arrival of Summer in 2016 coincided with the worst influx of Bluebottles (Physalia physalis aka Portugese Man-O-War) to Port Port Bay. First news to Baykeeper was on November 26 with a report of big numbers around Chinaman's Hat. They'd been … [Read more...]
Where else for that special day?
A whole new take on marriage on the rocks.... but pure joy can be hard to find. Of course it helps if you look in the right places. This happy couple couldn't have planned it better! Autumn on Port Phillip Bay... magic in anyone's language. … [Read more...]
Bay management plan – who gives a toss?
Everyone who gives a toss about Port Phillip Bay is urged to contribute to the draft Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan being prepared by the Department of Environment Land Water & Planning. Consultations are open until February 29 … [Read more...]
Beaumaris Bay international fossil site expo
How lucky are we to have one of only a few internationally significant fossil sites in Australia right here in Port Phillip Bay? Other countries and communities would give their eye teeth to have such an ancient and educational tourism asset. … [Read more...]
Who’ll pay for the lost coast?
The Victorian Government has accepted that sea level is likely to rise by 800 mm by 2100. The recent king tide in late December was a good time to get a sense of what that'll mean to Port Phillip Bay. On the evidence above, St Kilda beach as we know … [Read more...]
Bayside boosts soft plastics recycling
Soft plastic bags are shifty little expletives! Apart from impersonating jellyfish and gumming up the gut of unsuspecting turtles and dolphins, they also gum up equipment used to recycle hard plastics. So there was a buzz in the air when Bayside … [Read more...]
River study measures Melbourne’s micro-plastics
Dropped on a suburban street and run over by a car, this plastic bottle top broke into more than 30 pieces. If street cleaners don't get there first the next rain will wash most of them to a waterway that flows to Port Phillip Bay. They don't just … [Read more...]
