Northern Pacific Seastars (Asterias amurensis) were first found in Port Phillip Bay in 1994. With recent estimates putting the Bay population at 165 million, and each female producing 20 million eggs, it's fair to say they're here to stay! Since … [Read more...]
The great Easter egg hunt is on!
An unusually high number of sand snail egg masses found on the Carrum shoreline on April 15 prompted an email enquiry to Museums Victoria for advice on when spawning occurs. Impressively, they replied the very next day with the most up-to-date … [Read more...]
Shifting shorelines: a bug’s-eye view
'Grey to Green' project leads the way..... Collaboration with City of Greater Geelong and the National Centre for Coasts and Climate to monitor the effects of installing a semi-submerged breakwater off Point Richards is a golden opportunity to … [Read more...]
Captain Trash – not a real pirate!
Yes it's true, Captain Trash isn't a real pirate.... HE'S AN UNREAL PIRATE!!! He'll be on a beach near you in the upcoming Summer By the Sea program strumming up citizen science and community action to care for Port Phillip Bay. For kids of all ages, … [Read more...]
What’s in a name?
Sticks and stones can break your bones but names'll never hurt you, but would you like to be called a Common Stinkfish? Baykeeper found this little fishy (around 250mm long) washed up in St Kilda shallows recently. sparking a search on the web and … [Read more...]
Leave only footprints in the sand!
A rollicking good time was had by all at Point Ormond yesterday when Captain Trash and Bronnie (EcoCentre educator) teamed up with the Grade 1 crew from St Joseph's Primary, Elsternwick, for a litter collection/audit and shoreline seashell … [Read more...]
A magic day at Birdsland
When the Litter Fairy and Captain Trash visited Birdsland Environmental Education Centre even the bins couldn't help swaying to the sounds of their ukeleles! The annual 'Minibeast Festival' was a collaboration of Yarra Ranges Council, Friends of … [Read more...]
Frankston High School’s science in the sand
Hats off the to the creative Frankston High School crew for combining positive environmental action, education and citizen science. The Port Phillip EcoCentre team were thrilled to receive the following report: Our school Eco Team were lucky … [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...]
Mothers beach: not just for Mums!
The clean, wide beach an extensive shallows are living proof of why Mothers beach (Mornington) got its name. Eight energetic kids, a couple of chilled out Mums and a Grandma joined Baykeeper for a Shoreline Shell survey there last week to gather … [Read more...]
Seashell Safaris – a fresh look at the beach
The 2015 'Summer by the Sea' program (brought to you by Coastcare Victoria and Parks Victoria) is providing free activities on the coast during January. The wide range of activities include 14 seashell safaris conducted by Port Phillip Baykeeper on … [Read more...]
Schools turn the tide on plastic trash
Beach surveys of micro-plastics around Port Phillip Bay are providing compelling evidence of the need to rethink our use and disposal of plastic consumer goods. They also raise questions about how effective our waste management systems are at … [Read more...]
Baykeepers film sets sail
It was my lucky day when Michael Lutman attended a screening of his film ‘Plasticized’ at Port Phillip EcoCentre earlier this year. As there is increasing evidence of wildlife being entangled in, or swallowing plastic, I was thrilled when he agreed … [Read more...]
