Mer Island (Torres Strait, Australia): 14 - 15 September 2009

The Mer (don't forget to roll the "r") Island workshop was held at the Murray Island Guest House on September 14-15. We started the workshop with a blessing from James Ahmat one of the Badu rangers, who had travelled from a Western Island to undertake this training. The workshop went well with lots of sharing particularly in relation to word usage and my terrible Miriam Mer accent. Luckily for me Moses Wailu and John K Tabo were on hand to translate. Feedback was positive not only on the educational aspects but also the great kai kai provided by Ella, Loco and Max. Thanks to everyone who attended and to those who made the workshop possible. Text Jane Mellors


	MR1 15 September 2009

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There was a great turnout of people to assist Moses and John monitor MR1. All the participants with their newly honed skills were ready to take on the Seagrass-Watch Challenge. After doing a couple of quadrats together, we split into transect teams and went forth. There was quite a lot of sludgy brown algae on top of the seagrass, but Moses assures me that is a seasonal phenomena. Well hopefully we will be able to confirm that next year if the sites are still being monitored. There was lots of mokepu (spider conches) around and some of the luckier people saw a baby cray. Text Jane Mellors

We wish to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians on whose land we held our workshop and whose sea area we collected our seagrasses for this workshop. We thank the traditional owners for granting us access to their land and sea areas Text Jane Mellors

Broome, WA (Australia): 23 - 24 August 2009

Seagrass-Watch HQ visited Broome in late August through the support of Environs Kimberly to conduct Level 1 training. It has been two years since Seagrass-Watch last visited Broome and conducted training. Since then monitoring has continued under the guidance and coordination of a succession of local coordinators. Participants were keen to refresh their skills and learn about their local seagrasses and how their region compares globally.

It was a huge turnout. Workshop participants were from a diverse range of local community and indigenous groups, including the Bardai Jawi Land & Sea Rangers and the Djarindjin ladies.

Classroom and laboratory sessions were conducted at the Department of Environment & Conservation offices and the field session was at held at Town Beach (RO1).

To download Level 1 Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)



	Town Beach : Roebuck Bay RO1: 24 August 2009

Although only two seagrass species are commonly encountered (Halodule uninervis and Halophila ovalis), the intertidal meadows across Roebuck Bay are extensive. Seagrass abundance at RO1 was similar to the same time last year, as abundance appears to follow a seasonal trend (higher in later months of the year and lower during the monsoon).

The intertidal flats were popular with tourists taking advantage of the low tides to visit the catalina wrecks (one of the 15 flying boats remaining from the Japanese air raid on Broome in 1942). The seagrass meadows also appeared popular with dugongs during high tide as feedings trails were common across the site. Also plentiful were gastropod egg cases/sacs and green polychaetes. Although participants expressed concern for the condition of seagrass and associated fauna after the hovercraft passed over the site.

All participants enjoyed the 2 days and many commented that they did not realize the importance of seagrass meadows; vowing that on returning to their local regions, they would endeavor to impart their knowledge to the local communities to help support seagrass and marine conservation.

The workshop was supported by Environs Kimberly, local coordination by Fiona Bishop (who also organised the excellent catering), with assistance from Sharon Ferguson (DEC) (who also collected the seagrass specimens for the workshop) and Seagrass-Watch HQ.

Seagrass-Watch HQ would like to thank all those who attended the workshop, especially the Bardi Jawi Rangers and the Djarindjin ladies who made the long trip down from Dampier Peninsula.

Bali Workshop (Level 1): 09 May 2009

Seagrass-Watch HQ visited Bali in early May to conduct Level 1 training. It has been four years since Seagrass-Watch last visited Bali and conducted training. Since then relatively little has happened apart from some annual monitoring in Karimunjawa. Hopefully interest will increase after the workshop, as most participants were new to the program.

Workshop participants were from a diverse range of academic, government and non-government organisations, including: University of Udayana, Bogor Agricultural University (CCMRS/PKSPL – IPB), Mataram University, Institute for Marine Research and Observation (IMRO), Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, The Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation (TERANGI), Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Classroom and laboratory sessions were conducted at the Coral Triangle Center (The Nature Conservancy) and the field session was at Sanur Beach (SN1). Enhalus acoroides was flowering on the low spring tides and participants observed lots of female flowers, fruits and male flowers (dispersing across the water surface). There were also lots of Thalassia hemprichii fruits observed floating over the monitoring site. Seagrass abundance at SNI appears similar to when it was last monitored in May 2005. The site is located on a section of the Sanur reef flat/lagoon where fishing and gleaning is discouraged. Either side of the area was popular with many locals taking advantage of the low tides to fish or collect whatever animals they could find amongst the seagrass.

The workshop was supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society (Indonesia, Marine), local coordination by Stuart Campbell (WCS Marine Program Coordinator), The Nature Conservancy (Coral Triangle Center), and Seagrass-Watch HQ.

Seagrass-Watch HQ would like to thank all those who attended the workshop and hope you enjoyed it.

To download Level 1 Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)

Singapore Workshop (Level 1 & 2): 01 - 03 May 2009

Seagrass-Watch HQ visited Singapore for the Labour Day long weekend to catch-up with TeamSeagrass and conduct both Level 1 (basic) and Level 2 (refresher) workshops.

Pulau Semakau was the field event that kicked off the training workshops. The location has been monitored for over 2 years and the Level 2 particpants demonstrated their skills at monitoring all three sites on the morning of 1 May 2009. After a Safety Briefing from Siti and Ria, the particpants collected their equipment and ventured to their assigned monitoring sites. After a brief delay at PS1 (due to someone removing the permanent markers), all three sites were successfully completed within a couple of hours. It was a great day, complete with blue sky and sunshine.

After a couple of hours rest, it was then Level 1 participants turn to learn the background knowledge required to properly and confidently conduct Seagrass-Watch monitoring. It was an intensive 5 hours, but everyone passed the written assessments with flying colours. They completed their training with the field component at Chek Jawa the following morning. Chek Jawa seagrass meadows appears to continually improve since they were decimated by freshwater floods in early 2007.

The workshop finished off with the Level 2 classroom session on Sunday 3rd. Participants refreshed their taxonomy skills and learnt about the details of the Seagrass-Watch protocols. They also experienced how important it is to be properly trained and record data according to the standard protocols. Their skills of observation were also tested during the classroom exercises. The day was finished off by learning how to use a GPS and a "treasure" hunt throughout the beautiful Singapore Botanic Gardens to find the secret letters at eight locations which spelt out a secret seagrass word.

Overall, particpants thoroughly enjoyed the training and the events were a huge success. A special thanks to Ria, Siti, Wei Ling and Shufen, for organising the workshops. Seagrass-Watch in Singapore is an initiative of TeamSeagrass in close partnership with the Biodiversity Centre of the National Parks Board. This workshop was supported by the National Parks Board Biodiversity Centre, Seagrass-Watch HQ, and TeamSeagrass Singapore.

Seagrass-Watch HQ would like to thank all those who attended both Levels. We hope you enjoyed the workshops.

To download Level 1 Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)

To download Level 2 Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)

	Pulau Semakau: Level 2 Field PS1, PS2, PS3 : 01 May 2009



	Level 1 Workshop 01 May 2009


	Chek Jawa: Level 1 field 02 May 2009



	Level 2 Workshop 03 May 2009

Cooktown (Qld, Australia) : 26-28 March 2009

Cooktown is the northernmost town on the east coast of Australia, located at the mouth of the Endeavour River, on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland.

Seagrass-Watch HQ conducted a two day (Level 1) workshop in Cooktown (26-27 March) at the River of Gold Motel. The workshop was attended by local QPW/EPA officers, Indigenous rangers and local community.

The field component of the workshop was held at Archer Point. The intertidal monitoring sites are located on a fringing reef platform. The sites are dominated by Halodule uninervis (both wide and narrow leaf varieties), however another five seagrass species are also present in the sites and bay (Halophila ovalis, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Zostera muelleri ssp. capricorni). Seagrass species composition remained relatively stable over the past 12 months. The site is being monitored as part of the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring program, which was conducted on 28th March by the team from Seagrass-Watch HQ .

To download the Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)



	AP1: Archer Point 27 March 2009

Cairns (Qld, Australia) : 09-10 March 2009

Rangers from Mapoon and Napranum attended the Seagrass-Watch workshop (Level 1) in Cairns, March 9-10 held at Northern Fisheries Centre. The workshop brought participants up-to-date on what was happening to seagrass from around the globe. The workshop also included seagrass identification, background on seagrass ecology, the importance of seagrass and how to monitor seagrasses using the Seagrass-Watch protocols.

The field session on the 10 March, moved to Yule Point, where participants got a chance to put into practice what they had learnt in the classroom, where they monitored a Seagrass-Watch site.

To download the Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)