Level 1

Dhimurru Rangers
(Nhulunbuy 12-14 February 2025)

Thank you

Seagrass-Watch HQ was in Nhulunbuy 12-14 February 2025 through the support of Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation to conduct Level 1 training for their rangers.

This was the first training event in Nhulunbuy since 2008 and it was really great to catch up with the participants.

The Rangers gained thorough background knowledge about their local seagrasses, how they can monitor them and how their sea country compares globally.

Participants were keen and asked lots of questions – ensuring they understood the protocols and the background knowledge required.

The classroom and laboratory sessions were conducted at Training facilities at  Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation.

This training event was facilitated by Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation and supported by Seagrass-Watch Ltd.

Seagrass-Watch HQ would like to thank all participants who attended. It was really fantastic to catch up with everyone. We hope you all found the training informative and enjoyable.

Apart from learning how to monitor and identify the seagrass species in their region, participants also identified what they saw as the top 5 reasons why seagrass are important and the top 5 threats to seagrass in their sea country.

IMPORTANCE OF SEAGRASS: THREATS TO SEAGRASS:
1. breeding/nursery areas
1. urban/industrial runoff (mining)
2. habitat for fish & crabs
2. coastal development
3. food for dugong/turtle/fish
3. recreational boating (anchoring)
4. indicator of healthy country
4. dredging
5. indicator of WQ
5. commercial vessels (oil spills)

TRAINING GALLERY

Participant feedback

Participant's impressions of the Level 1 Training:

Participant's ratings of the Level 1 training:

Below is a compilation of Participant feedback

What I enjoyed most about the training was:

…i learnt the seagrass and went on the boat
…seagrass training
…the training was an excellent workshop for all rangers to learn and to keep improving on the great work we do as rangers
…knowing the different seagrass
…learning and training about other seagrass
…learning and training about seagrasses

Download

Proceedings of a workshop for monitoring seagrass in Dhimurru Sea Country, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, 12-14 February 2025 (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Clifton Beach). 50pp. [5.3Mb]

Seagrasses of Dhimurru sea country.  2025

Links

Level 1 Training: Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation

  • 00Days

12-14 February 2025

Dear Colleague,

Seagrass-Watch will be running a Level 1 training workshop on monitoring seagrass resources, for Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation from 12-14 February 2025

Classroom sessions will be held at Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation
Field session: Click Here

Proceedings: Click Here
Agenda: Click Here
What to expect: Click Here

Prerequisites: Participants must be 18 years and over.

The training event is to equip participants, who plan to supervise/lead seagrass monitoring & assessment events and wish to establish and monitor sites on their own. Level 1 training provides participants with the skills and knowledge required to successfully assess seagrass meadows of critical importance to dugong populations and people’s livelihoods.

Please find below the agenda and proceedings for the Seagrass-Watch Workshop (Level 1) training

PROCEEDINGS

To download the Training proceedings Click Here.
Hard copies will be available on the day.

Please note: Participants are strongly urged to read through the proceedings prior to the workshop, as there are formal written assessments throughout the workshop.

AGENDA

Wednesday 12 February 2025 Location: Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation
0830 – 0900 (30min)Sign in (The training will start at 900 sharp)
0900 – 0915 (15min)Welcome & Introduction
0915 – 0945 (30min)Seagrass Biology and Taxonomy
0945 – 1030 (45min)Seagrass Identification
1030 – 1100 (30min)Break
1100 – 1145 (45min)Seagrass Identification continued
1145 – 1230 (45min)Seagrass Biology 2 and Ecology
1230 – 1315 (45min)Lunch
1315 – 1445 (90min)Seagrass importance
1445 – 1515 (30min)Seagrass monitoring
1515 – 1530 (15min)Wrap up for day
End of Day One 
Thursday 13 February 2025(morning classroom Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation  + afternoon field site)
0930 – 0945 (15min)recap day 1
0945 – 1100 (75min)Seagrass-Watch: how to sample
1100 – 1130(30min)Break
1130 – 1245 (75min)Seagrass-Watch: how to sample 2
1245 – 1300 (15min)Risk assessment
1300 – 1400 (60min)Lunch & relocate to field site
1400 – 1630 (2.5hrs)Field activity: Site to be confirmed:(Low tide 1605 0.8)
1630 – 1645 (15min)Wrap up for day
End of Day Two 
Friday 14 February 2025 Location: Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation
0900 – 0915 (15min)recap day 2
0915 – 1015 (60min)Seagrass threats
1015 – 1030 (15min)Seagrass-Watch: QAQC
1030 – 1100 (30min)Break
1100 – 1130 (30min)Seagrass-Watch: QAQC continued
1130 – 1215 (45min)Seagrass-Watch: how data is used
1215 – 1300 (45min)Discussion and Workshop close
End of workshop 

What to bring for the field?

  • hat, sunscreen
  • dive booties or old shoes that can get wet
  • wear long pants. But keep clothes light and breathable
  • drink/water/refreshments
  • wet weather gear: raincoat
  • polaroid sunglasses (not essential)
    enthusiasm

You will be walking across a seagrass meadow exposed with the tide, through shallow water. It may be wet and muddy! Please remember, seagrass meadows are an important resource. We ask that you use discretion when working/walking on them

About Level 1 Training

Participants will:

  • Study seagrass biology
  • learn seagrass taxonomy
  • discuss seagrass ecology
  • gain knowledge of monitoring and mapping 
  • learn Seagrass-Watch protocols
  • become skilled at conducting a field monitoring event

Formal Assessments:

To pass Level 1 training, participants must demonstrate competency.

  •  MUST attend and pass classroom and laboratory sessions.
  • Participants will also be assessed for competency in the field.

More information can be found at https://www.seagrasswatch.org/training/

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Seagrass-Watch admin   

Please note: Clothing and footwear appropriate to the task undertaken must be worn at all times, especially hats, long trousers and long-sleeved shirts for field work.

We look forward to having you join us at the upcoming workshop.

More information can be found at https://www.seagrasswatch.org/training/

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Seagrass-Watch admin

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