Annual membership is now due and for only $2 its an absolute bargain.

What will you get for your $2?

Well regular newsletters for a start, the ability to participate in data collection activities such as Seagrass Watch and Mangrove Watch, as well as educational and promotional activities associated with protecting the marine environment of the Southern Sandy Straits.

If you enjoy the marine environment of the Great Sandy Straits region and want to participate or just be associated with what we do then please contact us about membership.

Attached is the latest SSSMeg newsletter update on activities over our first year and new activities planned for the next 12 months.

Also, please note there is a meeting this Sunday July 25th, 10.30am at Barnacles Café with all members welcome. Hope to see you there.

Download the July 2010 Newsletter here

Feel free to pass on our newsletter to friends.

Federal Environment Minister Garrett announced on 24 March 2010 new "Areas for further Assessment". The Department of Environment Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) is now consulting with key stakeholders in relation to the assessment areas. The results of the assessments are of course currently unknown. DEWHA has stated explicitly that these areas are not proposed green zones and speculation on the eventual results is just that... speculation. The recognition of areas such as these can only further our knowledge and assist in protecting and conserving the bioiversity in the wider Great Sandy region.

Quoted from DEWHA... "Areas for Further Assessment are large areas that encompass representative examples of the range of biodiversity and ecosystems within a marine region. They are being used to narrow down the areas within which new Commonwealth Marine Reserves will be established. These reserves are being selected using a set of goals and principles that are set out in the Marine Bioregional profile for the East Marine Region. Once established, these reserves will form part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas."

See the following link for further information on Marine Bioregional Planning in the East

The Fraser area for further assessment, adjacent to the Great Sandy Marine Park (see map below), is acknowledged as an "...internationally significant habitat for turtles, whales, dugong, seabirds and migratory shorebirds".

Map of Fraser region for further assessment

"The public can now have their say on the move to have Cooloola recognised as part of the Fraser Island World Heritage Area" Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said today.

Full details of the Ministers announcement can be found on the Queensland Government Ministerial Media Statements web site.

Closing date for submissions is 19 May 2010

Further details including maps of the area to be listed, other details of the proposal and making a submission can be found at DERM web site. Refer also our article regarding the UNESCO nomination at World Heritage Listing for the Great Sandy Straits

A number of members got involved in cleanup activities yesterday in what were not ideal conditions. Activities focused on clean up on western shore of Tin Can Inlet in the Norman Point area.

Check out the official Cleanup Australia website for more information.