ROCK SHELF PLUNDERED

[Nete-Quette]

ROCK SHELF PLUNDERED

06.01.2007 Tweed Daily News
By SAMANTHA HEALY

TOURISTS are destroying the Tweed Coast?s "Garden of Eden" in a selfish search of shellfish, a marine expert claimed yesterday.

Hastings Point-based marine biologist Ted Brambleby said the problem of "looters" during the tourist season had exploded, with large groups descending on the Tweed Coast village?s rocky shores in search of all types of sea creatures to be used as food.

"People have been coming down here with screwdrivers and crowbars and breaking into corals and sponges to get at the sea urchins," Mr Brambleby said.

"Visitors are destroying the rocky shores virtually every day and no-one is stopping them.

"It?s outright looting from an environment that can?t speak out."

When the Daily News went to the Hastings Point headland yesterday several people were spotted collecting shellfish, using tools such as screwdrivers and knives to remove the creatures from the rocks.

"There is nothing left, they?ve just pilfered everything. Before it was a Garden of Eden," Mr Brambleby said.

Black-lipped oysters, green turban snails, welks, brown tritons, sea urchins and perriwinkles are the most likely targets according to Mr Brambleby with shells seen left on bins and on BBQ tops.

"They know exactly what and where to look for them," Mr Brambleby said.

"The rocky shore can?t support this kind of devastation every year - the before and after effect is savage."

Despite Mr Brambleby?s concerns over these activities, it is not illegal for visitors to collect shellfish from the coastline.

A sign in the Hastings Point headland car park outlines the size and bag limits for anyone wanting to pick up shellfish.

A NSW Fisheries spokeswoman said yesterday was the first they had heard any concerns over the amount of shellfish being collected at Hastings Point.

However, she said officers would increase patrols in the area to improve compliance rates.

"We need people to call us if they see any illegal activity," the spokeswoman said.

"We do regular patrols in that area and have signs erected to advise people of size, bag limits and fishing licences. We need to catch them in the act."

Mr Brambleby said it was important to protect the rocky shores at Hastings Point.

"This place is the most pristine, highly diverse and easily accessible rocky shore from Stradbroke Island to Broken Head," Mr Brambleby said.

"It?s like a free-for-all grocery shop for these people and it has to stop."

[Red]

It turns out Brambleby is involved in a venture making money from Hastings Point rock platforms. The venture has a private museum that may display samples from the area in question.

Here is an extract from his web site at http://www.adventureeducation.better.net.au/default.html

Your host and Field guide TED BRAMBLEBY
-BSc, -Marine Biologist, -QLD Teacher, -NAUI Instructor Trainer. 5913 -CMAS Master Diving
Instructor -Winner 1984 Gold award in Science teaching QLD
With over 30 years continuous experience in teaching and education of Science, Marine Biology, Snorkelling, and Scuba diving.

Situated on 9 acres of bush land setting the centre is located less than 2 hours from Brisbane within the grounds of the Hastings Point Holiday Village about 20 kms south of of Tweed Heads on the southern end of Hastings Point.

Opposite kilometres of un-spoilt beaches an EXCLUSIVE FIELD TRIP FACILITY has been established to tap the essence of nature and it's many wonders, particularly those associated with the ocean and it's fringes.

WE CAN OFFER :

1) Guided and assisted 1 - 4 day field trips, Museum sessions, Specialised courses and Extension programs that provide the opportunity for Students of :

* Years 5-12
* Colleges
* TAFE
* Special Education and
* University to encounter :

* ROCKY SHORE and PLATFORM
* MANGROVE and ESTUARY
* BEACH and SANDUNES
* WALLUM HEATHLAND
* COASTAL RELIC FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

all within an easy comfortable walking distance from the facility.

2) A COMPREHENSIVE and UNIQUE Marine Museum with over 200 hundred preserved and dried marine specimens for interactive sessions

3) A large selection of :
SLIDES, VIDEOS, JOURNALS and BOOKS and the fascinating experience of stereo microscope projection of live specimens to the big screen television in the museum.

4) Optional skills training and certification in SNORKELLING and SCUBADIVING

5) 1-4 Day MARINE ENVIRONMENTS EDUCATIONAL CAMPS

"We look forward to being of service on your next field trip"

Ph: 02 6676 1396 Fax: 02 6676 4159
Email: advedu@better.net.au
www.AdventureEducation.better.net.au

P.O. BOX 51
POTTSVILLE BEACH 2489 N.S.W.

Charges:

Year 5-12 Field studies trips for students MIN DAY RATE
$255.00 
*MULTISTRAND SCIENCE
*JUNIOR SCIENCE
*SENIOR BIOLOGY
*MARINE STUDIES
*GEOGAPHY
*EARTH SCIENCES
Day Program 8.30am-5.OOpm Includes Guided Field study sessions, Lecture sessions, Assistance with worksheets, Optional use of Pool, Snorkeling tuition, Use of Mask snorkel and fins, Rocky shore and/or estuary snorkeling, Guided walks and treks, Interactive museum sessions, Slide program, Use of Stereo microscopes with live specimen projection to the big screen, Use of Videos, Books and Journals. Field trip debrief,Use of concept room.

Night session 7.00pm-9.00pm Interactive session with live specimen projection to the big screen television
Booked in conjunction with a field trip $40.00
 
Students using the park accommodation - PER HEAD
PER DAY
1-18 students $255 Min
19-32 students $15.00
33-50  $12.00 
Over 51 students $10.00
Additional use of ski?s for mangrove investigations is highly recommended

15 per group Max 30 1-3 hours
Min
$150.00
 
   
Day fees $2.00 per head PLUS:
In addition to the fees charged by
Adventure Education if the group is not staying the night but using the Museum,toilets etc please add $30.00 Per group 
 
   MARINE DISCOVERY SESSIONS Day fees as above plus   
2-3 hours Museum Discovery session
Large groups can be divided into 2 sessions utilizing the conference room for a slide show or complete field experience for some programs only eg. Mangroves and then museum on a rotational basis. $125.00
3-4 hours Museum Discovery session and Optional field Study session - Includes day fees to the park $175.00
 
I love the shark jaws in the museum: