Sapphire Coast Sea Shepherd and Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast recently led a beach clean-up at Mitchies Jetty. Photo: Supplied.
A fun, inspiring and educational expo that showcases all the activities around the coast, from recreational sports to aquaculture, and the rich and diverse creatures and plants that live there, is coming to the Bega Valley.
The Sapphire Coast Marine Expo will be held at Tathra Beach Eco Camp from 10 am to 2 pm on Sunday, 23 February.
It is being organised by the climate and environment group of Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast (SJA) in partnership with Sapphire Coast Sea Shepherd. It has enlisted the involvement of several conservation groups, government agencies and local businesses.
Robin Spinks, environmental projects officer with SJA, said the expo was “bringing together all interested groups to celebrate, and educate about, all the activities along the Sapphire Coast.
“That includes diving, surfing, and aquaculture, all with a focus on sustainability,” Mr Spinks said.
The expo is open to all ages and has a range of family-friendly activities.
Expo partner NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is running two beach discovery sessions for kids on Tathra Beach. Children will learn about marine animals and how they interact in the environment.
The Marine Debris Challenge will see competitors fitted with lifejackets, on kayaks on dry land. They will be “fishing” for common debris and get points. The winner will get a gift voucher from local ecotourism operator Navigate Expeditions.
The expo will feature workshops that showcase marine animal conservation and preservation, sustainable aquaculture, recycling, and plastic-free solutions.
There will also be a series of talks, film screenings, live music, and market stalls.
Representatives from NSW Department of Industries’ Marine Parks and Fisheries divisions will talk about the rules around fishing and conservation measures in protected zones.
Other speakers include Far South Coast Landcare members discussing their coastal weeds program, and Peggy McDonald OAM, a member of the board of Australian Raptor Care and Conservation, who will talk about sea birds.
People will have the opportunity to don snorkelling gear to explore the abundance of marine life around Tathra Wharf.
Nature Coast Marine Group from Eurobodalla is also involved.
Wendy Wait, Tara Brown and Robin Spinks of the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast’s climate and environment group at the Brain Waves trivia event. Photo: Supplied.
SJA and Sapphire Coast Sea Shepherd recently led a beach clean-up at Mitchies Jetty in Merimbula, which collected more than 30 kilograms of rubbish.
Mr Spinks said the expo was the centrepiece event of its ongoing Ocean Guardians program.
The program kicked off six months ago with a mission to restore and preserve the waterways and marine ecosystems of the Sapphire Coast.
It held a Kiss the Carp Goodbye event at Kiss Lagoon in Bega.
“We partnered with Ocean2Earth who compost the carp and turn them into fertiliser,” Mr Spinks said.
Another event was the ocean Brain Wave trivia night that it co-hosted with Sapphire Coast Sea Shepherd at Longstocking Brewery in Pambula.
Mr Spinks expects there will be ongoing projects for the Ocean Guardians program that come out of the expo.
Another major project of SJA’s climate and environment group is a solar energy program in partnership with the Sapphire Coast Historical Vehicle Club at Greigs Flat.
“They are calling it a community solar garden,” Mr Spinks said.
Loading ...
