Sunshine Coast Marine BioBlitz

As part of the Sunshine Coast Marine Bioblitz and thanks to sponsorship from CID Foundation, there was wonderful opportunity for five students to win a Discover Scuba Dive Course with Sunreef, Mooloolaba. The course took place on Friday 30 August 2024.  

To enter the students provided: a one-page essay on “What is your future vision for the ‘Blue Biosphere’ and how are you going to be living in it?”

This was open to all high school students residing or attending school in the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area.

Date: 

Saturday 24^th August:

8:30am – 12pm: Marcoola SLSC, Marcoola QLD (Theory)

1pm – 4pm: Noosa National Park (Practical)

Workshop session: 

Hosted by UniSC Researchers, lead by Dr Alexis Levengood and Georgina Hume

“Register to attend our 1-day training workshop to learn about the Dolphin Research Project SEQ’s research and become a dolphin spotter citizen scientist. With your new skills, you can collect data anytime you spot a dolphin from the headlands, on a boat, or simply walking the beach. This will contribute to advancing our understanding of and our ability to protect these iconic coastal animals!”

Date: 

Sunday 25^th August

Time: 

9:30am, at Sunreef, Mooloolaba at Shop 11 – 12, The Wharf Mooloolaba, 123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba QLD 4557

Hosted by Dr Leah Barclay from UniSC.

Join Australian composer, sound artist, creative producer and researcher Dr Leah Barclay on a deep ocean listening experience. Learn the theory behind bioacoustics technology, and put it to use onboard Sunreef’s vessel, Wild One!

The day will begin in the classroom at Sunreef Mooloolaba, located upstairs from the retail store. Here, you will be guided by Leah through the fundamentals of bioacoustics technology, and how to use different types of equipment. After a short break, the day continues onboard Sunreef's fast vessel Wild One, where everyone will have the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge learnt in the morning to gather real-life samples and listen to live bioacoustics!

Date: 

Tuesday 27th August @ 6pm – 7pm

Workshop session: 

Learn how to use iNaturalist to collect data for the Marine BioBlitz hosted by the Sunshine Coast Council Marine BioBlitz Team.

This boat-based field trip is an original immersive experience of “Tallo-Billa” performed near Old Woman Island with a live stream of migrating humpback-whales. Tallo-Billa, meaning ‘Humpback Whale’ in Kabi Kabi language, is the focus of the latest iteration of the Beeyali project. Beeyali, a Kabi Kabi term meaning “to call,” explores the sounds and vocalisations of wildlife in the environment. Conceived by Kabi Kabi artist Lyndon Davis, the project has been developed in collaboration with sound artist Dr Leah Barclay and photographer Dr Tricia King at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The Beeyali project aims to continue connecting people and places, cultivating human and non-human relationships that help us comprehend and care for one another, our changing ecosystems, and shape our collective futures.

Dive with endangered grey nurse sharks at Mooloolaba's local reef site Nurse Rock and learn how to become a shark citizen scientist! Experience the thrill of getting close to these beautiful creatures whilst learning about their conservation from local diver and grey nurse shark enthusiast Karen Anderson, who will teach you how to take photos to identify individuals and monitor this endangered species. Dive hosted by Sunreef, Mooloolaba.

Come and learn about the resident turtles at Mudjimba Island and participate in citizen science! Marine turtle expert Ebony King will introduce you to the captivating resident turtles of Mudjimba Island, home to endangered green turtles and critically endangered hawksbill turtles. Sea turtle species have physical features that enable identification of each individual, Ebony will teach you this photograph technique used by researchers across the world to support sea turtle monitoring efforts. During the tour, observe and photograph the array of other marine life adorn the underwater landscape of Mudjimba Island. Tour hosted by Blue Tortuga Adventures.

Join us for a fun-filled morning of planting! The local Bushcare Care will also be attending this event to help out with planting on the dunes. Perfect for families, friends, and anyone who loves nature! Experience in planting is not necessary. We will have helpful staff to show you how. Drop in, stay for the whole time, plant 1 or plant many, it’s up to you.

Join us for a guided walk through the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary with an expert birder to see what winged wonders you might find in this bird watchers’ paradise. This walk is suitable for all ages. Walk numbers are limited and bookings essential.

Join Dr Alexis Levengood to learn about the local dolphin populations and become a dolphin spotter citizen scientist! Dr Alexis Levengood is a research fellow at the University of Sunshine Coast and her work focuses on understanding the behaviour, ecology, genetics, and health of marine megafauna, with a focus in marine mammals. Dr Levengood has over 15 years of experience studying coastal dolphins and has worked with five dolphin species across six countries. Alexis recently developed the Dolphin Research Project Southeast Queensland. Tour hosted by Sunreef, Mooloolaba.

Take a closer look at pelagic marine life with a netting survey looking for small jellyfish and invertebrates living in the water column. Then jump in for a snorkel or freedive to check out the larger local marine biodiversity! Tour hosted by The Pressure Project.

The Ex-HMAS Brisbane is one of the world’s best wreck sites and is home to an array of marine life! Bring your underwater camera and upload your photos of the HMAS Brisbane’s biodiversity to iNaturalist to record. Dive hosted by ScubaWorld.

Embark on a captivating cultural journey as we walk the land together with local Mooloolah Dhdunga, Kabi Kabi Woman, and First Nations Guide Auntie Bridgette Chilli. Immerse yourself in the wisdom and cultural richness as you explore the landscapes and seascapes that hold the history and spirit of ancient stories, revealing a deep connection to country. Auntie Bridgette will tell the ancestral story of the land and sea country in this very special area.

With an array of whale experts on board this expedition, you can immerse yourself in becoming a citizen scientist by partaking in Wonder and Wellbeing: Immersive Humpback Whale Encounters survey (SDG14: Life below water) lead by Dr Vikki Schaffer from UniSC, learn how to photograph humpback whales with marine ecologist Emily Gregory and learn how Jess Medley from Humpbacks and Highrises collect their long-term data on humpback whales. Tour hosted by Sunreef, Mooloolaba.

Join Darren Jew, Award-winning Australian photographer and Canon Master with a passion for telling authentic visual stories for a wildlife Eco Cruise down the northern section of Pumicestone Passage. Darren will guide you through the wonders of the passage and point out all walks of wildlife from shorebirds and birds of prey to dolphins and other marine wildlife, while also providing the opportunity to learn professional photography skills. Tour hosted by Caloundra Cruises.

Explore Your Shore! Join us for a guided exploration of Point Cartwright headland lead by UniSC researchers to survey and record intertidal and coastal marine biodiversity. Discover all creatures great and small living in the rock pools, capturing photos of the critters you find!

Explore Your Shore! Join Coolum and North Shore Coast Care for a guided exploration of Point Arkwright Headland to survey and record intertidal and coastal marine biodiversity. Discover all creatures great and small living in the rock pools, capturing photos of the critters you find!

Assist in underwater mapping of Mudjimba Island and learn the techniques to monitor the reef. Dr Javier Leon from UniSC and Jodi Salmond from Reef Check Australia will teach how to collect photographs that are used to create an ‘Underwater Digital Twin’, generating a 3D model of the reef to be used for ongoing monitoring of this reef habitat! Dive hosted by Sunreef, Mooloolaba.

Come and learn from marine experts in our community!

• Raeleen Draper –  Blue Carbon and Blue Heart Project
• Prof Justin Marshall – CoralWatch
• Dale Watson and Dr Chris Henderson – Sunshine Coast Coastal Health Report/Baited Remote Underwater Video Workshop
• Gary Cobb – Nudibranchs of the Sunshine Coast
• Johan Gustafson –  Bull sharks of the Sunshine Coast

Join us for a fun and educational experience exploring the Sanctuary as part of the ClimateWatch Trail Guided Walk. The guides will assist you to identify indicator species. This walk is suitable for all ages. Walk numbers are limited and bookings essential.

Join SEA LIFE in cleaning up Mooloolaba Beach.

Learn about the development and future implementation of the Sunshine Coast Coastal Health Report and how this work influences the way we view and use our environment. UniSC researchers will lead a workshop on Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVs) and deploy two BRUVs during the workshop (with your help!) to assess local marine biodiversity.

Join us at the Environmental DNA (eDNA) Workshop to learn how to extract and analyse eDNA samples in a hands-on, interactive setting lead by Kate Hofmeister. In this citizen science workshop, you will assist in filtering over 12L of water that is being used to document the current biodiversity of the ‘blue biosphere’.

Welcome to country and smoking ceremony by the Traditional Custodian, Aunty Bridgette Chilli and other guest speakers. Held at basecamp at Pirate Ship Park, Mooloolaba.

Join us for an outdoor screening at basecamp of local short-films inspired by the ocean and marine conservation.

Discover the scientist in you! Join us to discover the scientist in you. Engage with UniSC researchers led by Dr Vikki Schaffer to learn more about citizen science, astronomy, light pollution and explore the night sky using a telescope that can display imagery on your smartphones. The workshop is in an open space, near paths, accessibility car parking and bathrooms. All welcome.

Immersive yourself in the sounds of the ocean at night! Dr Leah Barclay from the UniSC will lead us through a deep listening session that will play LIVE hydrophone recordings streaming from Mudjimba Island.

The Ex-HMAS Brisbane is one of the world’s best wreck sites and is home to an array of marine life! Bring your underwater camera and upload your photos of the HMAS Brisbane’s biodiversity to iNaturalist to record. Dive hosted by ScubaWorld.

Explore the wonderful world of nudibranchs with Gary Cobb, nudibranch expert and founder of Nudibranchs of the Sunshine Coast which have identified 1216 species of nudibranchs locally! Dive hosted by Sunreef, Mooloolaba.

With an array of whale experts on board this expedition, you can immerse yourself in becoming a citizen scientist by partaking in Wonder and Wellbeing: Immersive Humpback Whale Encounters survey (SDG14: Life below water) lead by Dr Vikki Schaffer from UniSC, and learn how to photograph humpback whales with marine ecologist Emily Gregory. Tour hosted by Sunreef, Mooloolaba.

Come and learn about the resident turtles at Mudjimba Island and participate in citizen science! Marine turtle expert Ebony King will introduce you to the captivating resident turtles of Mudjimba Island, home to endangered green turtles and critically endangered hawksbill turtles. Sea turtle species have physical features that enable identification of each individual, Ebony will teach you this photograph technique used by researchers across the world to support sea turtle monitoring efforts. During the tour, observe and photograph the array of other marine life adorn the underwater landscape of Mudjimba Island. Tour hosted by Blue Tortuga Adventures.

Join Dr Alexis Levengood to learn about the local dolphin populations and become a dolphin spotter citizen scientist! Dr Alexis Levengood is a research fellow at the University of Sunshine Coast and her work focuses on understanding the behaviour, ecology, genetics, and health of marine megafauna, with a focus in marine mammals. Dr Levengood has over 15 years of experience studying coastal dolphins and has worked with five dolphin species across six countries. Alexis recently developed the Dolphin Research Project Southeast Queensland. Tour hosted by Sunreef, Mooloolaba.

Take a closer look at pelagic marine life with a netting survey looking for small jellyfish and invertebrates living in the water column. Then jump in for a snorkel or freedive to check out the larger local marine biodiversity, capturing photos of the array of marine life you see! Tour hosted by The Pressure Project.

Embark on a captivating cultural journey as we walk the land together with local Mooloolah Dhdunga, Kabi Kabi Woman, and First Nations Guide Aunty Bridgette Chilli. Immerse yourself in the wisdom and cultural richness as you explore the landscapes and seascapes that hold the history and spirit of ancient stories, revealing a deep connection to country. Auntie Bridgette will tell the ancestral story of the land and sea country in this very special area.

Join Darren Jew, Award-winning Australian photographer and Canon Master with a passion for telling authentic visual stories for a wildlife Eco Cruise down the northern section of Pumicestone Passage. Darren will guide you through the wonders of the passage and point out all walks of wildlife from shorebirds and birds of prey to dolphins and other marine wildlife, while also providing the opportunity to learn professional photography skills.

Explore Your Shore! Join us for a guided exploration of Point Cartwright headland lead by UnisSC researchers to survey and record intertidal and coastal marine biodiversity. Discover all creatures great and small living in the rock pools, capturing photos of the critters you find!

Explore Your Shore! Join us for a guided exploration of Shelly Beach headland lead by Dr Melissa Staines from the University of Queensland to survey and record intertidal and coastal marine biodiversity. Discover all creatures great and small living in the rock pools, capturing photos of the critters you find!

Explore Your Shore! Join Coolum and North Shore Coast Care for a guided tour of Point Arkwright Headland to survey and record intertidal and coastal marine biodiversity. Discover all creatures great and small living in the rock pools, capturing photos of the critters you find!

Assist in underwater mapping of Mudjimba Island and learn the techniques to monitor the reef. Dr Javier Leon from UniSC and Jodi Salmond from Reef Check Australia will teach how to collect photographs that are used to create an ‘Underwater Digital Twin’, generating a 3D model of the reef to be used for ongoing monitoring of this reef habitat! Dive hosted by Sunreef, Mooloolaba.

Come down to basecamp at Pirate Ship Park Mooloolaba to engage in inclusive citizen science with a virtual reality experience of the Ex-HMAS Brisbane Wreck Dive (SDG10) lead by Dr Vikki Schaffer from UniSC.

Come and learn from marine experts in our community! 

• Nikki Biskis –  Sawfish identification
• Anna Knochel – Reef manta rays in Eastern Australia (Project Manta)
• Ebony King – To Sea in the Dark: how streetlights impact turtle hatchlings
• Rowan Carew – Seahorses of the Sunshine Coast

Visit Ocean Life Education at basecamp where they will ‘Brings the Sea to You’ with fun and interactive live marine education with touch tanks and artifacts designed to inspire protection of our precious oceans.

Join us at the Environmental DNA (eDNA) Workshop to learn how to extract and analyse eDNA samples in a hands-on, interactive setting lead by Kate Hofmeister. In this citizen science workshop, you will assist in filtering over 12L of water that is being used to document the current biodiversity of the ‘blue biosphere’.

Work with Humpbacks and Highrises team as they conduct land-based humpback whale surveys to record the abundance and behaviour of the whales during their migration past our coastline using a theodolite and drone!

Join us at basecamp for short presentations from each subject matter expert summarising their findings from each expedition, followed by prizes awarded for participants.