Connect 
Navigation 
Community Groups
This month we profile OCCI – a marine conservation group on the NSW Central Coast, and the work they do to help promote and educate their local community on marine environmental issues.
The rocky seashores of the Central Coast NSW coastal zone are home to a variety of highly diverse organisms. Many of these organisms have adapted well to the harsh physical conditions of this environment. Some people collect these animals for food or bait. This threatens to change the ecology of the rock platforms. Indiscriminate collection cannot continue if we are to maintain our seashore communities and preserve them for the enjoyment of future generations.
Over the past few years, scientific evidence has shown that removing marine invertebrates from rock platforms can alter habitats and change the composition of animal populations. Many animals such as sea urchins, grazing snails and large whelks play an important role when feeding by creating “bare patches” on the rock platform. This allows other animals to settle onto the bare rock after a juvenile phase spent drifting in the ocean.
Large scale removal of these species will cause significant increase in seaweed growth, preventing settlement of other animals.
Taking away the parent specimens of any animals can limit the long term viability of breeding populations. Taking away large numbers of a particular species can also cause other species to become dominant and widespread.
The juvenile populations of some marine invertebrates settle where adult communities exist. If entire adult populations are removed, there will be no triggering mechanisms available for the future continuity of that species. Barnacles and Cunjevoi (sea squirts) are particularly vulnerable in this regard.
In the temperate Central Coast NSW area there is a high diversity of fascinating and sometimes ancient species. We should therefore conserve this special environment, rather than destroy it.
Intertidal Protected Areas (IPA's)
IPA's have been established in NSW to conserve the animals and plants that live on the shore. These animals and plants are an important part of Australia’s bio-diversity. Collecting of invertebrate animals (those without backbones) such as crabs, snails, worms, cunjevoi, octopus, sea urchins, anemones is prohibited in IPA's. Fishing is permitted if you bring your own bit. IPA's extend from mean high water to 10m beyond mean low water.
For more information on IPA's or the work of OCCI, please contact OCCI .
The Terrigal Skillion - photo courtesy of Central Coast Tourism
The Marine Coastal Community Network can help connect you with other marine & coastal conservation community groups and networks in Australia. If you are a community group that would like to increase your profile by presenting a marine or coastal conservation issue on this website, please contact us with your details:
Dr Fiona Mandelc
National Co-ordinator
E: nc@mccn.org.au
Supported by the Australian Government 