Edithburgh and Wool Bay Jetties Marine Watch
“When we watch over the sea, the sea watches over us. Stewardship begins not with control, but with care – and every diver’s lens becomes a voice for the voiceless beneath the waves.”
Long-Term Vision: Restoration and Recovery After HAB
Edithburgh and Wool Bay Jetties Marine Watch is a dive community based citizen science initiative
It is designed to foster environmental stewardship through collaborative marine monitoring of the (HAB) that has detrimentally affected the ecosystems at both jetties.
The project commenced in September 2025 and will run over an initial 12 month period.
Volunteer, certified divers, co-ordinated by Elizabeth and Paul, will conduct photography and benthic transect and quadrant observations under and around Edithburgh and Wool Bay Jetties, supported by marine ecologist Dr Janine Baker, Dr Craig Styan from Adelaide University and the District Council of Yorke Peninsula.
The project will include a coordinated media and public engagement strategy aimed at raising awareness and fostering community involvement. Dedicated social media channels will showcase marine life sightings, volunteer efforts, and conservation updates for divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts. Regular articles including imagery will be provided to DiveLog magazine. We will work with the Yorke Peninsula Country Times and The Advertiser to highlight participation and regional significance. We will seek to also engage with radio and television networks (such as the ABC) to connect the initiative to a national audience, underscoring the importance of these unique marine ecosystems.
The project involves non-invasive tagging of jetty pylons and specific benthic areas to enable monthly photographic monitoring and ecological data collection through transects and quadrants. Observations will be documented in a digital repository, accessible for scientific analysis, community engagement, and long-term monitoring.
We also aim to raise public awareness through signage, onsite concierge, community events, and accessible digital platforms, positioning Edithburgh and Wool Bay Jetties Marine Watch as a springboard for future restoration and recovery efforts.
