The Coffs Coast Sea Slug Census held in January attracted over 40 participants, with 25 individuals and teams uploading images to iNaturalist (for all participants and images see here).
The Sea Slug Census program is now held at 18 centres around Australia, after the first 10 years ago, held at Port Stephens, was a resounding success. Images from all are uploaded to iNaturalist, where taxonomic and other experts from around the world can view images and make positive identifications.
This year at Coffs Harbour there were 1055 observations made, almost double that of last year, with 147 discrete species and 19 of those recorded from this area for the first time. The majority of observations came from rocky platforms and headlands along the coast, with hotspots being Minnie Water and Diggers Camp in the north, and Woolgoolga and Sandy Beach in the south. Overall, there have been 259 species recorded during census periods from this area, second only to Port Stephens, attesting to the unique diversity of habitat we have in our Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Prize winner for most species recorded during the census was Nathan Fripp with 41, the prize for the most interesting species was awarded to Alex Lewis, and the award for best photograph went to Steve Smith for this shot of Dendrodoris krusensternii here.
The most interesting species, as yet not positively identified but thought to be from the Family Discodorididae, found by Alex Lewis below.
SURG would like to thank sponsors for this years event, Jetty Dive in Coffs Harbour, Divequest at Mullaway, Camera House in Coffs Harbour and Enth Degree (via Jetty Dive). SURG would also like to thank the judges of the photographic competition Gary Bell and Paul Tidey.
