COMING SOON: The Opening of the new EDEN MARINE LABORATORY

Our new Marine Laboratory will be officially opened on Saturday 21st August.  As part of the celebrations, the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre will open all day from 9am and include a number of fun and engaging activities for all ages.  Firstly, the younger visitors will join staff members Steve and Sheree on a Rocky Shore Ramble to explore the rock platforms on nearby Shelly's Beach.  Specimens found during the walk may be brought back to the laboratory and examined under microscopes.

The official part of the day will commence at around 12.15pm when dignitaries will cut the ribbon and declare the Eden Marine Laboratory open.

After lunch, adults will be invited to participate in a brief workshop examining a variety of local seaweeds. This natural product has an amazing array of uses and benefits - come along and learn all about it.

The good news is the Discovery Centre will be offering FREE ENTRY on the day so don't miss you chance to come and have a look at the newest attraction in the Bega Valley Shire.

Funding for the establishment of our new Marine Laboratory was made possible through a Grant from The Ian Potter Foundation.

LOTS OF FUN TO BE HAD AT THE DISCOVERY CENTRE IN THE JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Why not bring the kids in to the Marine Discovery Centre during the School Holidays for lots of fun learning about the local marine environment.  Our trained Staff and Volunteer Guides are keen to show you around!

WINTER OPENING TIMES
11am - 3pm Wednesday to Saturday from 7th July - 17th July 2010

Adults $7, Seniors $5, Children $2, Families $15

WINTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Call us on 6496 1699 to enquire about a Rocky Shore Ramble or Beachcombing walk with a trained guide.  There's so much you can learn and it's loads of fun looking for hidden treasures on the shore.  The tours take 1 1/2 hours and are subject to tides - if you have 4 or more in your group, give us a call and book now!

Activity Fees:
Adults $8, Seniors $6, Children $4, Families $20

Your chance to comment on the Draft SCT Cultural Heritage Tourism Strategy

Sapphire Coast Tourism's Cultural Heritage Working Group has released its latest Draft Cultural Heritage Tourism Strategy for comment.  Take the time to read through this impressive document and provide comment and feedback to the Working Group by emailing the Working Group Chairman Gordon Beattie on:  g.beattie@arrowsolutions.com.au  or get onto the blog:  http://sapphirecoastculturaltourism.blogspot.com


Click here to download the document:  

Latest Edition of 'Marine Matters' is online now

The 8th edition of 'Marine Matters' is now online through the IMOS (Integrated Marine Observation System) website http://imos.org.au/marine_matters.html.
Check it out - it's an amazing site with plenty of interesting information.

We have a display about IMOS in our Marine Discovery Centre - call in and learn more about this amazing technology and see one of the IMOS floats.

Get the latest from our May 2010 Newsletter

All the latest news is in our May 2010 Newsletter.  Just click here to read all about it:

A good result from the Sea Squirt DNA test results

Long-awaited test results have identified that the sea squirt found in Twofold Bay in March is NOT the invasive sea squirt Didemnum vexillum.  This is a great relief to community members, fisherfolk and more importantly the mussel farmers in Twofold Bay who held grave fears for their mussel stock and future viability if the samples had been found to be the invasive species.

The NSW Department of Industry & Investment has praised the local community and specifically the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre for their quick work in ensuring the public were aware of the potential danger and were geared to deal with it if it were DV.

MARINE DISCOVERY CENTRES AUSTRALIA NETWORK MEETING

SCMDC hosted the 6^th Annual Network Meeting for members of Marine Discovery Centres Australia over last weekend.  We had superb autumn weather to showcase our beautiful region and welcome members from: 

Thursday Island (Qld), Woodbridge (Tas), Henley Beach (SA), Naturaliste (WA), Central Coast (NSW) and Queenscliff (Vic).  The annual Meeting allows members to swap ideas, share new initiatives, work through issues - and enjoy each other's company.

Our Marine Teacher Steve White presented an overview of all of the new curriculum-based School Education Programs he has developed before going into detail about one that will involve working with the local commercial fishing industry, entitled ‘Seastainability’.

The MDCA group were overwhelmed with the many local marine habitats available for the SCMDC programs and took part in one that involved a snorkel tour from Merimbula Wharf to Bar Beach.  An amazing variety of marine life was seen, including two huge rays and a number of colourful fish species.  The group later took the opportunity of a tour of Pelagic Fish Processors with their CEO – and Chair of SCMDC – Stan Soroka.