Reef Watch in the South East

Have you ever wandered around a local reef and wanted to learn more about the crabs, snails, seaweed or that weird looking thing you find?

The local Reef Watch group may be just what you’re after.

Reef Watch, a community led monitoring program coordinated by the Conservation Council of South Australia, collects information on the state of our local marine environment.

Top marine scientists and educators have developed easy-to-use scientific methods to collect useful data which can be compared over time. You don’t have to be an expert – these methods can be used by anyone! The information gathered can be used to assess the health of a particular reef and is available to the general community, schools, government bodies and research institutions. All necessary equipment and training is provided; all you need to bring is your sense of adventure!

There are not any active Reef Watch groups currently in the South East, with the Port MacDonnell group on a break, but previously have been at three sites– at Robe, Beachport and Port MacDonnell. If you would like to start a group or find out more information get in touch with Jess.

Check out the photos below for a glimpse at each of the very unique South East Reef Watch sites and some of the creatures you might see in these environments.

If you’d like to learn more about Reef Watch you can visit the Reef Watch website, Facebook page or email

If you’d like to join a Reef Watch group contact the following:

  • Species of the month: Bubble Shell 31/03/2021
    Earlier in the year we kicked off a series of coastal workshops supported by the Coast Protection Board with a reef ramble at Cape Douglas. We had several interesting and unidentified finds that day and put the call out in our post last month for any clues. Thanks to a marine-keen reader, one of those ...
  • Workshop Series kicks off with a Reef Ramble at Cape Douglas – and some mysterious finds 27/02/2021
    Over the course of 2021, we’ll be running a series of workshops at NGT’s Hutt Bay Wetland Reserve and surrounds, thanks to support from SA’s Coast Protection Board. The series kicked off recently with a beach clean up and reef ramble at Cape Douglas. Nine volunteers joined us for this event, including some new faces ...
  • Clean Up Australia Day 2021! and other upcoming volunteer events 21/01/2021
    As usual, we have a range of opportunities to get out and about with us over the next few weeks. All are welcome and no particular skills are necessary. Friday 29 Jan, Kurrawonga working bee, Nelson, Vic Join Nicole in some property-edge weed monitoring or just come for a bushwalk. If you’re coming from SA, ...
  • Kelp, krill and whales: Reflecting on World Oceans Day 2020 this June 25/06/2020
    The UN World Oceans Day on June 8th each year celebrates the major role that the ocean has in our health and that of our planet. It also draws attention to the impact that human actions have, in turn, on the health of the ocean. The world’s ocean captures about 40% of the carbon dioxide emitted by ...
  • Species of the month: Eight-armed Sea Star 25/06/2020
    The Eight-armed Sea Star (Meridiastra calcar) is a common sea star found on reefs and under rocks throughout much of Australia, from southern Queensland to south-west Western Australia.. It is brightly coloured, and as you can see from the photos below, ranges from bright oranges, reds, and browns, to greens and blues on the upper ...
  • Up close with micro-plastics 23/05/2019
    You might have heard that tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastics are finding their way into our oceans and waterways. They can be consumed by wildlife that mistake them as food, or consume with their food. Those little plastic fragments potentially affect us too, so what do we do? Last week I attended (along with 20 others) ...
  • Come and explore the Reefs of the South East 12/12/2014
    Who’s keen to explore their local intertidal reef? The local South East Reef Watchers are! You can now see what the Robe, Beachport and Port MacDonnell Reef Watch groups are up to on the Reef Watch in the South East page. Each Reef Watch group collects information on the heath of and changes to their local intertidal ...

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