In the last 10 years we have seen a gradual change to seabeds and
collection areas around Flinders Island. In some collecting seasons,
very few shells available to harvest. We have seen a site close to
shore, where land run-off into the sea, makes the shells have acid burnt
tips. We have seen areas where the kelp is very scarce in the bay where
many recreational boats are moored. The boat slip has almost wiped out
one species with run off from boats paints. In one bay we saw a lot of
grey algae and next bay where there is an abalone fish farm, if the
abalone escape, they compete with the marina shells for food. The other
competition is from the global warming of water temperature. The
non-science person does not understand the pollution risks or what the
warmer sea does to spawning mollusc of the marina shells.”
Box 2: In lutruwita
(Tasmania), Marineer Shell (Phasianotrochus rutilus ) necklace
making is a palawa pakana traditional practice that has continued over
thousands of years. Shell-necklaces were once crafted as jewellery and
used for trade purposes. King, Queen and standard marineers were not
just palawa nicknames handed down through generations, status was
allocated to each of the marineer species and the resulting necklaces.
Necklaces were reflective of the status allocated to the owner from the
creator, and clan as a whole. Here, Elder and shell-necklace maker, Lola
Greeno, shares her account of the current impacts of pollution on her
art and culture. (Photo credit: Dean Greeno).