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The annual shellfish monitoring session at Sandspit by Friends of Awa Matakanakana will be held next month and organisers are hoping to attract a few more volunteer helpers.
Coordinator Mark Foster says the group needs small teams to measure the shellfish in the bay along set transects.
“It’s fun, involves less than three hours of light physical work and a bit of brain activity, and takes place in beautiful surroundings beside the Sandspit estuary,” he says.
“Basically, it involves digging up shallow samples of sand, sifting out the live shellfish and counting them. Finally, we measure the tuangi (cockles) and record the data.
“This is a great activity for families as it gets young people involved in learning about the ecology of an estuary, understanding how humans’ activity can impact the environment, and it helps them apply and develop their numeracy skills in a practical way.
“For those of us ‘not so young’, it’s just as rewarding because it’s a simple way of doing our bit to help protect and enhance the environment for future generations.”
The monitoring will be held on Saturday December 3, from 9am to 11.30am. All ages welcome.
Info: Mark Foster kiwi3mfs@gmail.com or text 021 266 2769.
