info@bonginbonginbay.com.au
We are the 'Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay' in Mona Vale and we would like your help in asking the NSW Government to establish Bongin Bongin Bay (Mona Vale Basin) as an aquatic reserve.
Community support is essential - we ask that you please write a letter to ensure that Bongin Bongin Bay is protected now and into the future.
We are a group of locals who are leading a campaign to have Mona Vale's Bongin Bongin Bay (Mona Vale Basin) declared as an aquatic reserve.
Our group is made up of local Ocean and Pool swimmers, surfers, surf life savers and beach users. Our group has no political affiliation. We are just passionate locals who care about our environment.
With your support, we will be asking Northern Beaches Council to lobby the NSW Government to establish a 'no take' zone at Bongin Bongin Bay (Mona Vale Basin).
The establishment of this aquatic reserve will protect local marine biodiversity now and into the future.
We use the beach every day throughout the year and believe this unique environment is worthy of protection. We regularly see stingrays, dolphins, blue gropers, sharks, octopus, cuttlefish and many other species in and around Bongin Bongin Bay. Occasionally we have seen turtles, penguins and migrating whales.
A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
A ‘no take’ aquatic reserve provides complete protection of a marine environment. In addition to disallowing the collection of seashore plants or animals, and the taking of invertebrates such as squid, octopus and cuttlefish, fishing and spearfishing is also prohibited.
Cabbage Tree Bay (Shelly Beach) in Manly is a local example of a "No Take" Aquatic Reserve. In this case it has proven to be a very successful model benefitting both the marine life and the humans who daily enjoy their aquatic pursuits.
It is well known that larger fish make more eggs than smaller fish.
One 30cm fish will release the same number of eggs in a year, as two thousand 15cm fish.
It is not hard to imagine then that allowing fish stocks to increase will lead to much more food for larger fish and marine birds.
Source: Australian Marine Conservation Society/National Parks Association factsheet
If we allow the environment to find it's own balance without the intrusion of people taking invertebrates and mature sized fish it will produce many more marine resources which will spill into neighbouring areas where fishing, spearfishing and collecting are allowed.
The benefits are there for all. We just need to allow enough time for the environment to recover and find its balance.
It is much easier to enforce something where there are no exceptions to the rule.
'No Take' eliminates any ambiguity.
There is no reason or any excuse to have fishing gear or collecting equipment anywhere in a 'No Take' aquatic reserve.
Bongin Bay home to the Eagle Ray
Octopus and Cuttlefish
So many living things
Down, down below
It's their space
'mongst the seagrass without a care
Life is good while left alone
We cannot dare destroy their home
But their life is insecure
Without our help they will be fewer
To take them from their pristine space
Will leave us in a darker place
So let's save Bongin Bongin Bay
So let's save Bongin Bongin Bay
A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
The Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay acknowledge the Garigal people of the Wannangine Guringai Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the earth and waters where Bongin Bongin Bay is located and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia.
We honour their continuing culture and connection to land and sea. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect and recognition to all First Nations peoples.
