Portarlington beachcomb takes a closer look at the coast

CHILDREN have many wildlife questions growing up such as ‘What are those horseshoe-shaped jelly things?’, ‘What is seaweed?’ and ‘Why there are holes in shells?’.

These questions and more were answered on Tuesday this week when a handful of eager and curious children attended a beachcomb at Portarlington Foreshore next to the town’s pier.

The free activity was aimed at children of all ages – and had a few parents in attendance – and was hosted by environmental groups Bellarine Catchment Network and Bellarine Bayside.

Children who participated were able to discover and learn about an array of amazing, beautiful and weird marine creatures as well as their biology.

Among the washed-up marine life found on Tuesday were moon snail egg sacs, a baby shore crab, bubble shells, Angasi oyster shells, an assortment of macroinvertebrates living in the seagrass, and much more.

“Port Phillip Bay contains a diverse range of marine life and is a precious natural asset for Victoria,” Bellarine Bayside coastal project officer Jane Shearer said.

“We know that the residents and visitors alike love the coast, it’s why they choose to be here.

“Through offering activities, such as todays beachcomb, we can deepen the appreciation and connection people have with the local natural environment and help raise awareness to protect marine and coastal environments into the future.”