Slug it out at San Remo

It's sea slug time of year again.

On January 4, 5, 8 and 9, the annual sea slug census will be held under the bridge at San Remo, one of Victoria's most significant sea slug communities, protected by law.

The free event is organised by Victorian National Parks Association's (VNPA) ReefWatch program and coordinator Kade Mills, who lives on Phillip Island, said the census takes rock pooling to the next level.

"We'll teach you how to look for sea slugs, tips for photographing them and hopefully we'll find some," Kade said.

"You'll also see other amazing animals like hermit crabs, brittle stars and sea spiders."

The census is suited to people of all ages. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult responsible for their supervision.

Kade said sea slugs were sometimes called the butterflies of the sea, adorned in a "bewitching spectrum of colours".

"They're also excellent indicators of how our environment is changing.

"Collecting photos of sea slugs present at different times during the year helps us to monitor these species and track any changes.
"Each of your observations increases knowledge on these short-lived and unusual molluscs."

Kade said a 1.5km stretch of intertidal foreshore at San Remo - that juts out north into the channel like a triangle - was protected by the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, with 93 species of one slug species found there.

"The slugs themselves are not that fond of overheating in the sun, so whether you're snorkelling, diving or walking the intertidal "think like a slug" and search the cooler shady spots for these cryptic critters."

Details: https://vnpa.org.au/events/category/sea-slug-census/
https://vnpa.org.au/event/ssc-san-remo-jan/