DATELINE: 12 February 2003

DIVERS ASKED TO ASSIST SEARCH FOR LEAFY SEADRAGON

Divers are being asked to report any sightings of South Australia's leafy and weedy seadragons amid fears about the impact of pollution on the species.
The rare creatures are protected by law, but scientists are finding difficulty in measuring changes in the size of the leafy and weedy seadragon populations as there has been no survey of their numbers. Dragon Search South Australia is asking divers to report any sightings so that an assessment can be made of whether the seadragon populations are in decline.
The leafy and weedy seadragons are larger than seahorses, but are well-camouflaged and live in seagrass close to shore. This habitat is likely to be harmed by increasing pollution and the use of fertilisers in agriculture which get washed into the sea.
The Dragon Search South Australia website is at www.dragonsearch.asn.au