Creature of the month - Abalone

Daylight savings has ended today, so enjoy the extra hour of sleep. Bron did a very nice weather report (before Cam for Eat It).

The news of the day was varied - from the impact of sonar on giant squid of the coast of Spain

The English version of PIRVIC (ex MAFRI) is the Port Erin Marine Lab, on the Isle of Man. After over 100 years of operation, it is under threat and they are facing extinction. If you want to help. If you want information, head to their website or contact them be email

Abalone are molluscs - Gastropods, Greek for "Stomach Foot". The big meaty bit is the foot, with 2 extra bits. The lip colour gives away the species - in Victoria we get Black lip and Green lip. The black lip is the most common, from Perth to Coffs Harbour. Green lip are much patchier between Perth and Wilsons Prom.

They reproduce by mass release of eggs and sperm, and if fertilization is successful, you get a "viliger" - a tiny snail with two propellers. They swim about for 10 - 12 days, and then they attach to a substrate - often pink coralline algae - the means by which they settle has caused great debate in amongst marine ecologists - the jury is still out on this one.

Abalone growth varies, roughly at about 2 mm per month and take 6 - 10 years for individuals to reach maturity.

You tend to find them in rocky reefs, and their main predators are sting rays - bottom feeders with big teeth.

Victoria is a huge supplier of abalone to the world market - and is one of the few truly sustainable wild fisheries in the world (at the moment!).

In 2002/02 Victoria fished 1,383 tonnes of black lip abalone (about $62m). Some estimate the illegal trade about the same.

Watch out for smuggling abalone in bra's

We had our first ever 3 way tie - Congratulations to Anna, Tracey and Nick. It was a bit frantic but it worked.

" Come to this"

" Heartache"

The Sleepy Jacksons

The Indigo Girls

The back beach diving is crap - the swell is awful. The currents today are pretty strong so it is a good day for a drift dive.