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Dragon Search was a nation-wide program that aimed to assess the status of seadragon populations in Australia's southern seas and, at the same time, raised awareness of the marine environment in the community. The Tasmanian Dragon Search program was  run by the Tasmanian Marine Naturalists Association.  The results of the program have been illustrated on a poster and published in:  J. Elek and C. Woodward 2003, The Tasmanian Naturalist, 125: 43-53. A second poster illustrates the threats posed to seadragon populations.

Based on the results of Dragon Search, The Tasmanian Marine Naturalists have also produced a video:

SEADRAGON'S LAIR: Threats to fish habitat

that shows seadragons in their habitat and some of the human activities that threaten seadragons in particular and fish habit in general. The 15 min video is available on a DVD with other information about Tasmanian marine life from the Association for $20.

 Diver with weedy seadragon

Diver with dragon

The Dragon Search program relied on surveys  carried out by volunteer divers, fishers and beach combers. A total of 248 surveys were sent in which reported a total of 476 weedy seadragons around Tasmania, located on the north and east coasts. 

Reports from Tasmania, NSW and SA can be found on the Dragon Search website: www.dragonsearch.asn.au


The Dragon Search program in Tasmania was  supported over three years by Natural Heritage Trust grants from Coastcare, Fisheries Action Program and Coast and Clean Seas. 
 

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