There have been biting cold winds blowing directly from the east for most of the last week, moving around to the north in the last couple of days, and quite a bit of rain. This has made it rather brisk getting out of the water, but when in, the conditions have been sublime, particularly in the shelter of Emily Bay. Fantastic glass-like viz has made exploring the sandy shallows a lot of fun.
On the Lone Pine side of the bay, since at least 17 June (when I first spotted it), a solo convict surgeonfish, Acanthurus triostegus, has been hanging with the group of blackspot sergeant, Abudefduf sordidus that inhabit the area. I do sometimes wonder what attracts a fish on its own like this to join up with a school of fishes that look slightly similar in shape, colour and markings. Safety? Mistaken identity? Who knows?
A small spotted porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix has been hovering out in the open in the same spot on the Salt House side of the bay since at least 28 June. These fish are generally nocturnal and solitary, and, although I have heard that they will be inquisitive and follow divers around like puppy dogs, here on Norfolk Island I find they are generally shy and tend to retreat when you get too near. When you do see them, they are often under rock ledges or in caves. Again, I’m not sure what is going on that this one should be so exposed and not mind remaining there while I photographed it. These fish are broadcast spawners, ‘meaning both sexes mate with many different partners during spawning events’.
I have one old scarred porcupinefish that I visit regularly in his cave. More often than not he comes to the front of his cave and peers out at me. I give him a thumbs up and head on my way.
Emily Bay has a wonderful raft, used by generations of adults, teens and children. It is synonymous with summer and fun. Each year it gets hauled from the water, cleaned, repaired and popped back, usually over the wintertime. Last year, the raft was in a very poor state of repair and, consequently, the Norfolk Island Regional Council’s maintenance workers rebuilt it from scratch.
Emily Bay’s iconic raft
This new version is a different design to the one we had before; now it sports flotation tanks beneath it. I understand these may have been put there to prevent children swimming under the raft and surfacing in the air pocket created by the rafters, but I am not entirely certain. Whatever, I am sure it seemed like a good idea.
Over the years, the raft has provided shelter beneath its timbers for a thriving fish nursery. Beneath the raft was an amazing sight, teeming with fry. I have photos of it before the rebuild and since. I wanted to give it a full year before I made any comment on the new design, but I can say now, for whatever reason, the fish simply have not used the raft that much since it was rebuilt. A couple of times I’ve seen small schools (as in tens of bubbas rather than hundreds), but within a day or two these have disappeared, hunted by the trevally and other fish. I witnessed trevally sweeping in a pack under the raft as they hunted for food. (Below is a video of how they operate, although this was not filmed at the raft.) The small fry were gone in no time. With the previous design they were able to quickly retreat up between the rafters, out of the way of the fast-moving trevally. Now, sadly, there is nowhere for them to go.
I should also add here, I am not criticising the new design or the thought behind the improvements. I am sure it was done with the best of intentions, but the consequence is that we have had very few babies growing up under the new raft. Something to consider.
Trevally, Pseudocaranx sp 'dentex', on the hunt for newly hatched fry, Emily Bay, Norfolk Island