October 1 - 31, 2026: Issue 659

 

Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay


Bongin Bongin Bay - Mona Vale Basin. Photo by Joe Mills


Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (FoBBB) are excited to invite you to a special community event on Saturday, October 24th, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

They'll be hosting a free community meeting and panel discussion titled "Cabbage Tree Bay Success; What Have We Learned Almost 25 Years On?." 

''We're looking ahead to the next chapter for Bongin Bongin Bay, taking inspiration from the incredible success story of Cabbage Tree Bay – a testament to what a community can achieve when working together to protect our marine environments.'' FoBBB says

The afternoon will be led by FoBBB President Greg Pride, featuring a fantastic panel of voices spanning community action, policy, business, science, and the next generation of ocean conservation: 

  • Judy Lambert, Pioneer and former politician: Judy will share the history of the community action that helped secure the reserve, together with insights from her experience in policy and environmental advocacy.
  • Richard Nicholls, Pioneer and businessman: Richard will explore local stewardship, the blue economy, dive safety and the role local businesses and communities can play in everyday marine protection.
  • John Sear, Scientist and photographer: John will share his observations of the marine environment and use science and photography to help illustrate the changes seen within Cabbage Tree Bay over almost 25 years.
  • Lara Gribbin, Student andfilmmaker: Representing the next generation of ocean conservationists, Lara will explore how film and visual storytelling can educate, build awareness and inspire young people to use their voices for our oceans. 

This is a community conversation, and FoBBB want you there to reflect on past successes and help shape the future of Bongin Bongin Bay! 

You can register for your free ticket via Humanitix here: events.humanitix.com/fobbb-cabbage-tree-bay-panel 

(Please note: Following this event, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, FoBBB will be holding its Annual General Meeting for current members).

FoBBB would love it if you could forward this invitation to your networks! The more voices we have in this conversation, the better our community will be. 

You can find more details about the event on their website: bonginbonginbay.org/news-events/october-24-fobbb-community-meeting-and-panel-discussion---lessons-from-25-years-of-cabbage-tree-bay 

FoBBB look forward to seeing you there and continuing our work together!

But what is Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay - what are the aims of this local organisation?

The 'Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay’ evolved in February 2023 from a group of swimmers who traverse the bay each morning taking in the wonders of nature. The group is seeking to mobilise the community, seeking its support in having the area declared by the NSW Government as a ‘no take’ aquatic reserve. The primary objective of aquatic reserves in NSW is to conserve the biodiversity of fish and marine vegetation.

The FoBBB state they are not anti-fishing, explaining;

''Marine sanctuaries provide a refuge for fish from being caught, allowing them to aggregate freely, grow large, and reproduce. Sanctuaries are an important tool not just to halt biodiversity loss and to create climate resilience, but to ensure food security. As fish and invertebrates grow larger they produce exponentially more eggs; the bigger the fish, the more babies they produce. We believe that establishing areas where larger fish can proliferate free from extractive pressures is of great value to areas adjacent that are open to fishing.''

Their logo is 'Ned the Octopus', created by Jo Bell of Ocean Love Art & Design and donated to the group, her drawing seeks to incorporate, in her words;  “...as many of our marine friends as possible that we see and swim with into the drawing, as well as the sea grasses, seaweed and shells”.

The logo now features on reusable mugs, t-shirts and hoodies, for that after-swim warm up. 

 'Ned the Octopus', created by Jo Bell of Ocean Love Art & Design, on a FoBBB hoodie

Greg Pride, President, kindly provides more detailed insights this week.

What is Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (FoBBB)?

Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (FoBBB) is an incorporated, community-led registered charity (ABN 76 192 428 081) founded in 2023. It brings together local community of ocean swimmers, surfers, surf life savers, divers, educators, First Nation representatives, recreational fishermen and coastal residents dedicated to conserving the waters of Bongin Bongin Bay (Mona Vale Basin). The organisation acts as an advocacy body working to secure the official declaration of a permanent, Marine Sanctuary Zone (MSZ, Aquatic Reserve) across the bay by the end of 2027.

Why was the Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (FoBBB) formed?

FoBBB was formed in response to the growing vulnerability and lack of legal protection for Bongin Bongin Bay’s fragile marine ecosystems:

  • The Bioregional Conservation Gap: The bay currently only has a narrow Intertidal Protected Area (IPA), declared in 2002, which covers the rock platform between the high-water mark and 10 metres seaward of the low-water mark. This leaves all subtidal waters, fish species, and marine flora completely exposed to extractive exploitation.
  • Intensifying Demographic Pressure: Under NSW housing reforms and State Significant Developments, Mona Vale is projected to absorb 3,000 to 3,500 new dwellings and approximately 9,500 new residents over the coming decade.
  • Ecological Strain: Local ocean lovers observed declining fish stocks, damage from spearfishing and line extraction, rock-shelf trampling, and threats of increased stormwater siltation and urban runoffs.
  • A Need for Proactive Legal Protection: FoBBB formed to mobilise grassroots support, gather baseline scientific evidence, and lobby the NSW Government before these urban pressures cause irreversible ecosystem loss.

What is the Vision or Aims of Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (FoBBB)?

  • Core Vision: To declare Bongin Bongin Bay a MSZ by the end of 2027, ensuring its marine ecosystems thrive for future generations.
  • Campaign Goal: Secure formal declaration of a 45-hectare  Marine Sanctuary Zone in Bongin Bongin Bay by the end of 2027.
  • Strategic Aims:
    • Trophic Integrity: Provide a permanent sanctuary for keystone apex species such as the Eastern Blue Groper to prevent sea urchin barrens and restore macroalgal kelp forests.
    • The "String of Pearls" Connectivity: Establish an ecological corridor connecting regional aquatic reserves (such as Long Reef, Cabbage Tree Bay in Manly, and Bouddi National Park) to facilitate biodiversity restoration.
    • The Local "Blue Economy": Replicate the eco-tourism and community amenity model demonstrated by Manly’s Cabbage Tree Bay, shifting the economic value of marine life from extraction to sustainable observation.
    • Empirical Research and Advocacy: Conduct reef biodiversity surveys and deliver a formal government policy submission to NSW decision-makers.


Swimmers at The Basin or Bongin Bongin Bay (Mona Vale Beach) just after dawn. Photo: Joe Mills (Turimetta Moods)

How can people get involved? What is the membership fee? What are current education activities and campaigns?

  • How to Get Involved:
  • Membership Fee: Free—joining the community as a Bay Keeper and member is free.
  • Current Education Activities:
    • Custodians of the Ocean: An environmental education program piloted with schools like St Luke’s Grammar School and awarded an official NSW Parliament Commendation. The program delivers hands-on marine ecology, classroom learning, and coastal field studies. Currently, the Program is being expanded to three schools.
    • Citizen Science and eDNA Monitoring: Water testing and photographic biodiversity surveying led by marine scientists and local volunteers.
  • Current Campaigns:
    • The Three-Phase 2027 Campaign: FoBBB are following a structured roadmap progressing from community foundation and scientific baselines (Phase 1) through public advocacy and proposal drafting (Phase 2) to legislative approval and sanctuary implementation (Phase 3).
    • Local Government Partnerships: Building on Northern Beaches Council’s 12–1 vote in support of lobbying the NSW State Government, aligning local planning with the national Strategy for Nature framework.

Custodians of the Ocean, students and sharers of insights - September 2026

What is so special about Bongin Bongin Bay?

  • First Nations Heritage: Known traditionally as Bongin Bongin (meaning "many shells") by the Garigal people of the Wannangine / Guringai language group, who have maintained continuous physical and spiritual custody of these sheltered waters for thousands of years. The headlands and sandstone platforms house cultural sites and shell middens reflecting centuries of sustainable coastal living.
  • Habitat Diversity: Encompasses seven distinct marine habitat types within a compact area, including shallow rocky reefs, macroalgal kelp beds (Ecklonia radiata), sandy basin floors, rock pools, and intertidal sandstone platforms.
  • Biodiversity Haven: BBB supports over 300 species, including vulnerable and protected fauna:
    • Pantropical Spinner Dolphin  — Protected marine mammal under the Commonwealth EPBC Act and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (with bottlenose dolphin genus Tursiops also registered).
    • Eastern Blue Groper — Fully protected across NSW waters under the Fisheries Management Act 1994.
    • Pied Oystercatcher — Listed as Vulnerable in NSW under Schedule 1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
    • Protected Marine Vegetation — Foundation macroalgae and canopy-forming kelp, including Neptune’s Necklace , Southern Sea Lettuce, and Kelp, all protected under Division 4 of the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994.
  • Natural Ocean Amphitheatre: A semi-enclosed, calm coastal basin downstream from Mona Vale town centre that functions as an accessible community hub for young and young at heart, swimmers, surfers, snorkelers, fishermen, families, and ocean lovers.

What is coming up for Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (FoBBB)?

  • Ocean Lovers Festival in Manly and Bondi, our fantastic collaboration with many ocean loving community and OLF
  • World Oceans Day and hopefully, Ocean Swim, June 2027: A signature annual community celebration held every June at Mona Vale Beach featuring an Aboriginal smoking ceremony, didgeridoo performances, community ocean swims (with hot soup in keepsake ceramic mugs), live seaside ukulele bands, DPI educational trailers, and marine film screenings.
  • Community Panels and Annual General Meeting (AGM): 24th October 2026. Community-wide forum and panel discussions—such as retrospectives evaluating 25 years of conservation lessons from Cabbage Tree Bay—hosted at local venues like the Warriewood Community Centre alongside formal AGM proceedings.
  • Advancing 2027 Campaign Milestones:
    • Delivery and release of empirical findings from the Scientific Reef Survey.
    • Expansion of the Custodians of the Ocean program into additional primary and secondary schools.
    • Formal presentation of the completed Marine Sanctuary Zone policy submission to the NSW Minister for Agriculture/Fisheries and state departments 

What are the Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (FoBBB)’s favourite places in Pittwater and why?

  • Bongin Bongin Bay (Mona Vale Basin): Our ultimate home base—treasured for its sheltered swimming waters, accessible reefs, close-up encounters with resident Blue Gropers, and long-standing community spirit.
  • Mona Vale Headland and Rockpool: The scenic sandstone ridge separating the Bay from Bungan Beach. It offers panoramic views across the headland reserve and represents the intertidal rock platform the community first came together to defend.
  • The Pittwater Estuary & Bayview Waterways: Favoured for their tranquil mangrove fringes and sheltered inlets where school education programs (such as St Luke’s Junior School Bayview) take root, forming part of the ecological link connecting the open ocean to the Hawkesbury River estuary.
  • Benchmark Coastal Reserves (Cabbage Tree Bay & Long Reef): Admired across the Northern Beaches as living proof of what community-backed aquatic reserves can achieve for biodiversity and marine recovery.

What is the Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (FoBBB) ‘motto for life’ or a favourite phrase it operates by?

FoBBB guides its decisions and community advocacy through a core set of organisational values:

"Positive, Professional, Proactive, Persistent, Principled."

This is complemented by their overarching conservation mission:

"Protect what connects us, for future generations."

You can find out more about the Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay at: www.bonginbonginbay.org.au

Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay's 2026 Custodians of the Ocean program commences

Last Tuesday, August 18, marked the expansion of the Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay's 2026 Custodians of the Ocean program. 

FoBBB stated, ''It felt very special to begin with the Year 3 students at St Luke’s Bayview, the school that helped us pilot and shape the program in 2025.''

From classroom learning and special guests to hands-on activities, this day was all about sparking curiosity, building knowledge and helping our young custodians understand that their voices and actions matter.

''Their energy, questions and excitement were contagious — and a wonderful reminder of why we created this program in the first place.'' FoBBB orgainsers stated

''Co-created by Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay and Studio Oi, in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Custodians of the Ocean continues to grow and evolve — guided by science, community and, importantly, the curiosity and vision of the children themselves.

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped bring this vision to life. Here’s to inspiring the next generation to learn, care, share and take action for our oceans.''

The first Custodians of the Ocean session this year included a Q and A with Lara Gribbin, a young film maker whose film ‘The Reserve’ was recognised internationally, Neil Evers, who explained the connection to Sea Country local First Nations peoples have, along with other cultural learnings and on the beach activities.

The Reserve is a short film about Cabbage Tree Bay aquatic reserve in Manly, showcasing its role for the community and marine life.

A few photos from the day run below. With more local schools signing up for the Custodians of the Ocean program, this is proving an inspiration and empowering expereince for the next generation.

The Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay are a group of volunteers working to establish a marine sanctuary at Bongin Bongin Bay, Mona Vale Beach. Bongin Bongin Bay, also known as Mona Vale Basin, is a vibrant marine sanctuary rich with ocean life and cherished by the local community.

You can find out more at: bonginbonginbay.org

From September 2026 editions of PON

Photo: Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (Mona Vale Basin) gathered this morning to show the community support for establishing an aquatic reserve. May 13, 2023 - Picture courtesy Councillor Kristyn Glanville