Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay

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Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay

We are a grassroots community group working to establish Bongin Bongin Bay as an aquatic reserve.

06/10/2026

The ocean supports us in more ways than we sometimes realise. 🌊

It also connects us. To each other. To nature. And to generations we may never meet.

Cousteau’s words are a beautiful reminder that caring for our oceans is something we all share, no matter what you enjoy: walk the beach, swim, surf, fish or just watch the sunrises and sunsets. And when enough individual voices come together, they can become a powerful force, valuing what is fundamental to our existence. Yes, we are all in the same boat.

Let’s protect what connects us.
If you share our hope for a thriving, protected Bongin Bongin Bay, add your voice to ours. Sign our petition, share it with another ocean lover and help our community grow.

03/10/2026

Less than a minute. One small action. A powerful way to show your support.

The future of Bongin Bongin Bay starts with all of us.
Every signature on our petition helps build momentum for greater protection of our beautiful Bay and shows that our community values thriving marine ecosystems, healthy coastlines and a future where people and nature can flourish together.

Our local campaign also sits within a much bigger picture — Australia has committed to protecting and conserving 30% of our land and marine areas by 2030.

So if you love our Bay, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
SIGN our petition SHARE it with your friends and family SPREAD THE WORD and help our community grow
Our goal is to see Bongin Bongin Bay become a marine sanctuary zone by 2027 and EVERY new voice helps us build support. #
Already signed? Sharing is one of the most powerful things you can do next. Our oceans will thank you!

🔗 Sign the petition — link in bio.
MarineSanctuary SignThePetition MarineConservation

30/09/2026

Join Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay on Saturday 24 October for an afternoon of community discussion, reflection and planning for the year ahead, followed by the FoBBB Annual General Meeting. 🌊

2:00–3:00pm | Community Meeting — everyone welcome

Almost 25 years ago, community members came together with decision makers, scientists, businesses and not-for-profits to help transform Cabbage Tree Bay into the thriving marine sanctuary we know today.

What can we learn from their journey — and how can those lessons help shape the future of Bongin Bongin Bay?

FoBBB President Greg Pride will lead a panel discussion featuring:

🌊 Judy Lambert — Pioneer & former politician: community action, policy and the history behind establishing the reserve.

🌊 Richard Nicholls — Pioneer & businessman: local stewardship, the blue economy, dive safety and everyday marine protection.

🌊 John Sear — Scientist & photographer: the remarkable changes observed within the marine ecosystem over almost 25 years.

🌊 Lara Gribbin — Student & filmmaker: the power of visual storytelling to inspire the next generation of ocean conservationists.

Together, we’ll explore what worked, what has been learnt and what Cabbage Tree Bay’s success can teach us as we look to the future of our own Bay.

3:00–4:00pm | FoBBB Annual General Meeting — members only

FoBBB members are invited to stay for our AGM to reflect on the past year and help shape our plans for the year ahead.

📅 Saturday 24 October
📍 Warriewood Community Centre
🎟️ Free tickets through Humanitix - Registration is essential!

FoBBB Community Panel - https://events.humanitix.com/fobbb-cabbage-tree-bay-panel

FoBBB Annual General Meeting (Members Only) - https://events.humanitix.com/fobbb-annual-general-meeting-2026

We’d love to see our community there. 💙

21/09/2026

Spotted something special? Snap it. Share it. Log it on iNaturalist.

Recently, Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay member Pia spotted something pretty special beneath the surface of Bongin Bongin Bay: a Weedy Sea Dragon.

Sightings like this are exactly why citizen science matters.
Every photo, observation and identification uploaded to our iNaturalist community helps us build a clearer picture of the incredible marine life that calls Bongin Bongin Bay home.
What might begin as one person spotting something unusual can become part of a much bigger story about the biodiversity living right on our doorstep.

And our community is already making an impact.

So far, our iNaturalist community has recorded:
1,179 observations 376 species 328 identifiers 113 observers

That is hundreds of people helping document the life beneath the surface and contributing valuable knowledge about our local marine environment.

You do not need to be a scientist to make a difference. If you see something interesting while snorkelling, diving, walking the shoreline or exploring the bay, take a photo and share it.
We’ve shared some of the recent Bongin Bongin Bay discoveries.

You never know what YOU might discover.

Join our iNaturalist community and help us continue uncovering, documenting and protecting the incredible biodiversity of Bongin Bongin Bay.

13/09/2026

eDNA Testing and Reef Surveys have officially begun at Bongin Bongin Bay, with the next generation from St Luke’s Primary School being the first eager group to get amongst it.

You may be asking yourself, “What is eDNA testing?” And that’s a great question!

eDNA, or Environmental DNA, testing is a modern method used to detect traces of plants, animals and microscopic organisms living in an environment. At Bongin Bongin Bay, water samples are collected from across the area and analysed for genetic material shed by organisms, such as skin cells, scales, mucus and waste. These traces can help identify species that are living in, or moving through, the bay.

Reef Surveys, such as the one we have partnered with iNaturalist to create, are visual surveys led by citizen scientists who spend time in the bay and capture what they see through photos and videos.

Together, these methods allow us to build a clearer picture of the biodiversity within our bay, track changes over time and better understand the marine life we are working to protect. As our data grows over the years to come, it will help us monitor the health and diversity of Bongin Bongin Bay and support the case for establishing the area as a fully protected Marine Sanctuary.

Want to get involved? Log your observations here: [https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/friends-of-bongin-bongin-bay](https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/friends-of-bongin-bongin-bay “smartCard-inline”)

Visit the link in our bio to become a member of Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay, it’s free, and stay updated on the latest ocean wins. You can also sign our petition to establish a marine sanctuary at Bongin Bongin Bay or donate to help us continue protecting our local marine environment.

A wonderful eDNA day with our Custodians of the Ocean from St Luke’s!

A wonderful eDNA day with our Custodians of the Ocean from St Luke’s!

A wonderful eDNA day with our Custodians of the Ocean from St Luke’s!

11/09/2026

Why does it matter to create marine sanctuary zone at Bongin Bongin Bay?

Because science tells us that sanctuaries work.

Just down the coast, Cabbage Tree Bay in Manly has been operating for more than two decades. It has provided marine life the opportunity to grow, breed and thrive.

Making Bongin Bongin Bay a marine reserve (a sanctuary) will help closing a big gap in NSW, helping Australia hit its goal of protecting 30% of coastal waters by 2030.

But local marine protection is about more than fish and reefs.
It is about community. It is about protecting the places where children first swim, put on a snorkel, where divers document incredible species, where families spend time by the water and where people come together because they love our saltwater lifestyle and clean neighbourhood.

With over 3,500 new homes being built in Mona Vale soon, around 9,500 new people will be moving in the next few years. More people means more dirty stormwater runoff, trash, trampling on rocks, and over-fishing in our bay. It’s about creating the local Blue Economy, where local businesses and community thrive.

Through eDNA testing, reef surveys and citizen science, we are continuing to discover more about the incredible Bay, cared for by First Nations for millenia. The more we learn, the clearer it becomes: we must act now.

Bongin Bongin Bay must become the marine sanctuary, to sustain our lifestyle, our local economy and this will not happen without giving the Bay status of a sanctuary.
Join us, sign the petition and help us build a future where our local marine life has the chance to thrive for generations to come.

Join Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay, sign our petition and support the call for stronger marine protection on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Why does it matter to create marine sanctuary zone at Bongin Bongin Bay?
Because science tells us that sanctuaries work.
Just down the coast, Cabbage Tree Bay in Manly has been operating for more than two decades. It has provided marine life the opportunity to grow, breed and thrive.
Making Bongin Bongin Bay a marine reserve (a sanctuary) will help closing a big gap in NSW, helping Australia hit its goal of protecting 30% of

08/09/2026

Good afternoon Bongin Bongin Bay lovers.

Once again, FoBBB member Martin helps us see Bongin Bongin Bay from a whole new perspective with another beautiful piece of footage from our local waters.

For all our wild swimmers out there… do you recognise this part of the Bay? And what wonderful creatures have you encountered along the way?
A curious ray? A colourful fish? An octopus hiding in plain sight? We’d love to hear about your favourite Bay discoveries in the comments.

Upload your images to Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay iNaturalist page via our website linked in bio.

A big thank you to Martin for continuing to capture and share the incredible life that exists right here on our doorstep. You remind us just how much there is to discover, appreciate and protect. 💙

🎥 Love Martin’s footage? Visit his YouTube channel, give his videos a thumbs up and subscribe to see more of Bongin Bongin Bay through his lens: Watch and follow Martin on YouTube -bongin

04/09/2026

For Vicki Ratcliffe, Bongin Bongin Bay has been part of life for more than 20 years.

As a local artist, swimmer and Friend of Bongin Bongin Bay, Vicki has seen firsthand what makes this place so special. It is the people who care for it, the commitment to keeping the bay pristine, and the sense of connection that comes from being part of a community that values this incredible place.

Seeing the excitement of divers when they discover the incredible biodiversity living beneath the surface is a reminder that a healthy bay is something worth protecting, and it is something we can all play a part in.

Thank you Vicki for sharing your love for the bay and the community that surrounds it.

25/08/2026

A little World Oceans Day throwback with the wonderful Eden from Northern Beaches Christian School 🌊🐠

One of our favourite things about the day was seeing just how many generations came together around one shared love.
From our youngest ocean lovers to those who have loved, swum, surfed and cared for these waters for decades, every voice matters.

Eden reminds us that the next generation is already watching, learning and ready to play their part. And we think that’s something worth celebrating.

Young and old. Swimmers, surfers, snorkellers, families, students and neighbours. We Love Our Bay — and together, we can help protect it for generations to come.

23/08/2026

The future of Bongin Bongin Bay starts with all of us. 🌊

Now is the time to build momentum for a marine sanctuary at Bongin Bongin Bay and how our local campaign supports the Australian Government’s vision to conserve 30% of our oceans and lands by 2030.

Every signature sends a clear message that our community values thriving marine ecosystems, healthy coastlines and a future where people and nature continue to flourish together.

Join us! Sign our petition and help us advocate for Bongin Bongin Bay to become a marine sanctuary zone by 2027.
🔗 Sign here: Sign Our Petition | Bongin Bongin Bay Aquatic Reserve

Please like, comment and share to help us reach more people who care about the future of our oceans.

MarineConservation

Address

Bongin Bongin Bay, Mona Vale
Sydney, NSW
2103

Website

http://www.bonginbonginbay.com/, https://www.instagram.com/friendsofbongin/, https://www.youtube.com/@friendsofbonginbon

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