Recent flooding rains and big seas buried our coast in a sea of foam and littered our beaches with debris and an array of interesting marine creatures.

Sea foam at Shellys beach 2011

Sea foam is a naturally occurring phenomena created by the agitation of seawater containing high concentrations of dissolved organic matter. The organic matter acts as a ‘foaming agent’ trapping air created by breaking waves and forming bubbles – similar to what happens in your washing machine or bubble bath.

The large amount of freshwater entering the ocean has knocked around many coastal marine species. Significant numbers of abalone, seastars and sea urchins have been found dead and washed up on beaches around Twofold Bay.

One fascinating creature you may come across is the seapen. Seapens belong to the Phylum Cnidaria which includes coral, anemones and jellyfish.

Sea pen after the floods

They are colonial marine organisms so named because some species have a feather-like appearance, similar to antique quills.

Most seapens prefer deep waters (greater than 10 meters), where they are less likely to be uprooted, but rough seas like those recently experienced may tear seapens from the substrate, allowing them to be washed ashore.