Connolly photographer Ian McCamley captured this photo of Mindarie resident Ian McDonald throwing a net into the water, creating the bioluminescent glow.
Camera IconConnolly photographer Ian McCamley captured this photo of Mindarie resident Ian McDonald throwing a net into the water, creating the bioluminescent glow. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Glowing bioluminescence lures hundreds of visitors to Mindarie Marina

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

GLOWING bioluminescence has lured hundreds of people to Mindarie Marina in recent days to experience the phenomena.

The appearance of the blue glow coincided with a Health Department warning about eating fish, crabs and shellfish caught in the marina on November 21.

Testing showed potentially toxic microscopic algae at elevated levels and the department warned that consuming the seafood could result in paralytic shellfish poisoning, which may cause muscular paralysis.

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Connolly photographer Ian McCamley captured these stunning photos at the weekend between 10pm and 1am.

Mr McCamley captured this photo in two stages, first pouring water on the boardwalk which left a trail before splashing into the water below, then trailed a stick through the water causing it to glow.

He used a longer exposure of a net cast into the water for this shot, which also shows the glow from the descending weights and net.
Camera IconHe used a longer exposure of a net cast into the water for this shot, which also shows the glow from the descending weights and net. Credit: Supplied/Supplied
Mr McCamley said this effect was caused by dragging a stick through the water.
Camera IconMr McCamley said this effect was caused by dragging a stick through the water. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mindarie resident Ian McDonald said it was the third year he had seen the bioluminescence and it had lasted about three weeks so far.

“I’ve never seen the place so busy,” he said.

Mr McDonald said people should not throw rocks or sticks into the water, as it created tripping hazards and affected the fish.

“When I first saw the bloom… samson fish came in there and rounded the mullet up – it lit up the whole area,” he said.

“Noone is ever going to get to see that because hundreds of people have thrown rocks in the water and it spooked the fish.”

Ian McDonald said he has never seen the marina so busy with visitors keen to see the bioluminescence at night.
Camera IconIan McDonald said he has never seen the marina so busy with visitors keen to see the bioluminescence at night. Credit: Supplied/Supplied
Pouring water on rocks can cause the glow. Ian McDonald
Camera IconPouring water on rocks can cause the glow. Ian McDonald Credit: Supplied/Ian McDonald

However, Mr McDonald said many people had taken the right approach by using buckets, paddles, fishing rods or sticks to stir up the glow.

“I’ve seen plenty of people there with a bucket – that’s the best way to see it; scoop a bucket up and pour it back in,” he said.

“People are getting sticks and stuff and just drawing in it and that’s fine as long as they don’t throw them in afterwards.”

Mr McCamley had fun creating this photo when he filled a big bucket of water and then slowly poured it onto a rock causing a glowing cascade.
Camera IconMr McCamley had fun creating this photo when he filled a big bucket of water and then slowly poured it onto a rock causing a glowing cascade. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mr McCamley said he took most of his photos by pouring water or dragging sticks through the water, and he tried a watering can and water gun to create different effects.

“Long exposures of around five to 10 seconds were needed to capture all the action,” he said.

“The exception was the images of a net being cast – one of those was a short exposure just capturing the moment the net splashed down.

“The other was about two seconds and it also captured the bioluminescence caused by the sinking weights.

“It was great fun, and quite a challenge, to take photos of this memorable event.

“I don’t think I’ll forget my child-like excitement upon seeing the glowing water for the first time; it was quite magical.

“It obviously had similar impacts on most people who saw it for the first time, based on all the other child-like squeals I could hear as new people arrived.”