With sand-covered toes and wet hands, children got a close look at squirming, slimy and clawed sea creatures on Tuesday.

In the morning, divers entered the ocean at WittyB次元官网网址檚 Lagoon and came out with living treasures to share with children and adults for the popular Marine Day event.

Divers resurfaced with creatures great and small, such as sunflower starfish, hairy helmet crabs and sea lemons. The creatures where temporarily housed in small plastic swimming pools shaded by tents.

Capital Regional District Parks, Habitat Acquisition Trust and Sea Change staff demonstrated how to handle the sea life and explained a few interesting facts about them too.

Sea cucumbers look B次元官网网址渟pikyB次元官网网址� to scare other animals away, but really they are soft to touch, Reed Osler, a CRD Park interpreter told a group of curious kids.

B次元官网网址淭hey are trying to trick you,B次元官网网址� she said.

If a predator decides to pursue the sea cucumber for a meal, the cuke has another mode of defence up its sleeve.

B次元官网网址淎 sea cucumber can throw up his insides (organs) and hope the predator goes after them instead,B次元官网网址� Osler said. B次元官网网址淗e can grow them back.B次元官网网址�

Beach-goers observed a sea star in the process of growing back lost limbs, possibility after they were eaten by another creature.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the thing with sea stars, they can grow their arms back,B次元官网网址� Osler explained.

WittyB次元官网网址檚 intertidal beach area in Metchosin teemed with families, kids and groups excited to explore the lagoon and get a glimpse of its residents.

B次元官网网址淲e get hundreds of people here,B次元官网网址� said Laurie Sthamann, communications coordinator for CRD Parks. B次元官网网址淲e do this to raise awareness for sea life.B次元官网网址�

Other activities at Marine Day included a puppet show, beach bingo and a scavenger hunt.

B次元官网网址淭his is a great event. It teaches the children about nature and building respect for nature,B次元官网网址� said Howard Barnes, who brought his four children to the event from Cowichan Bay.

Event organizers also wanted to deliver a message to the participants about the importance of safeguarding these rich habitats.

B次元官网网址淚t is important that people know whatB次元官网网址檚 at the bottom of Bilston Creek,B次元官网网址� Todd Carnahan, land coordinator for HAT. B次元官网网址淐hoices people make upstream impact WittyB次元官网网址檚 Lagoon.B次元官网网址�

For people who live upstream of Bilston Creek, Carnahan said keeping compost, pet waste and manure away from the creek is important.

B次元官网网址淭he nutrients can get into the water and takes the oxygen out ... that kills the trout.B次元官网网址�

Another issue is eroding land upstream. The soil in the water adds nutrients as well as sediment.

B次元官网网址淲ittyB次元官网网址檚 Lagoon is filling with sediment,B次元官网网址� Carnahan said. B次元官网网址淪ome day it may be a wet meadow instead of a intertidal area.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com