Wendy Roberts, Reef Watch Coordinator
Telephone: 8341-7446
Email: info@reefwatchvic.asn.au

As part of the series of Guides to Marine Life being published by Museum Victoria, Lisa is currently working on the guide to sponges with Mark Norman. Sponges are an important group of animals in most, if not all, benthic environments. Lisa will explain a little of their structure and function, why they are of commercial interest and some of the important features used in their classification.

Wendy Roberts, Reef Watch Coordinator
Telephone: 8341-7446
Email: info@reefwatchvic.asn.au

Kate Naughton is a PhD student currently working on the distribution of biogeographic breaks around the southern coast of Australia with a focus on native species of sea star and brittle star. She is supervised by Dr Tim O'Hara at Museum Victoria and Dr Belinda Appleton at the University of Melbourne.

Wendy Roberts, Reef Watch Coordinator
Telephone: 8341-7446
Email: info@reefwatchvic.asn.au

The Feral or in Peril Program will be launched at the Melbourne Aquarium on June 30th. This award winning program from South Australia is supported by the Australian Governments Caring for Our Country- Coastcare. It has been designed to enable recreational divers, anglers and boaters to keep track of a number of marine organisms of special concern, those that pose a threat (Marine Pests) and those that are potentially threatened (Native Species). A Victorian monitoring manual and waterproof identification cards has been developed to enable you to identify selected pest species, look out for new pests and monitor native species of conservation concern.

And...
Dr Marlos De Souza from the EPA's Environmental Strategies Unit will outline the policies that protect our waters from Marine pests, such as small fish, benthic invertebrates, plankton and pathogenic bacteria invading through Ballast waters and Biofouling. Since 2004, Victoria has been the only State in Australia to regulate ships' domestic ballast water in accordance with the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments. To find out more and to obtain a Feral or In Peril Monitoring kit... come along on June 30th.

Wendy Roberts, Reef Watch Coordinator
Telephone: 8341-7446
Email: info@reefwatchvic.asn.au

Is there a science to making a reef attractive to fish, or can you just throw in a ball, a tyre or a large ship into the sea and it will attract new species? Research scientist Kade Mills from the Department of Primary Industries is one year into a 3 year study of three strategically placed artificial reef balls in Port Phillip bay. His research is primarily looking at changes in fish communities as a result of the deployment of these artificial reefs. While placing artificial structures on the seabed to enhance fishing is not a new idea, this project provided an opportunity to sample before and after deployment, which is rare. Sampling using Baited Underwater Video, Underwater Visual Census and scientific angling will provide information on how fish communities respond to the artificial reefs and spatial and temporal variation in fish communities across all habitats sampled. Come along and find out what he has discovered over the past year.

Wendy Roberts, Reef Watch Coordinator
Telephone: 8341-7446
Email: info@reefwatchvic.asn.au

In Australia over 100 species of Batoids (rays and skates) can be found from our shallow coastal bays and inlets, to the deeper drop off along the continental shelf. Locally, Port Phillip Bay has extensive Batoid populations that can be a delight to encounter during any dive or snorkel. In this presentation, Jason will provide a guide to the commonly seen rays of Port Phillip Bay to assist in their identification in the field.

Wendy Roberts, Reef Watch Coordinator
Telephone: 8341-7446
Email: info@reefwatchvic.asn.au

Wendy Roberts, Reef Watch Coordinator
Telephone: 8341-7446
Email: info@reefwatchvic.asn.au