Following the meeting hosted by the Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club last week, we are fortunate to have a visiting scientist who is offering to share his understanding of the issues raised by the local fishing of the Geelong Star. You will be welcome to join us. Dr Simon Allen of the University of Western Australia in Perth is a marine mammal and dolphin behaviour expert. He has been conducting research on dolphin behaviour and the interactions between marine mammals and humans through tourism, coastal development and fisheries for 20 years, including work at Port Stephens (NSW), Shark Bay, the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts (WA), and as far afield as California (USA) and Okinawa (Japan). Simon’s work has included research on a range of fishing trawlers, assessing bycatch and proposing mitigation measures.

On Friday Dr Allen will be sharing his understanding of the marine species and environmental issues associated with industrial fishing of the sort being undertaken by the Geelong Star, at present trawling on the edge of the continental shelf off our coast.

Merimbula Big Game and Lake Angling Club, Spencer Park, Merimbula, 6:30 for 7:00pm presentation, Friday 8th January. For further information contact Libby Hepburn 02 6495 0917