Ocean open to budding marine scientists

A BELLARINE marine environment charity will soon launch a program alongside a local disability service to help manage animal populations in Port Phillip Bay.

The project aims to provide respite for disadvantaged people and get them involved in hands-on activities, that will also have tangible research benefits for environmental scientists.

Southern Ocean Environment Link (SOEL) has received a $40,000 grant from Parks Victoria for its Port Phillip Heads Marine National Parks marine monitors program.

The non-profit organisation will partner with accessible rental and service provider Great Ocean Stays to lead a biodiversity assessment of fish and seabird species inhabiting Port Phillip Bay.

Participants will record wildlife sightings during tours of the bays, including using undersea monitoring technology.

Data collected as part of the surveys will be sent to Deakin University’s environmental science faculty to improve their understanding of marine populations, with Deakin citizen scientists to be invited to be involved in report writing.

The project spawned from the long-term relationship between SOEL founder James Murphy and Great Ocean Stays, which involved him offering respite services to residents in emergency care through his sightseeing tour business See All Dolphin Swims.

“The whole idea was, what else can we do to help these people with different abilities and challenges to bring them to life, to make them feel more connected with the environment and make them feel more connected with the community?” Murphy said.

“What we’ve started doing is bringing groups in, and they’re utilising the camera system to do a digital fish count.

“They’re watching the animals on the TV and saying, ‘OK, I’ve seen this animal, that animal is there’. That ties in with citizen science.

“They’re able to see the animals on the screen and then get out there in the real world and actually get involved to whatever level they’re able to.”

SOEL’s funding is part of $812,000 for 30 groups that the state government announced this month as part of its Volunteering Innovation Fund, which aims to boost volunteering on public land and support community-led environment projects.

“Our dedicated volunteers do incredible work all across the state to help conserve our precious environment and ensure it’s thriving for future generations,” Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt said.

“These grants will help inspire more people in the community to get involved and begin new projects that protect and reinvigorate their local green spaces and wildlife.”