Shining a spotlight on the scallop fishing industry

MARITIME historian and film-maker Garry Kerr will present his documentary at the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum tomorrow (Saturday, March 29).

The documentary, Scallop Fishing in Australia: D’Entrecasteaux Channel to Port Phillip, features visuals and firsthand accounts of scallop fishing from 1920 through to almost the present day.

Throughout the documentary, Mr Kerr speaks to some of the main people in the industry, the innovators and the evolution to what it is today.

Mr Kerr said he was looking forward to meeting people within the industry and also getting to hear their perspective.

“I think a lot of people, even though they might have been in the industry over a given period, they might be surprised at some of the early days and even what’s happening today will be news to some people.

“It’s gone from an industry at its height in the 1980s with about 200 boats in between Victoria and Tasmania back to about eight boats today, but it’s a very sustainable industry today.

“It was once a very hit and miss industry, a lot of ups and downs because of the short lifespan of the scallops themselves; beds would be easily fished out and then they’d have to find new beds or wait for them to breed.”

Scallop fishing has a deep history in Victoria and Tasmania, with fisheries reaching 20 nautical miles out from the coast.

When exploring the industry’s evolution, Mr Kerr will also highlight the once-thriving commercial scallop fishery in Port Phillip Bay, which is closed to commercial operators but open to recreational fisheries.

“I had a nodding acquaintance with the scallop industry in Port Phillip Bay because I did some myself for a few months back in the 60s, but it was a very big industry in Port Phillip Bay for five years,” he said.

“[It had] over 100 boats working and a number of processing plants around the bay, including Geelong and boats unloading at places like Queenscliff, Portarlington, Geelong, Melbourne [and] Mornington.”

Following the screening of the documentary, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the industry.

The screening will take place at the Gil Albutt Boatshed from 6.30pm until 9pm.

For tickets and more information, head to trybooking.com/events/landing/1357633 or book at the museum.