Catch data helps scientists Safety Beach beauty takes on Miss Tourism Australia track fish movements VOLUNTEER fishers working as citizen scientists to tag, release and report the capture of King George whiting in Port Phillip and Western Port bays is helping improve our knowledge of their behaviour. The fishers, working on a threeyear Monash University research project funded by recreational fishing licence fees, are helping track the fish’s movement patterns. “We know whiting enter our bays when they’re only a few months old and leave again at about four years of age to mature and begin spawning offshore,” Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling said. “What we don’t know is how juveniles move within and between our bays up until they depart.” Fishers have tagged nearly 700 whiting, the biggest 48cm, with 60 per cent in Port Phillip at Queenscliff, Geelong, St Leonards and Clifton Springs, and 40 per cent in Western Port at Somers, Tortoise Head and Middle Spit. Mr Dowling said 39 tagged whiting had been recaptured so far and none had moved between bays or offshore – yet. “In Western Port, one tagged whiting moved 20km from Somers to Dickies Bay, at San Remo, over 11 months, growing 5cm from 35 to 40cm,” Mr Dowling said.
“Another showed the greatest short-term movement recorded so far in the study, swimming from Somers to Middle Spit in a bit over three weeks – that’s about 24km! “In Port Phillip, one tagged whiting was recaptured near Queenscliff by the same angler who’d tagged it 45 minutes after it had been released.” Mr Dowling said the longest period between tagging and recapture was 16 months. The fish had grown 11cm – from 33 to 44 cm. Like most recaptured fish, this whiting was caught close to where it was tagged. “As fish get older and start to move out onto the coast, more recaptures from further afield are expected.” Mr Dowling said it was hoped the project would reveal more secrets this summer. He said much of the credit could be attributed to just four keen fishers who have tagged and released 83 per cent of the whiting in the study. “It’s great to see passionate fishers so involved in local research, on a species they really care about.” Fishers catching a King George whiting carrying a yellow tag should report it to whitingtag@ gmail.com or call 5258 3686. They should record the tag number, fish length, date and location of capture, and release the fish so it can further contribute to the project’s database.
By Stephen Taylor A SAFETY Beach girl who embodies the values of the Mornington Peninsula’s healthy outdoor lifestyle is the new face of our international tourism efforts. Miss Tourism Australia winner Charli Wookey, 19, is getting ready to head to Malaysia to compete in this year’s International Miss Tourism Final in November. Charli, who attended Rosebud Secondary College, will compete against entrants from 40 countries in the lead up to the coronation ceremony at Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa, Kuala Lumpur. Her role as Miss Tourism Australia promotes Australia as a tourist destination which should suit Charli’s lifestyle: the outdoors girl is a member of the Peninsula Board Riders, and has competed in surfing competitions at Gunnamatta, Rye, Portsea and Pt Leo. She is thrilled to be heading overseas. “It is a good opportunity for fun and experience,” she said. “I’d be stoked to win it. It would definitely boost my confidence and improve my modelling career. “It would certainly help get my name out there.” Charli, also aspiring actress, studies the craft at the Acting Performance Studio, Moorabbin. Miss Tourism Australia is her first pageant. It aims to boost the international and domestic marketing of tourism in Australia, and increase opportunities and demand for Australia as a destination for leisure and business travel. Miss Tourism Australia director Deborah Miller said our girls had placed in the top 5 at the international competition over the past three years. “It provides a platform for talented, beautiful and educated young women to promote tourism internationally and communicate what it means to be Australian,” she said. By the sounds of it, Charli will be right at home.
Girl’s got it: Charli on the beach at Dromana and, below, demonstrating her modelling skills. Pictures: Yanni and supplied
on the Mornington Peninsula
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17 September 2019
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