Operation Bay Watch
"1400 seals die every year as a result of entanglement injuries, along with sea birds, whales, dolphins and turtles," – Melbourne ZooThe Boating Industry Association of Victoria and Melbourne Zoo’s AGL Marine Response Unit have launched Operation Bay Watch aimed at lifting the surveillance for injured marine life on Port Phillip and Western Port by engaging the boating community to keep a watch out for injured mammals.
Over 68 per cent of Victoria’s 172,000 registered water craft operate on the Bays, and through them Melbourne Zoo reckons they can add 50,000 sets of eyes to protect our marine life.
Plastic rubbish and discarded fishing line is responsible for killing or maiming both sea birds and marine wildlife, especially seals, which are often entangled in fishing line, netting or even packing tape.
Organisers have urged people to join Operation Bay Watch and help protect our marine life. They are asking boaters to add the Melbourne Zoo Marine Response Unit (1300 245 678) to their mobile phones and if you see injured or distressed marine wildlife contact the Zoo’s unit.
Take a photo on your mobile phone of the injured marine wildlife and text it to the ZOO’s AGL Marine Response Unit on 0447 158 676 with a description of the location. You can then follow up with phone call 1300 245 678 to see how the animal is getting on.
You can help spread the message on www.facebook.com/BoatingVic
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