17 Greenies&Fishing Groups Unite For Port Phillip Bay

17 Greenies&Fishing Groups Unite For Port Phillip Bay Community opposition to the proposal to deepen shipping channels in Port Phillip Bay continues to grow in the face of mounting evidence of significant and potentially catastrophic environmental risks - and no economic benefits.The dredging proposal has forged an alliance between commercial fishermen and community environment groups. Apart from being cute, penguins are an important indicator of the health of Port Phillip Bay. Their survival depends on good fish stocks, which in turn rely on supplies of microscopic water bugs and plants. An ongoing study of the St Kilda penguin colony by Earthcare St. Kilda has recorded a 900% increase in penguins living at St Kilda since 1986. However Zoe Hogg, Penguin Study Coordinator says “The Channel Deepening proposal is a significant threat to both the thriving St Kilda penguin colony and the Commercial fishing industry. Both rely on anchovies - a species that would be badly affected if the proposal went ahead”. “Heavy metal poisoning as a result of channel deepening is a real threat, both to penguins and the commercial fishing industry”. “Starving penguins will be particularly vulnerable to the effects of the toxins released into the food chain by dredging in the Yarra estuary. Similarly, there is a chance that fish caught in Port Phillip Bay would become unfit for human consumption if the proposal went ahead”, says Zoe…. Government has recently announced further Channel Deepening studies will be undertaken by the Port of Melbourne – “The very people who couldn’t manage the $12 million taxpayer funded EES first round of investigations!” says Jenny Warfe Blue Wedges Coalition spokesperson. “It’s time for some independent science not studies managed by the PoMC – who so far have acted on behalf of international shippers rather than Victorians” and “Over-fishing is not the issue, it’s habitat destruction caused by the Port of Melbourne dredging Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River which is the big threat to Penguins, fishermen and all those who love and rely on the Bay” says Jenny. Further information: Zoe Hogg, Earthcare St Kilda Inc 0402 164 482 Phillip McAdam, Port Phillip Bay Professional Fishermen’s Assoc 9397 1128 Jenny Warfe, Blue Wedges Coalition 5987 1583 ****clickheadlinetogoto Blue Wedges website