Written records of our marine life
Immigrants' study of marine life (sea animals) in Queenscliff began in the 19th century as part of the increased global interest in natural history. Explorers and naturalists started to record in writing and illustrations the diversity of sea life in and around Queenscliff. This information, of course, was already known to the Borough's Aboriginal people who had been harvesting sea animals for food, decorations and tools for thousands of years.
For more information on this topic, please go to http://museumvictoria.com.au/caughtandcoloured/scientists.aspx
In respect to European immigrants, the work of two amateur naturalists has contributed to our understanding of marine life in the Borough. John Bracebridge Wilson collected marine invertebrate specimens in the waters around Queenscliff from his small boat. Paul Howard MacGillvray wrote descriptions of many of our marine invertebrates, particularly those that he had not before seen. MacGillvray also paid artists to draw hundreds of species of Bryozoans. Bryozoans commonly refers to a groups of marine creatures living in colonies made up of hundreds of tiny individual animals.
For more information, please go to: http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/marine-fossils/bryozoans/
Immigrants' study of marine life (sea animals) in Queenscliff began in the 19th century as part of the increased global interest in natural history. Explorers and naturalists started to record in writing and illustrations the diversity of sea life in and around Queenscliff. This information, of course, was already known to the Borough's Aboriginal people who had been harvesting sea animals for food, decorations and tools for thousands of years.
For more information on this topic, please go to http://museumvictoria.com.au/caughtandcoloured/scientists.aspx
In respect to European immigrants, the work of two amateur naturalists has contributed to our understanding of marine life in the Borough. John Bracebridge Wilson collected marine invertebrate specimens in the waters around Queenscliff from his small boat. Paul Howard MacGillvray wrote descriptions of many of our marine invertebrates, particularly those that he had not before seen. MacGillvray also paid artists to draw hundreds of species of Bryozoans. Bryozoans commonly refers to a groups of marine creatures living in colonies made up of hundreds of tiny individual animals.
For more information, please go to: http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/marine-fossils/bryozoans/
Management of our marine life
Today, we have a rich and varied marine life in the waters surrounding the Borough. These waters, and the marine animals living in them, are managed carefully by the Department of Environment, Primary Industries and Energy (DEPI).
DEPI's Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre (MFDC) provides education services that create awareness about the importance of commercial and recreational fishing and the marine and freshwater environments. It is located within the Borough and is open to visitors.
For more information, please visit: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishing-and-hunting/marine-and-freshwater-discovery-centre
Today, we have a rich and varied marine life in the waters surrounding the Borough. These waters, and the marine animals living in them, are managed carefully by the Department of Environment, Primary Industries and Energy (DEPI).
DEPI's Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre (MFDC) provides education services that create awareness about the importance of commercial and recreational fishing and the marine and freshwater environments. It is located within the Borough and is open to visitors.
For more information, please visit: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishing-and-hunting/marine-and-freshwater-discovery-centre
Bass Strait marine life
The Bass Strait waters boast a variety of marine life.
Fur seals, Bottlenose Dolphins and Southern Right Whales are all common sights in the waters off Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve.
The Bass Strait waters boast a variety of marine life.
Fur seals, Bottlenose Dolphins and Southern Right Whales are all common sights in the waters off Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve.
Swan Bay marine life
The unique marine habitat of Swan Bay makes it a perfect fish nursery area.
If you go canoeing across Swan Bay you can expect to see King George Whiting, Black Bream, flathead and garfish.
If you walk out along the jetty at the end of Swan Bay road, off which fishing is permitted, you often see people fishing for squid of a night time or mullet, flathead, snapper pinkies and gummy sharks during the day, There are also squire, pike, western blue groper and flounder in the Bay.
The unique marine habitat of Swan Bay makes it a perfect fish nursery area.
If you go canoeing across Swan Bay you can expect to see King George Whiting, Black Bream, flathead and garfish.
If you walk out along the jetty at the end of Swan Bay road, off which fishing is permitted, you often see people fishing for squid of a night time or mullet, flathead, snapper pinkies and gummy sharks during the day, There are also squire, pike, western blue groper and flounder in the Bay.
An interesting story: King George Whiting
How do they get into Swan Bay and how long do they stay there?
The King George Whiting (KGW) spawn out near South Australia and when the baby whiting (larvae) are a couple of days old, they drift into Port Phillip Bay and the into Swan Bay. Once in the safety of the Swan Bay waters nestled amongst the seagrass beds, the KGW grow bigger and bigger. They stay in Swan Bay until they are three or four years old before venturing back out into the sea.
How do they get into Swan Bay and how long do they stay there?
The King George Whiting (KGW) spawn out near South Australia and when the baby whiting (larvae) are a couple of days old, they drift into Port Phillip Bay and the into Swan Bay. Once in the safety of the Swan Bay waters nestled amongst the seagrass beds, the KGW grow bigger and bigger. They stay in Swan Bay until they are three or four years old before venturing back out into the sea.
More Marine Animals
Queenscliff Primary School has compiled a guide to the creatures found in Queenscliff's beaches and bays.
It provides key facts, photos and the students pictorial interpretations of 24 critters they often see when walking on the beach or when they are out on the bay.
Please view the file below.
Queenscliff Primary School has compiled a guide to the creatures found in Queenscliff's beaches and bays.
It provides key facts, photos and the students pictorial interpretations of 24 critters they often see when walking on the beach or when they are out on the bay.
Please view the file below.
queenscliff_critters.pdf | |
File Size: | 6760 kb |
File Type: |