05/06/2005 - Greg Hunt
MP, Federal Member for Flinders, today officially
launched a marine education program that for
the first time will put school students at
sea in a working research vessel in Port Phillip
Bay, one of Australia's busiest ports.
"This program is a prelude to the opening
of the Australian Marine College at Point
Nepean in 2006. It demonstrates how important
the Australian Maritime College will be to
the Peninsula and throughout Australia as
a standout education facility to improve our
knowledge and understanding of marine and
coastal communities," Mr Hunt said.
"I am delighted to officially launch
the schools@sea program - a collaboration
between the Australian Maritime College, the
Dolphin Research Institute and Nautilus Educational,
on World Environment Day as a major stepping
stone in the establishment of the Australian
Maritime College at Point Nepean."
"This is the first time the schools@sea
program has been run in Australia and is part
of the Australian Maritime College's vision
to develop a National Centre for Marine and
Coastal Conservation at Point Nepean.
"The schools@sea program begins tomorrow
and will involve students from over 30 schools
from Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula
spending a day of learning on board the Australian
Maritime College's FTV Bluefin, a fully equipped
working research vessel.
"Students will learn about what's in
our local bay - including sponge gardens,
dolphin pods and the unique mating habits
of the Bay's spider crab population.
"They will also be given first hand
experience in how modern marine research can
be conducted in a way that protects and preserves
our marine resources in our own backyard of
Port Phillip Bay.
"Activities will involve using underwater
observing equipment, marine monitoring and
fisheries programs including how to determine
the age of a fish."
