An entangled seal at Chinaman's Hat, Port Phillip Bay.  Photo -Troy Muir

The campaign will be launched this morning at the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club in Williamstown with a briefing by Melbourne Zoo's AGL Marine Response Unit and the Boating Industry Association of Victoria. 

Mark Keenan, Coordinator of the Melbourne Zoo AGL Marine Rescue Unit said the involvement of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria, with its direct link to the boating community, would provide a major boost to being able to identify the location of marine life at risk.

"A vital part of the program is for people reporting the location of the threatened marine wildlife to be able to provide us with accurate information to locate the seal or bird as quickly as possible," Mr Keenan said.

Steven Potts, CEO of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV), said the protection of the Bays environment from plastic and fishing line to protect marine life, and the long term environmental quality of Port Phillip and Western Port Bays, is an important program that needs wide community involvement.

Mr Potts said the BIAV will use its direct channels of communication to the boating industry, boating owners and water based sports, to promote the importance of reporting any injured marine life and disposing of any plastic or fishing line responsibly. Part of the campaign will be based around ongoing promotion through the BIAV website, social media program, BIAV members and the Melbourne Boat Show.

AGL General Manager Marketing & Retail Customers, Mark Brownfield said AGL was proud to support the AGL Marine Response Unit. The AGL Marine Response Unit is Victoria's first dedicated unit to respond to injured or distressed marine wildlife. Each year the unit responds to hundreds of cases involving Victoria's marine wildlife, and it is great that more Victorians are getting involved and reporting cases to the AGL Marine Response Unit.

Mark Keenan with Tarwin, one of the rescued seals at Melbourne Zoo

Join Operation Bay Watch and Help Protect our Marine Life

Add the Melbourne Zoo Marine Response Unit 1300 245 678 to your mobile phone.
If you see entangled or distressed marine wildlife contact the Zoo's AGL Marine Response 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.
Follow up with phone call 1300 245 678.

Join Operation Bay Watch and Help us Spread the Message on Facebook
www.facebook.com/BoatingVic

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, BIAV - Mobile: 0417 329 201