Great Victorian (QUEER) Fish count 2023!

Queer Nature Connection is heading to the beach, and we would love for you to join us!!

Have you ever wondered what goes on beneath the surface of Narrm aka Port Phillip Bay? 

After a very fun and successful Queer Nature Connection Fish Count expedition last year, we are heading back out there with support and guidance from the good folks at ReefWatch at the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) to participate in the Great Victorian Fish Count - an annual citizen science event.

This event at the beautiful Brighton Beach (South Rd) on Boon Wurrung country will be guided by nature connection mentors from Queer Nature Connection (Firekeepers), guides from ReefWatch and snorkelling guides from Diveline.

-Learn how to snorkel with all equipment including wetsuit, snorkel mask and flippers provided

-Learn more about the incredibly diverse creatures that live below the waves 

-Meet new friends

-Enjoy a day out at the beach with activities to support and deepen nature connection

-Warm up (or stay cool - depending on the weather) at the end of the day with shared snacks and drinks

-Go home with your own Great Victorian Fish Count t-shirt!

Note: The Diveline folks have advised that we change location to Brighton Beach Foreshore Reserve, just south of South Rd in Brighton. The wind direction, and water quality will be better here on Sunday.

There is a carpooling link for folks to offer and request lifts. And now we can walk to the Queer FishCount from Brighton Beach train station!

A few details:

For the Queer Fish Count, we will gather with a group of up to 15 participants at a beautiful beach location. We’ll start with an intro circle and a few nature connection activities, then Diveline will introduce us to the gear and techniques. We’ll snorkel in small groups with dive guides for up to 2 hours. We’ll have a break for lunch at some stage. At the end of the day, we’ll provide some snacks and drinks to share.

All of our activities are optional, we encourage folks to tune into what feels safe for them to participate in and to ask if anything could be made more accessible for their participation. There will be a space to chill out with picnic blankets, books about marine life and even a new Marine Life of Victoria Bingo game to play!

There are (binary) toilets further up the beach.

We’re very grateful to have received funding for this event from Coastcare Victoria through VNPA, which is significantly subsidising ticket prices.

Bookings close Thursday 30 November so Diveline has time to organise our wetsuit sizes!

Please get in touch if you have any further queries.

We look forward to exploring the waters with you!

🌞🐟🐠🐡🌊🤿

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤 💙💗🤍💗💙

More info about The Great Victorian Fish Count:

"There is no denying the cultural, environmental and economic benefits of the Great Barrier Reef – just as there is no denying the threats it is facing. But while most of us can conjure up a clear picture of the expansive, overlapping bright corals reefs teeming with colourfully patterned fish in tropical waters, many Victorians don’t realise that we have our very own beautiful and highly valuable reef system right here at our doorstep – in our cooler, or temperate, waters along our coast."

Southern marine species are often just as colourful and interesting as their coral reef-dwelling cousins.

The Great Victorian Fish Count is the state’s biggest marine citizen science event that sees divers and snorkelers hit the water to gather a snapshot of the fish, shark and ray species that live in Victoria’s coastal environment. Data from field surveys is uploaded to the Atlas of Living Australia to support citizen scientists, ecologists and natural resource managers in monitoring these largely understudied species.

Taking part in our Great Victorian Fish Count is an exciting way to join the community of people who love and care for the Great Southern Reef and learn about the wonderful fish that live amongst it.

http://vnpa.org.au/programs/gr...