We kicked off this year’s Great Victorian Fish Count in a very 2020 way with our first online GVFC celebration night, featuring one of the grouchiest fish (The Victorian Scalyfin) and the most graceful (The Smooth Ray).
The Grouchy
Mark Norman is currently the Chief Conservation Scientist for Parks Victoria, however back in the 80’s he spent 160 hours underwater observing 80 Victorian Scalyfin at Popes Eye. He joined us to sing their praises and share some stories and images of these territorial little fish. In perfect 2020 fashion he joined us from his car atop a hill to get a better connection!
The Graceful
Joni Pini-Fitzsimmons is a PhD Candidate in Macquarie University’s Fish Lab. She has many years of experience in shark and ray biology and shared insights from her research on the movements and behaviour of coastal ray species in NSW- with a focus on those graceful giants, the Smooth Rays, and the Southern Eagle Ray.
The Great
Nicole Mertens has been running the Great Victorian Fish Count for the past couple of years. She took us through some highlights of 2019 and let us know what’s in store for the 18th GVFC.