“The Scallop Wars” were they real or just a storm in a scallop shell. Circa 1972 and the Melbourne papers were full of the racial unrest between Australian and the newly arrived Greek Scallop Fishermen… was it a turf war, about illegal catches, quota cheating, pub violence, criminal undertones…the stuff of small town folklore…
A short but pertinent message of encouragement from our website author for upcoming entries for the FLOAT O+W Art Exhibition.
The exhibition is to be held on
Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 6 PM – 10:30 PM
My hand cut graphic, connecting the dots… between the symbolic and historical Bass Strait oil and gas exploration, the impact of Seismic blasting on the Scallop Industry, contributing to the downturn of Scallop Fishing and the livelihoods on the wharf @ Lakes Entrance…a big message from a simple (Pectan Fumatus) Scallop Shell…Go Well O+W.
This exhibition will be the launch of the Lakes Entrance Slipway complex, rejuvenated, refurbished and ready as a visual platform for the arts, community and tourism, a fantastic venue to revitalise the Lakes Entrance commercial Scallop and Fishing Wharf…
For all aspiring artists wishing to enter…visit https://www.facebook.com/events/560067904610017/
The Victorian Scallop Fishermen’s Association Inc, President Steve Melissakis, Commented on the the release of the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for the Victorian Ocean Scallop Fishery.
Our historical consultation and outspoken efforts to make a visible and clear link between Seismic activity and the depletion and damage to our traditional Scallop grounds has only ever gained superficial recognition.
The impact of this Seismic activity on Scallop stocks and in fact to other fisheries does not seem to gain the recognition and observance it deserves from Regulatory bodies and Government.
We refute the methodology and process of assessment as outlined in the Victorian Fisheries Authority, recent call for industry submissions.
The Scallop Fishermen’s Association Inc, once again has no option, but to accept the highly reduced TACC for the 2018/19 scallop season.
Mr Melissa’s stated, our protest is visible, and needs to be made public.
For the record…we state again that our industry was promised a sustainable Scallop quota with the reduction of our licences. The Victorian Fisheries Authority was delivered a sustainable and profitable Scallop Fishery to manage as the custodians and managers of our Victorian industry.
The reality is that the findings of the survey, when released in March 2018, should show that Scallop stocks are seriously impacted, as a direct result of the continued Seismic bombardment of our scallop beds over the last 15 years.
They are not as a result of over fishing in the East Gippsland Scallop beds, the abundance surveys will show viable commercial scallop numbers, but will not make the co relationship to seismic activity, that affects Scallop reproduction.
The following links, detail the pdf chain in this seasons TACC.
Welcome to the new website of The Victorian Scallop Fishermen’s Association Inc.
The new website has been created to keep our members abreast of all things related to our industry.
Victorian freshly harvested and prepared Scallops in the shell
Federal Government changes and regulations in the Commonwealth Scallop Fishery as governed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
State Government changes to quotas and regulations as governed by the Victorian Fisheries Authority.
News, Views and Clues for our valued customers, the consumers from Victoria, Australia and overseas, who transform our harvested product in the shell to the delectable table fare that has made Victorian and Bass Strait Scallops famous world wide.
We look forward to keeping you posted with fantastic suggestions to enhance your “paddock to plate experience” with fresh, sustainably harvested Victorian Scallops.
After all our own back yard Bass Strait has been referred to as “The Paddock” by mariners, sailors and fishermen for many, many decades.
