SEMINAR: SymbioticA Friday Seminar

It is over two months since a West Atlas mobile offshore drilling unit leaked oil about 250 kilometres north of Truscott, and 690 kilometres west of Darwin. The fourth attempt at plugging the leak has been postponed due to equipment failure. The leak is considered to have covered 45,000 square kilometres of ocean.

Following a mass protest in the city of Perth on Friday morning at 11am, the WA Marine Co-ordinator of the Wilderness Society, Dr Jill St John, will present a paper outlining the enormity of the leak, dangers to the marine life in the vicinity and what individuals can actually do to make a difference.

Dr Jill St John joined the Wilderness Society in 2008 as the Marine Co-ordinator in WA. Jill has a passion for all things marine, especially fish. Studying and working at both Sydney and James Cook Universities, Jill specialised in the ecology of coral reef fishes. She spent two years researching coral trout in Okinawa, Japan at Seikai National Fisheries Institute before moving to Perth to work as a Research Scientist in the Department of Fisheries. “In Perth I researched iconic temperate reef fish for eight years and often told both recreational and commercial fishers that my real clients were the fish.” Tired of the never-ending blamebrawls between “rec” and “commercial” fishers, Jill decided to leave fisheries to campaign for better marine protection in WA.

With its huge coastline and small population, WA has escaped the marine problems of the more populated east. However, the recruitment failure of the famous rock lobster fishery and the recent oil and gas leak suggests WA is catching up quickly.

All welcome.

FLASH MOB PROTEST When: This Friday Oct 30th@11am What: Dress in black, grab a sign & join in protest the beat until it stops= flash mob protest Where: APPEA office, 190 St. Georges Tce., Perth City. Why? To say Never Again… to the oil and gas industry & gain better protection for Kimberly marine life! Please send this around to friends/family/colleges and anyone who is interested! And print one out for a notice board!