REBECCA HUBBARD, MR
Ocean Planet Tour takes in the Channel, the Peninsula and the Huon Valley

Ocean Planet, Tasmanias new ocean advocacy group, continues its statewide tour and has today spent the day at Woodbridge discussing marine conservation issues with the public and hearing about the expectations of Tasmanians who live with and by Tasmanias waters.

Todays forum was held in conjunction with the Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre, and followed on from a group discussion at the University of Tasmania on Thursday night.

Ocean Planets forums are attracting people from across the entire community, including the commercial fishing industry, the dive-tourism sector and scientists. I am hearing that Tasmanians are observing changes in the marine environment, and have opinions about the future of their oceans and how they are managed, said Rebecca Hubbard, Ocean Planet Co-ordinator.

Ocean Planet has received funding from the Australian Governments Caring for Our Country programme, to discuss the roles of marine national parks and to speak with Tasmanians about their vision for the future of Tasmanias marine environment. Following the tour of the south, Ocean Planet will be hosting meetings, fieldtrips and films in Swansea, St Helens, Bicheno, Bridport, Launceston, Low Head, and then across to the north-west and west coasts.

It is so important that Tasmanians have an input into the management of their ocean environments. This tour is an invaluable way of gathering information that we can feed back to the state and federal governments, Ms Hubbard said.

The tour will continue tomorrow (Sunday September 6) on the Tasman Peninsula with the presentation Marine National Parks what, why, where and how you can be involved at the Tasman Community Centre, Taranna from 3.00 to 5.00 pm. On Tuesday, September 8 the same presentation will take place at the Huon Valley Council Chambers, Huonville from 5.30 to 7.30 pm.

For more information: Rebecca Hubbard 0401 854 912

www.oceanplanet.org.au Protecting our oceans is common sense

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Rebecca Hubbard
Marine Coordinator
Environment Tasmania
M: 0401 854 912
P: 03 6224 6319
W: www.et.org.au
A: PO Box 1073, Hobart TAS 7001

ET is Tasmania’s conservation council, representing over 25 environment groups across our island state.

Support our work to protect and sustain Tasmania’s spectacular marine environment by donating today at www.et.org.au