'Bouncer & Mum' (pic courtesy of Dolphin Research Institute)

Although Dolphins are  easy to spot from ship or shore, they weren’t mentioned in two major environmental studies of Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works, 1968-71; and by the CSIRO, 1992).

Given that the presence of species at the top of the food chain can be a useful indicator of the overall health of their environment, their absence in these two studies is a curious oversight.  Also, historical records of Dolphins in Port Phillip Bay are hard to find. So it’s a good thing that the Dolphin Research Institute is making up for lost time.

Let’s hope their research will soon tell us all we need to know to ensure these funky fish will always be a feature of our Bay. But in the meantime, we can all do our bit to keep their habitat healthy. Even if you live up to 40km from the Bay, it’s likely the stormwater drains in your street are connected to it. Have a think about it next time it rains. What goes down the drain?

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Dolphins at work (pic: Andrew McCutcheon)

One theory, which seems to make sense, is that dredging creates a short term smorgasbord for predator species, as smaller marine organisms that normally live in the seabed are thrown up into the water column. The problem is that these same organisms have often swallowed heavy metals and other toxins that have been flushed into the river from stormwater drains.

Due to the gradual accumulation of toxins, it takes time for animals to be affected. Meanwhile, perhaps the Dolphins are also wondering why all the Yellow-eyed Mullet disappeared during the EPA’s 2009 Lower Yarra Fish Study?