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09/03/2005: "Red Morwong"

Red morwong or mowies are the staple diet of young Sydney spearmen.

Once easily speared and of quite acceptable table quality, when filleted with skin removed.

Stories told by the older club members of clouds of mowies seemed exaggerated. As time passed mowie's at Long Reef (Sydney) would 'take-off like a Snapper'.

Competition spearfishing pressure had changed the once semi-docile nature of the species into a new one of self preservation with speed.

But the infamous clouds of mowies stories did have merit. At Byron Bay where the above picture was made, the mowies have returned since a sanctuary was declared.

No clouds of red morwong exist anywhere near the cities, anymore.

A southern cousin, the banded morwong looks similar, and with dark vertical bands. These are now netted in Tasmania for the live fish trade.

Sad to see them on the marine equivilent of death row outside cafe's in Sydney's Dixon Street, but......that's the way it is. Torture in tanks with bright lights before the inevidable end.

Diver and natural health guru, Tony Flook purchased a live mud crab - took it home to cook, felt sorry for the creatrure, then released it alive into Sydney Harbour.

It's unlikely any benevolent patron will do the same for the near-extinct Sydney banded morwong, but what a great cause.

Release a few hundred adult banded mowies in Sydney Harbour near Middle Head and see what happens. A valid project for further promotion? Or too handicapped by potential fisheries department red tape?