Each year The Standard prints pictures of happy fishermen holding up huge, dead tuna with no mention of the fact that southern bluefin tuna is a critically endangered species.

The species is classified as endangered in New South Wales and Victoria and, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, that means the specie ‘faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild’.

In 2013 levels were down to five percentof original levels, yet fishing continues.

I wonder if fishers understand that extinction means forever and that a fishless sea means...no more fishing?

If each boat on the Southern Ocean catches two a day and there are 600 boats, that’s 1200 tuna a day, 8400 a week and 33,600 a month.

Hopefully they’re re all lousy fishers who don’t catch two or even one per day.

In either case, that is way too many catches of a critically endangered species.

Wouldn’t it be great, just once, if we humans stopped seeking dollars and self gratification and fought for the survival of another species instead?

Would people seriously stop coming here to fish if the limit dropped from two to one per day, even if that meant the difference between survival and extinction of this beautiful jaguar of the sea.

It’s true that commercial fishing is much more damaging.

So, if recreational fishers truly care, then why don’t they all petition governments to legislate against the commercial fishing of an endangered species whilst happily reducing their own catches?

Lisa Owen, Warrnambool

I have to agree with ex-Councillor Peter Sycopoulis (The Standard, May 28) when he says that there is absolutely no incentive to use our CBD.

The CBD to a vehicle owner is just a nightmare not worth going into anymore.

I am speaking as a vehicle owner when I say that the parking fees are difficult to manage and too high especially when driving another five minutes up the road I can have my choice of shops and no parking fees.

If the parking meters are there to keep traffic moving it’s working, they are moving right up to Gateway Plaza.

The parking spaces are ill conceived and the pedestrian crossings are way too many.

Why is it that no one is listening to what the people on the street are saying anymore? 

I think there is a lot to be gained by admitting something isn’t working and not cutting your nose off to spite your face.

I know that many of the councillors were not involved with the initial action with these changes but they are seen to be condoning them by not attempting to change the status quo. 

It would be interesting to view a report published in The Standard of all the closures alongside all the new shops that have opened since the initial work started down there.

Much of what I am seeing down there doesn’t make much sense.  

Although I do like the new look of the CBD and I think it had to be done I feel there are far too many side issues in cost and stubborn digging heels in refusing to listen to what people are asking for.

I understand that many of the councillors voices have been silenced by the signing of documents during their installation but this is looking like it doesn’t matter what the public say.

David MacPhail, Warrnambool

Research is being done into the wreck of the Fiji, near Moonlight Head, on September, 6, 1891.

Fifteen sailors survived but 11 were drowned.

It is hoped some district descendants of the key players in the rescue might have family records, photos or other information for inclusion in a book.

Help has already been given in Warrnambool by descendants of Anne Bowker (later Webster) who, with John and Mrs Evans of Rivernook guest house, provided all care to the rescued sailors.

F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson (or Dixon) and Fenelon Mott, a surveyor, found a survivor battling along the coast to get help.

Stansmore rushed to Glenample station and roused the manager, Mr McKenzie, who rode off to Port Campbell.

A lad, Willie Ward, saw the Fiji aground near Moonlight Head, reporting it to a Mr Thomas of Sherbrooke.

Ward rode to Princetown while Thomas also reported the tragedy at Port Campbell.

Edwin Vinge of the Government punt (likely Warrnambool), Hugh Cameron, William Robe and Peter Carmody waded into the surf to help survivors.

Others assisting were believed to be the four Coe brothers, Albert, Bill, Thomas and Fred.

Baptist minister Rev. Arthur Robertson and Mr Tregea, a Justice of the Peace, led the rescue party from Port Campbell and assisted on the beach.

Dr Ewing, of Cobden, visiting Princetown, examined the survivors.

Constable Jones and two other policemen were on beach duty after the wreck, and Customs-officer Christie from Warrnambool was active in the salvage assessment.

Rev. James Jennison (or Jenningson), Wesleyan Home Missionary at Heytesbury Forest, performed the burial of victims on the cliff top.

It will be important to honour these local heroes in the book.

If any reader has information about any of them, please phone me on 0412 143660.

Alan McLean, Travancore