Region spears a place on TV with new show

Jessica Benton
The region’s renowned seafood and wine will be the catch of the day in a ground-breaking television series later this month.
Spearing the Menu will take viewers underwater in search of fresh ocean delights and back into the kitchen to cook up the catch.
Bellarine Peninsula’s InDepth Productions has put together the series, with three marine scientists and a teacher educating viewers on diving and spearfishing.
Production spokesperson Matt Koopman said the program would explore the region’s hidden underwater treasures.
“The first episode has been filmed at St Leonards, two at Lorne and one at Queenscliff as well as footage from New South Wales,” he said.
“As far as we know, it’s the first television production dedicated to spearfishing.”
Mr Koopman said the series would shine a positive light on the “sport”.
“Spearfishing is one of those small types of sports that’s relatively misunderstood and any publicity in the past has been negative,” he said.
“This program will bring it out in the open and expose it to the general public and show it’s the most selective way of fishing. It’s also a great way to get out there and explore the underwater world and we have some amazing underwater footage.”
Geelong Otway Tourism executive director Roger Grant backed the program.
“We thought it was a great way to speak for a fantastic destination and highlight the fantastic wines and seafood from the region,” he said.
“The thing that appealed to us was the focus on our region – it’s all about the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast and right down to Port Campbell and Warrnambool.
“Geelong Otway Tourism was more than happy to provide support for these young guys and a new initiative. We’re really supporting a different way to look at the region and showing that the concept of underwater fishing is a sustainable fishing exercise.
“There’s a lot of misunderstanding about spearfishing, so what I liked is the new knowledge that’s presented and, of course, eating and enjoying the catch.”
The first series of seven episodes debuts 9pm Tuesday on Melbourne’s Channel 31.