Professor Pierre Lubet

Professor Pierre Lubet of Caen died on 22 February 2003 in his seventy-eighth year. He was one of the founding members of the Société Française de Malacologie. He served on the ‘conseil d’administration’ for a number of years and was President in 2000 and 2001.

Professor Lubet’s researches were on bivalve molluscs and especially on lamellibranches. I first met him at an early meeting of the European Malacological Congress at Geneva in 1968 and then at numerous meetings over the years of SFM and the joint meetings with our Society. He had a friendly jovial manner and was an inspiration and friend to many generations of malacologists. He will be sadly missed and we extend sincere condolences to his family.


Alan Bebbington


World Congress Of Malacology, Perth, Western Austrailia, July 2004

Post conference field trip

The Houtman Abrolhos Islands are a series of 122 small low-lying islands located off the west coast of Australia, coast approximately 300 km north of Perth. The environment is dominated by coral reefs, but there are also extensive limestone, sand, and algal habitats. The Abrolhos is situated in a fascinating area where there is a mixture of tropical, temperate and Western Australian endemic species. Nearly 500 species of marine molluscs are known from the islands, and there are no doubt many more to be recorded.

Provisional agreement has been reached with the Western Australian Department of Fisheries to hold a post conference field trip at their newly opened (May 2003) field station at Rat Island in the Easter Group of the Abrolhos. The trip will be 5-7 days long, and will include travelling by road to Geraldton, then by boat or air to the Abrolhos. Diving, snorkelling and intertidal reef walking will be undertaken in the islands, some of which have spectacular underwater scenery and large fish. Museum and Fisheries staff will run the camp and boats, and have an intimate knowledge of the Abrolhos. Collecting and export permits will be arranged by the Western Australian Museum. The trip will depart from Perth on Monday, 19 July 2004 and return the following Sunday or Monday.
Spaces are limited to an absolute maximum of 20, but the group will preferably be smaller. Full details will be published in the registration announcement for the World Congress, which will be coming out in a few months. The information will be sent to interested participants as soon as it becomes available. If you are interested please e-mail me early to ensure you obtain the information quickly.


Fred Wells, Western Australian Museum

Email: Fred...@museum.wa.gov.au