weather triple whammy roughs up the reefelibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au/jspui/bitstream/11017/909/1/... ·...

Stifling heat, heavy rainfall causing significant flooding, and destructive winds from cycloneHamish, have all compounded to have a hard hitting impact on the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Chairman, Russell Reichelt, said a summer ofextreme weather brought a triple whammy of pressures to the Great Barrier Reef.

"Sea temperatures across most of the Reef rose a massive 2-3 degrees above average in Decemberwhich meant this summer was shaping up to be one of the worst years on record for coral bleaching due to the extreme heat.

"Above average sea temperatures are very stressful to corals and prolonged heat causes bleachingand ultimately coral death, so we were very concerned about the outlook for the Reef.

"In January, we got a reprieve from the risk of heat induced bleaching as wind and cloud coverfrom the monsoon cooled temperatures. But this was a mixed blessing for the Reef because stormsin January and February caused record levels of rain and extreme flooding.

"This was a one in a hundred year flood event, where, in a rare consequence, we are seeingplumes covering very large areas of the Marine Park.

Issue 27 • March/April 2009

DISCLAIMERWhile all efforts have been made to verify facts, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority takes no responsibility for the accuracy of information supplied in SeaRead.

ISSN 1834-6774

Copyright Commonwealthof Australia

Please note that you are welcome to photocopy SeaRead. However, if the text is reproduced separately, it must not be altered and must acknowledge the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as the source. Illustrations must not be reused separately without permission. Please contact the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority if in doubt.

www.gbrmpa.gov.au

What’sinsideBioremediation to keepatrazine from waterways

Residents look after theirbeach backyard

Looking after breeding flowery cod and camouflage cod

Check your free zoning map or risk a fine over Easter

Fishing champion awarded for eco-efforts

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Weather triple whammy roughs up the Reef

Sea temperatures 2–3 degrees higher than average, a one in one hundred year flood event and destructive winds from cyclone Hamishcovering about 50 per cent of the Marine Park, have made this a summer of hard knocks for the Reef

Continued on page 2

SeaRead 27 Final QXP 22/3/09 4:01 PM

2The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority email: [email protected]

It has been a very busy start to theyear with extreme weather experienced throughout northQueensland this summer. High temperatures, record rainfall andcyclone Hamish have influenced ourwork as we continue to focus on thekey priority areas for protecting theGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park.

From an environmental perspective, the first two months ofthis year were a challenging time forall Queenslanders and we were certainly watching closely as part ofour role in monitoring the health ofthe Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Itwas a summer of extremes; with soaring temperatures in December,extreme rainfall over January andFebruary and cyclone Hamish earlyMarch.

We recently held a workshop ondeveloping a response system formanaging coral bleaching and inviteda range of reef users to take part. Theworkshop discussed developing a system to respond to mass coralbleaching on the Reef, similar toresponding to other major incidentssuch as oil spills. It is important tohave clear plans in place to deal with

this when it occurs, so that theresponse is timely and appropriate.We are keen to work with Reef userswho have an interest in beinginvolved.

Extreme heat can increase sea surface temperatures and elevate thelikelihood of coral bleaching to concerning levels. We were closelymonitoring sea surface temperatureto determine if any variations wouldcause stress to corals and bleaching.While the risk of bleaching remainedhigh throughout the early part ofsummer, widespread rain and cloudyweather provided some reprieve.

Cloudy conditions and above-average January rainfall betweenCooktown and the Whitsundaysreduced the immediate threat ofbleaching over much of the GreatBarrier Reef in January. By mid-February the risk of coral bleaching was downgraded to moderate due to the wet January andresultant cooling.

The monsoons brought a muchneeded cooling off period for thecorals, but it presented other challenges for the Reef includingflood plumes. As a result, this wet

season was a particularly busy time forus and our research and communitypartners.

We are keeping a close eye on thequality of water entering the MarinePark and the health of coral and seagrass. While the data from monitoring the floods will take sometime to analyse, the high levels ofrainfall can result in floodwater carrying large amounts of sediments,nutrients and pollutants off the landand into the marine environment.

We’re pleased the Reef is still one ofthe healthiest coral reef systems in theworld, but we encourage everyone toremain vigilant and be aware of theirrole in helping protect it. Through ourmanagement initiatives, communityinvolvement, our work with industryand interest groups, and ReefGuardian Councils and Schools wewill continue to spread the messagethat the future of the Reef is up to allof us.

Regards

"Flood plumes are also extremelystressful to corals and we’ve hadreports of severe bleaching and coraldeath on reefs between Cairns andthe Whitsundays.

"To make matters worse, destructivewind gusts from severe tropicalcyclone Hamish affected more than50 per cent of coral reefs in theMarine Park.

"Although we have yet to surveythe effected areas, we expect thestorm may have caused severe reefand island damage.

All of these things individuallycause stress to the Reef but Russellsaid it was their combined impactthat was most worrying.

"Historically the Reef has beenresilient to events like this, but it israre; possibly unprecedented; to havethree such events in such a short period of time.

"It’s been a summer of hard knocksfor the Reef and given the slow

Continued from page 1

recovery of corals, we are likely to seethe impacts of this summer for yearsto come.

"In fact, some reefs were still recovering from damage caused bythe 1998 and 2002 mass bleachingevents and other localised disturbances like cyclone Larry and aseries of flood plumes over the pastdecade.

"Because it can take reefs up to 20years to fully recover, these recentevents are a real set back for reefrecovery in some areas."

The GBRMPA is working with theAustralian Institute of Marine Scienceand the Environmental ProtectionAgency to assess the damage atinshore and mid-shelf reefs betweenTownsville and Lizard Island.

Of all developed countries,Australia is likely to be most impactedby climate change and the Reef isalready seeing signs of the changes tocome.

Russell said it was important to buytime for the Reef from the worsteffects of climate change and extremeweather by bolstering its overallhealth.

"While the Great Barrier Reef isrecognised internationally as beingthe healthiest and best managed reefsystem in the world, we can’t affordto be complacent.

"There is much work still to bedone and with extreme weatherevents becoming more frequent, nowmore than ever we need to remainvigilant."

Russell said that keeping the Reefas healthy as possible required a twopronged approach, mitigating theimpacts of climate change and working to improving its resilience.

While the Reef has experienced setbacks this summer, it is still faringbetter than most of the world’s reefsand remains a fantastic destinationfor tourists.



Farmers around the world areexpected to benefit from the successful trial of an enzyme thatbreaks down the herbicide,atrazine, in run-off water.

According to Dr Colin Scott,CSIRO Entomologist: "When weadded the enzyme to a holdingdam filled with run-off contaminated with atrazine, morethan 90 per cent of it was removedin less than four hours.

"The enzyme we have developedwill reduce the potential for off-farm water contamination byatrazine and this should help provide continued access to it forfarmers."

Atrazine is a widely used andextremely useful herbicide but,depending on its use, can result inresidues that persist in water forsometime after application.

Undesirable residues of thischemical in water have led torestrictions on the use of atrazinein the European Union and UnitedStates of America.

The successful trial was held inthe Burdekin sugar growing regionnear Ayr in Queensland and theresults were very promising forreducing contamination in run-offthat reaches the Great Barrier Reef.

Collaborators in the trial werethe Queensland Department ofPrimary Industries and Fisheries(DPI&F), James Cook University

and the Great Barrier Reef MarinePark Authority.

The DPI&F’s Rob Milla, whoorganised access to the trial farmsand assisted in sample collection, isalso pleased with the results.

"These initial field test results arevery encouraging and our nextsteps will be to apply the enzymein standard operating situations toensure there are no impediments,from a farmer perspective, to itseasy and effective use," Rob said.

The CSIRO bioremediation teamis now focusing on improving the

Examining an agar dish for bacterial colonies as part of the bioremediation project Photo by David McClenaghan – CSIRO

Bioremediation to keep atrazine from waterways

Dive into theocean andexplore theGreat BarrierReef State-of-the-art technology allowspeople to dive beneath the water surface and explore 3D underwaterterrain of the Great Barrier Reef,without leaving their computer.

Google recently launched GoogleOcean in Google Earth, whichincludes ocean-related content contributed by marine managers suchas the Great Barrier Reef Marine ParkAuthority (GBRMPA).

Google Earth is a popular free on-line virtual globe and mappingtool, displaying global satelliteimagery, cities, infrastructure and arange of other geographic

production and application of theenzyme, to provide farmers andwater consumers around the worldwith a cost effective bioremediationproduct to address triazine contamination.

CSIRO’s search for the enzymebegan with a search for bacteriathat ‘fed’ on atrazine. Once identified, the team isolated theenzyme that broke down the chemical into non-toxic components and developed it tomake it a product suitable for low-cost production and deliveryinto a range of situations.

information as maps or as 3D views.The new Google Ocean moduleallows exploration of a three dimensional ocean including bathymetric features.

GBRMPA Chairman RussellReichelt said the technology allowedpeople from all over the world toexperience one of our greatest naturaltreasures.

"Our role of managing the GreatBarrier Reef Marine Park is vital toAustralians and people from aroundthe world," he said.

"Google Ocean in Google Earthopens up new opportunities to educate the public about this remarkable place, presenting its natural wonders to everyone fromschool children to scientists."

The new 'Explore the Ocean' layerhighlights the Great Barrier Reef andother protected areas from aroundthe world.

The content was developed withthe help of the GBRMPA and theARC Centre of Excellence for CoralReef Studies.

The Google Ocean feature is on bydefault in the newest version ofGoogle Earth. Users can zoom in onthe ocean to see a dynamic water surface, and once they dive beneaththe surface they can navigate 3D seafloor terrain.

The feature includes 20 contentlayers, containing information contributed by the world's leadingscientists and ocean explorers.



It’s as simple as aflick of the switchAustralians are encouraged toshow their support for protectingthe Great Barrier Reef MarinePark by turning off their lights forEarth Hour on 28 March.

Earth Hour has grown fromhumble beginnings in Sydney in2007 to a world-wide eventreminding people that everyonehas a role to play in a mitigatingthe impacts of climate change.

GBRMPA Chairman RussellReichelt said climate change wasalready impacting on the GreatBarrier Reef.

"The Great Barrier Reef hasalready experienced several significant coral bleaching eventswhich have caused unprecedenteddamage to corals over the last 10years," Russell said.

"Rising sea surface temperatureis likely to cause an increase in frequency and severity of coralbleaching across the Great BarrierReef.

"Making sure homes and business are as energy efficient aspossible is an important step inreducing carbon emissions. It isalso important to continue toreduce waste and recycle as muchas possible.

"It’s hoped that Earth Hour notjust raises awareness about climatechange but really encourages people to become more environmentally sustainable on aregular basis."

This year Earth Hour is aimingto reach one billion people andmore than 1000 cities and over 64countries.

You can participate in EarthHour 2009 by turning off yourlights for one hour from 8.30pmon Saturday 28 March. For moreinformation or to register onlinevisit www.earthhour.org

Residents lookafter their beachbackyardBrittina Mundy and Yvonne Greerare passionate about looking aftertheir patch.

The pair from Balgal Beach, nearTownsville, have been patrolling"their" beach for the past year, collecting rubbish and looking outfor unusual signs.

Brittina and Yvonne recently contacted the Great Barrier ReefMarine Park Authority (GBRMPA)with concerns about coral rubblewashing up on the beach followingrecent storms.

Brittina said that her love of thebeach made her want to learn moreabout the Reef.

"I became very inquisitive aboutwhat it was I was seeing on the beachand I wanted to find the answers tomy many questions."

Yvonne, a member of theDoomadgee community, agreed thatBalgal Beach was a very special place.

"The beach and sea are good formy spirit and help keep me at peace.

"If everyone helps to protect thisunique environment, it will be herefor future generations.

"I encourage everyone to be part ofthe solution by disposing of litterproperly when walking, camping andboating and by reporting illegalactions to the appropriate authority.

"It is very satisfying to help lookafter something that is so importantto so many people."

Residents from Balgal Beach learn more about their coastline.

While the beach rubble turned outto be a normal occurrence, thisopened the door for the two enthusiastic residents to learn moreabout their local coastline.

In response, the GBRMPA provided the residents with trainingon how to appropriately report animal strandings and illegal activities, and how to identify oilslicks in the event of a spill.

The GBRMPA General Manager ofPark Management Andrew Skeat saidit is encouraging to see people whoare passionate about the marine environment and who are interestedin doing what they can to keep ithealthy.

“We welcome reports of unusual sightings and are always keen to hearfrom community members."

You can help to protect the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parkby reporting incidents, especially:

Stranded or injured animals, marinepollution, fish kills – 1300 130 372 (EPA)

Oil spills – 07 3830 4919 (GBRMPA) quote ‘oil spill’

Illegal fishing – 1800 017 116

(DPI&F)

Zoning infringements (e.g. fishing inGreen Zones) – 07 4726 0510(GBRMPA)

Sightings of unusual marine life – 07 4750 0700 (GBRMPA)



Recent biology research by Dr RachelPears on flowery cod and camouflagecods, in collaboration with commercial and recreational fishers,is helping ensure sustainable fishingfor these species.

The research has helped theDepartment of Primary Industries andFisheries (DPI&F), the Great BarrierReef Marine Park Authority and thefishing industry to better manage reefcod species.

The research was used by theManagement Advisory Committee forthe reef line fishery (ReefMAC) andits Scientific Advisory Group to helpthe DPI&F determine the most appropriate fish size limits for thesefish.

The new size limits (minimum50cm and maximum 70cm) for flowery cod and camouflage codcame into effect on 1 March 2009.

Importantly, the research foundthat the old size limits (minimum50cm and 100cm maximum) wereineffective in protecting maturebreeding fish, particularly flowerycod.

Through ReefMAC, it was recommended the maximum sizelimit be reduced to better protectthese species and a common size beapplied as it is difficult to tell the twospecies apart.

The research found both speciesshare several biological characteristicsthat make them vulnerable to

over-fishing, and large females ofboth species are important breedersbecause they produce many timesmore eggs than smaller females.

The minimum legal size limit of50cm remains unchanged. This sizelimit provides good protection forcamouflage cod because it protectsthe younger fish and gives them agood chance to breed.

However, this limit gives limitedprotection for flowery cod becauseflowery cod grow larger and maturelater than camouflage cod.

The previous maximum legal sizelimit of 100cm was too high to protect either species, because fewfish grow larger than this size anyway.

The new maximum size limit of 70cm better protects large breedingflowery cod.

A critical part of this managementprocess has been the discussions withindustry members who strongly supported the new size limits.

It was also recognised that largefish are not a preferred catch, asthey’re often regarded as unpalatableand fishers have difficulty sellingthem over six kilograms due to concerns of possible ciguaterapoisoning.

The research was conducted whileRachel was at James Cook Universityand the former CRC Research Centre.She is currently a project manager atthe Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

New fishing rulesstrike a balanceRecreational and commercial fisherswill need to brush up on their ruleswith a number of changes to regulations recently coming intoeffect throughout Queensland.

Primary Industries and FisheriesMinister Tim Mulherin said the newrules were aimed at ensuring that theState’s fisheries remained sustainablewhile maintaining a catch share balance between the fishing sectors

"Changes to the Inshore Fin FishFishery - the largest and most diversefishery in the State, the East CoastTrawl, East Coast Tropical RockLobster, Crab and Freshwater fisheries have now been finalised," he said.

"While the majority of these newrules came into affect on 1 March,2009, there are some changes thatwill be phased in later to give fisherstime to adjust.

Authority. For more information onthis research visit thewww.gbrmpa.gov.au

"Queensland's population has doubled in the past 30 years to 4.3 million. Most of that growth hasoccurred along the coast - placinggreater pressure on our fishingresources. Our outdoor lifestyle hasled to a significant increase in boatownership, thereby raising the number of fisherman on the water.This factor, as well as improvementsin fishing technology, gives greatercapacity for catching fish.

"First and foremost, the introduction of these critical changeswill ensure the sustainability of ourfish stocks.

"We also want to make sure thatcommercial fishing remains viableand recreational anglers can continueto enjoy the Queensland fishingexperience. It is about striking theright balance.

"The changes include new bag andsize limits for some of our most popular bread and butter species likewhiting and flathead.

“Changes have also been made tothe commercial fisheries inQueensland, including the East CoastNet Fishery which targets shark, greymackerel and barramundi; the EastCoast Trawl Fishery, which targetsprawns and scallops; and the EastCoast Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery”. As part of the new rules, all sawfish

and speartooth shark are no-takespecies, given their international andnational listing as endangeredspecies.

"In addition, commercial fisherswill need to be in attendance of theirnets at all times, which will help toensure that if the nets interact with aprotected species such as a whale ordugong, they can be releasedunharmed."

For more information on the newrules visit - www.dpi.qld.gov.au - orphone 13 25 23.

Rachel Pears undertakes field research and (below)a camouflage cod and flowery cod

Looking after breeding flowery cod and camouflage cod



Check your freezoning map orrisk a fine overEasterIf you’re heading out on the waterover Easter, don’t forget to pick upyour free Great Barrier ReefMarine Park zoning map so youknow where you can go and whatyou can do.

Andrew Skeat, General ManagerMarine Park Management from theGreat Barrier Reef Marine ParkAuthority said the maps were useful to keep onboard boats or intackle boxes and should be checkedregularly when out on the water.

"It’s a good idea for fishers tocheck their maps while out on thewater to ensure they aren’t illegallyfishing in areas where fishing isn’tallowed or is limited," he said.

"We’re stepping up patrols overEaster so people should be particularly mindful that they canonly fish in Blue Zones and there’slimited line fishing in YellowZones.

"Even people who go out on thewater regularly should take time tocheck the activities guide on themaps to refresh their knowledge ofwhat they can and can’t do in particular areas.

"Zoning is an important management tool in the Great BarrierReef Marine Park to ensure the long-term protection of the many plantsand animals that call it home.”

Green Zones are no-take areaswhere extractive activities like fishingor collecting are not allowed.

Anyone can enter a Green Zone toparticipate in activities such as boating, swimming and snorkelling.You can also anchor in a Green Zone.

While in a Green Zone be sure tostow fishing gear on board the boator in rod holders even if the hookremains attached, provided the fishing apparatus is out of the water.

There’s limited line fishing inYellow Zones - this means fishingwith one hand-held rod or one hand-held line per person, with one hookattached to that line.

Early indications are that zoning isworking and preliminary researchshows fish numbers are increasing.

North Queensland scientistsfound a spectacular recovery incoral trout numbers on unfishedreefs following the introduction ofthe Zoning Plan.

They found coral trout numbersrebounded by 31 to 75 per cent ona majority of reefs which had beenclosed to fishing for as little as 1.5to 2 years.

Free zoning maps are widelyavailable from bait and tackleshops, visitor information centres,ship chandlers and EnvironmentalProtection Agency and QueenslandBoating and Fisheries Patrol offices.Alternatively call the Great BarrierReef Marine Park Authority 1800 990 177 for a free map.

Hotspots underthe microscopePatrols will be stepped up in compliance hotspots in the GreatBarrier Reef Marine Park in the coming months so it is importantthat people know where they can goand what they can do.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine ParkAuthority is also undertaking sometargeted education activities in particular areas to remind fishersabout the zoning rules.

A number of locations continue tohave more frequent occurrences of

recreational fishing infringements inGreen (no-take) and Yellow Zones(limited line fishing).

One area for dedicated compliancepatrolling and education activitiesover the coming months will be theNewry Islands area near Seaforthnorth of Mackay.

In particular, people boating andfishing off Seaforth should make surethey are familiar with the Green andYellow Zones in the area.

You can expect to also see patrolsin hotspots such as the reefs offshorefrom the Cairns area, Magnetic Islandoff Townsville, the Whitsunday

Islands, and the Keppel Islands offYeppoon.

Fishers illegally fishing in thesezones risk getting a fine, so it’s important people familiarise themselves with the zoning rules.

Free zoning maps are availablefrom bait and tackle shops, visitorinformation centres, ship chandlersand the Environmental ProtectionAgency and Queensland Boating andFisheries Patrol offices. Alternativelycall the Great Barrier Reef MarinePark Authority 1800 990 177 for afree map.

Wulguru State School pledged theircommitment to helping the GreatBarrier Reef recently by becomingthe north’s newest Reef GuardianSchool on Schools Clean UpAustralia Day.

The Great Barrier Reef MarinePark Authority in partnership withBurdekin Dry Tropics NaturalResource Management presentedthe official Reef Guardian Schoolssign to the school before joiningstudents in a school-wide clean up.

Newest Reef Guardians commit to cleaning up waste

Wulguru students show off their haul of litter


species in commercial and recreational fisheries".

All proceeds from the sale of thebook go to Project Sawfish, a non-profit organisation founded by aquarium supplier, Cairns Marine. Itco-ordinates, facilitates and supportsprojects that aim to advance knowledge of animals that inhabitriverine, estuarine and near shore environments in northern Australia.

To purchase a copy, contact RyanDonnelly at Cairns Marine on 07 4058 1711.


Students learnabout the perfectcoastal plants fortheir backyardFrom the banana bush to the yellowmangrove - students are learning allabout coastal plant species thanks toan innovative new teaching kit.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine ParkAuthority (GBRMPA) teamed up withBurdekin Dry Tropics NaturalResource Management (NRM) andGreening Australia to deliver coastalplant teaching kits to schoolsthroughout the Burdekin Dry Tropicsregion.

GBRMPA Reef Guardian SchoolsProject Officer Leonie Maddigan saidalmost 30 schools signed up for theprogram and would each receive 20native coastal plants (or seedlings)and 30 copies of the ‘Coastal Plants ofthe Burdekin Dry Tropics’ booklet as aclass resource.

"The schools will also receive aseries of plant activities to learn aboutthe importance of native plants andthe role they play in coastal ecosystems," she said.

The 60-page booklet called ‘CoastalPlants of the Burdekin Dry Tropics’was produced by Burdekin DryTropics NRM in conjunction withCoastal Dry Tropics LandcareIncorporated.

Students from St Patrick's study up on coastal plants

Burdekin Dry Tropics NRMCommunity Engagement Facilitator,Paul Wuth, said the booklet was colourful, user-friendly and profiled50 species of native coastal plants thatare all suitable for residential gardens.

"We encourage students, and byextension the community, to helpprotect our delicate coastal areas byplanting coastal natives in the backyard and avoiding exotic species,"he said.

Greening Australia GeneralManager Bob Osborne said plantingnative trees would provide habitat forfauna and possibly attract a wealth ofbutterflies and birds into backyards.

"They can also form wildlife corridors in urban areas, they requireless water and generally increase thehealth of the coastal ecosystem," he said.

"If people are looking for plantssuited to the Burdekin region Iencourage them to check outGreening Australia’s native plantnursery in Pimlico."

The booklets are free and availablefrom Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM byphoning 07 4724 3544. GreeningAustralia’s native plant nursery can becontacted by phoning 07 4796 0411.

The Adventuresof Sonya theFreshwaterSawfishDepartment of Primary Industriesand Fisheries (DPI&F) sawfishresearcher, Stirling Peverell, has written a children’s book to helpraise awareness of one of Australia’smost intriguing and least understoodaquatic animals, the freshwater sawfish.

Stirling drew inspiration for thebook after conducting presentationsto primary schools throughout theGulf and Cape York and finding thatchildren were captivated by sawfish.

The book, which is beautifully illustrated by Paul Lennon, leadsyoung readers through the challenging first year of life when ayoung sawfish migrates many milesupstream from its estuarine birthplace.

"The book was written to drawattention to the charismatic sawfish

and to the threats to the species’ survival, including habitat modification, illegal net fishing inrivers and line fishing in freshwaterwaterholes," Stirling said.

"It is intended to serve as a tool toassist in delivering an education andconservation message."

Inhabiting remote and inhospitableareas of northern Australia, freshwatersawfish exhibit unique evolutionarycharacteristics. Identifiable by atoothy rostrum and shark-like appearance, the freshwater sawfish isactually a ray that grows to a massiveseven metres long, second only to awhale shark, and can live in freshwater and seawater.

"Little is known about sawfish populations or basic biology and lifehistory, which would form the foundation for better conservationand management.

"Once abundant throughout thecontinental tropics, sawfish now facean uncertain future.

"Fortunately, in Australia sawfishare protected and are a no-take



New research into Queensland’sshark population has revealed thatextracts from a shark’s vertebraecould hold the key to identifyingwhere it has been and whether ithas travelled with other individuals of the same species.

Department of Primary Industriesand Fisheries project leader DavidWelch said the research was aimed atunderstanding how various sharkpopulations were connected andwhere they had lived over their lifetime.

"Ultimately, this research will helpin determining appropriate management arrangements for sharkon Queensland’s east coast,” he said

"Independent monitoring of commercial fisheries indicates thatthe majority of catch is made up ofblacktip sharks, scalloped hammer-heads and milk sharks. Therefore ourresearch is focusing on learning moreabout these populations and themovement of these species."

David said three different techniques were being used concurrently to determine whetherthere were distinctly different populations of blacktip sharks, scalloped hammerheads and milksharks along the Queensland eastcoast.

"The techniques are genetics,microchemistry and population characteristics," he said.

"Although it is still early days inthe project, the team has made somesignificant developments.”

James Cook University PhD student Ron Schroeder has led the

development of an innovativemethod for examining the microchemical make-up of shark vertebrae.

Using this technique the chemical composition of vertebraefrom sharks’ backbones are analysedto determine the chemical ‘signature’ of individual sharks.

According to David, this is a worldfirst. "This is the first time that theseanalytical methods have been successfully applied to sharks.

"It allows us to determine the concentration of various trace elements in shark vertebrae whichthen can tell us a lot about the history of individual sharks andwhere they have been living overtheir lifetime."

Another breakthrough made by theteam has been in developing genetictechniques to reliably identify twodifferent species of blacktip shark thatlook identical in appearance.

"Using this new genetic tool theteam has learnt that the commonblacktip shark is much more frequently captured on the east coastthan previously thought.

"The team will now apply thesetools in helping to determine thepopulation structure of these sharkspecies on the east coast.”

The project is funded by theFisheries Research and DevelopmentCorporation and is being jointly conducted between the Departmentof Primary Industries and Fisheries,James Cook University and the GreatBarrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Backbones show sharks way of life Fishing championawarded for eco-efforts

Central Queenslander Bill Sawynokhas been honoured with an international award for his effortsto promote conservation in recreational fishing.

The Rockhampton residentreceived the Conservation Awardfrom the International Game FishingAssociation (IGFA) on January 24 inrecognition of his efforts to supportsustainable fishing.

Bill said that, as far as he wasaware, he was the first Australian towin the award.

"The IGFA is probably the mostrespected international recreationalfishing body in the world and it certainly is an honour to be recognised by such an organisation,"he said.

Bill is an Australian representativeof the IGFA, but the award is not limited to members and may beawarded to both groups and individuals.

Among his many achievements,Bill is involved with Suntag, theReleased Fish Survival Program, andalso manages CapReef, a communitybased monitoring programinvolving recreational fishers.

Fitzroy Basin Association NaturalResource Management Group (FBA)Chief Executive Officer SuzieChristensen said Bill, a former longstanding FBA board member, was atireless worker and deserving of theaward.

"Bill has been a champion of therecreational fishing sector for manyyears, and his community drivenresearch is providing valuable information. Programs such as Suntagand promotion of safe fish release arehelping to ensure the sustainabilityof fishing for generations to come. I offer Bill FBA’s heartfelt congratulations," she said.

Blacktip shark

Award winner Bill Sawynock



Great Barrier Reef Marine ParkAuthority (GBRMPA) scientist andPew Fellow, Dr Laurence McCook,recently played host to a delegationof Indonesian political leaders andreef managers interested in reef management.

The Pew Fellowship in MarineConservation program identifiesemerging talent and innovativethinkers who can move ocean conservation forward. The 2009Fellows are focusing on global-scalesolutions both through research projects and by engaging communities worldwide in theirocean conservation goals.

The program is aimed at preservingthe biological integrity of marineecosystems and primarily focuses onefforts to curb over fishing, reducebycatch and prevent the destructionof marine habitat.

Laurence held a three day coralreef management workshop with thedelegates to discuss the GBRMPA’sreef management strategies, and howthey might be adapted by reef managers in Indonesia.

Laurence said the workshop successfully built mutual understanding about the challengesfacing reef managers who are working to protect reefs in Indonesia.

"The Indonesian delegation heardfirst-hand what has and hasn’tworked in the Great Barrier ReefMarine Park, the world’s largest andbest managed reef system," he said.

Queensland cane farmers nowhave their own website where theycan meet and discuss the latestgrowing technologies, downloadadvice and watch other growersimplement best management practices in their paddocks.

Shedmeeting.com.au is the high-tech way for growers to exchangeinformation and ideas.

"This is an excellent example ofusing the latest technology toenhance the business of our canefarmers across Queensland,Department of Primary Industriesand Fisheries (DPI&F), DirectorEddie Gilbert said.

"One of the useful tools onShedMeeting.com.au is the shortvideos of cane farmers in the field,

"Many reef management strategiesadopted by the GBRMPA have beeneffective in protecting the GreatBarrier Reef. It is hoped by explaining these strategies in detailthat we can help translate them intostrategies that will protect the plantsand animals of coral reefs inIndonesia.

"The workshop participants wereespecially interested in the benefitssustainable management practicescan have for the economy throughincreased tourism opportunities."

Laurence hopes to visit Indonesiain June to work with reef managersand government leaders about reef management strategies which couldbe used to increase the protection ofthe fabulous reef biodiversity ofIndonesia.

The three biggest threats to coralreefs in Indonesia are destructive fishing practices (the use of cyanideand dynamite), over fishing, pollution and habitat destruction -along with climate change.

demonstrating the best practice farming techniques that work forthem.

"Topics range from tips for growingrotational crops such as soybeans, towater quality testing, green canetrash blanketing and ground waterdrainage."

Burdekin Productivity Serviceschair Paul Sgarbossa paid a specialtribute to the cane farmers fromacross Queensland´s growing districtswho gave their time to be involved inthe videos.

"Queensland cane farmers are innovators, and take the time toinvest in the growth of the entireindustry. These videos are proof thatwe are leaders in adopting new farming technologies that enhance

both the economic and environmental performance of theindustry."

The brainchild of DPI&F cane extension officers Henry Thomasand Avril Robinson, the development ofShedMeeting.com.au has been a col-laborative process, made possible byfunding from the Sugar Researchand Development Corporation.

Other contributors to the site´sdevelopment include the AustralianAgricultural College Corporation,Burdekin Productivity Services,Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM andPioneer Cane Growers Organisation.

Dr Laurence McCook with Indonesian delegation

PEW Fellow sheds light on Reef management success

Example of pollution facing reefs in Indonesia

Shed meetings go from the farm to the Internet



Nemo, the lovable clownfish ofmovie fame, may be unable to findhis way home as the world’s oceansacidify due to human carbon (CO2) emissions.

Fish lose the sense of smell thatguides them home when sea waterbecomes more acidic – with potentially devastating consequences for sea life, an international team of scientists hasdiscovered.

The researchers tested clownfishraised in normal and slightly moreacidic sea water to see what effect ithad on their sense of smell. To theirdismay they found that the fish, normally acutely sensitive to different smells in the water, becameconfused when the water they wereraised in was more acidic than usual.

Dr Philip Munday of the ARCCentre of Excellence for Coral ReefStudies said they found the babyfish were strongly attracted to scentsthey normally avoided at the sort oflevels of ocean acidity that couldoccur by 2100.

"Furthermore they no longerresponded to scent cues at all whenthe acidity rose to the sorts of levels likely by the second half ofthat century if nothing were doneto curb carbon emissions, " he said.

"This is a disturbing finding,because the tiny larvae of manycoastal fish probably rely on scentcues in the water to help locateadult habitat.

"Any disruption to their abilityto navigate could have far-reachingimplications for the future of thesefish populations.

"At least 30 per cent of thehuman-generated (CO2) releasedinto the atmosphere in the past200 years has been absorbed by theoceans, causing ocean pH todecline (ie to acidify) at a ratearound 100 times faster than at anytime in the past 650,000 years."

The paper ‘Ocean acidificationimpairs olfactory discrimination andhoming ability of a marine fish’ isavailable at www.coralcoe.org.au.

Nemo "won't be coming home"

Clownfish eggs are tended by the male until theyhatch. After hatching the tiny larvae spend 11days in open water before they settle into adulthabitat on the reef Photo courtesy of Gerry Allen

People planning to go spearfishingnear Cape Upstart National Parkare reminded to brush up on zoningto ensure they know where spearfishing is allowed in this area.

Throughout the Marine Park, limited spearfishing (with a spear orspeargun and snorkel only) is allowedin Yellow Zones except where thezone is also a Public AppreciationSpecial Management Area.

Public Appreciation SpecialManagement Areas are identified by apink dashed line around this area onGreat Barrier Reef Marine ParkAuthority zoning maps.

A Public Appreciation SpecialManagement Area is located in theYellow Zone on the western side ofthe National Park and spearfishing isnot allowed in this location.

Spearfishing is allowed in theYellow Zone at the northern part ofCape Upstart National Park as this isnot part of the Public AppreciationSpecial Management Area.

Spearfishers are encouraged to takefree zoning maps with them when

heading out on the water so theyknow where they can go and whatthey can do - free maps are widelyavailable.

Even people who go out on thewater regularly should take time tocheck the activities guide on themaps to refresh their knowledge ofwhat they can and can’t do in particular areas.

Penalties apply for not followingthe zoning rules so it is importantto make sure you know and understand the zoning for the areasyou’re planning to visit.

Free zoning maps are widely available from bait and tackle shops,visitor information centres, ship chandlers and EnvironmentalProtection Agency and QueenslandBoating and Fisheries Patrol offices.Alternatively call the Great BarrierReef Marine Park Authority 1800 990 177 for a free map.

Waves of ChangeQueensland CoastalConference 200912 – 15 May Sea World, Gold CoastWhat are the real implications forQueensland’s coastal environments?How do those involved in coastalplanning and management proactively address these changingelements and mitigate potentialimpacts? How do we know our management practices are the mosteffective solution to identify problems? All of these issues andmore will be discussed at theQueensland Coastal Conference2009.

The conference will assist coastalmanagers, planners and decisionmakers to enhance and maintainmomentum for coastal sustainabilityin Queensland. Discussions, workshops and presentations willdraw on the learning’s of the pastand build on the wealth of existingknowledge to increase our efforts inprotecting Queensland’s iconic coastline.

For more information and to register log onto www.iceaustralia.com/qldcoast09/register.html

Spearfishing confusion near CapeUpstart National Park



Doing your bit to look after it!

When fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park you can doyour bit to look after it by:

• Anchoring your boat with care, where possible in sand or mud away from corals

• Taking only what fish you need and abiding by possession and size limits (see www.dpi.qld.gov.au)

• Returning all undersized or unwanted fish to the water as quickly and carefully as possible

• Being aware of best practices for releasing fish (see www.info-fish.net/releasefish)

• If you intend to keep a fish, remove it from the fishing gear quickly and kill it humanely

• Not throwing fishing line or other litter overboard as it can kill marine life such as turtles

• Studying zoning maps for the area you are visiting to ensure fishing is allowed

• Reporting any suspected illegal fishing to Fishwatch by calling 1800 017 116.

New sea turtle research database forthe Pacific regionA seven-year effort to develop a Pacific region database on sea turtle researchculminated with the recent launch of the Turtle Research Database System(TREDS).

The database was officially launched at the recent Twenty-ninth Symposium onSea Turtle Biology and Conservation held in Brisbane.

The new system collates and standardises marine turtle data that has been collected throughout the region over the last few decades and is critical to understanding population trends throughout the Pacific.

TREDS can store tag information (flipper, Passively Induced Transponder andsatellite), nesting beach and foraging ground data, clutch and hatchling information, and biological sampling (such as genetic data).

It can systematically manage inventory tags used per project, generate project-specific and/or site-specific summary reports, and help standardise data collectionprotocol.

Given that sea turtles migrate between the Pacific region and eastern Australiahaving a database that stores and collates this information will greatly enhanceour knowledge of turtle populations.

The central database for the Pacific Islands region will be housed at theSecretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program in Samoa.

Plans are underway for a second central database to be managed by theSoutheast Asian Fisheries Development Centre–Marine Fishery ResourcesDevelopment and Management Department in Malaysia.

Together, these agencies will manage and consolidate turtle research data fortheir 31 member countries in the Pacific Ocean.

Creature Feature

The eye’s have itWhat has 24 eyes, toxic venom, ispractically invisible and dictates howwe interact with the tropical marineenvironment? The answer is, a boxjelly. A dangerous seasonal visitor toNorthern Queensland seas, there is asurprising complexity to this ancientand seemingly simple animal.

• It was in Precambrian times, (about 543 million years ago), that box jellies took a different path along the evolutionary tree from other sea jellies. This makes them one of the more ancient marine animals alive today.

• The box jelly, Class Cubozoa, (so named from their box or cube like appearance), are often known simply as ‘marine stingers’.

• Box jellies are voracious predators. You can see it in their ‘eyes’. Many predators have two forward facing eyes that use triangulation to form an accurate picture of exactly wheretheir prey is. Each corner of a box jelly has six eyes!

• Two of these are complex eyes that are similar to our own, complete with a cornea, a lens and a retina composed of cells similar to the rods found in vertebrates. These are eyes capable of forming a detailed colour picture of what theyare looking at. They also have four simple eyes that only detect light and dark.

• That’s 24 eyes in all. The box jelly isan animal that not only has eyes inthe back of its head, but on both sides as well. These complex eyes make the box jelly a successful predator. Active hunters, they will pursue prey around obstacles at speeds of up to four knots.


12The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority email: [email protected] Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority email: [email protected] Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority email: [email protected]

He grew up in Western Australia, can speak Indonesian fluently andspent 20 years with the Australian Army, but the lure of both job andlifestyle attracted Bruce Elliot to Townsville again.

The new General Manager for corporate services is no stranger tonorth Queensland, having lived in Townsville for two years during oneof his 14 postings with the Army.

"Townsville’s climate and size were definitely part of the attraction tocome back, along with the opportunity to take up this new and excitingrole in such an interesting organisation," he said.

"The new role and sea change look like it will provide the right balance between work, family and lifestyle.

"This position was an opportunity for me to move out of the intelligence speciality, which I undertook in both the Army andAustralian Taxation Office, into a general leadership role.

"Managing people has also always been one of the most enjoyableaspects of all the jobs I’ve had which have been in some complex organisations within the government sector."

Bruce brings to the role significant past experience with financial planning, forecasting and budgeting as well as managing large numbersof staff.

But among the most interesting parts of his career is his 20-year stintin the Australian Army where he worked in intelligence collection operations around the world.

Over the years he was posted to 10 different locations including NewZealand, Indonesia and the United States.

He spent two years with the National Security Agency in the UnitedStates and was also deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian contingent to help coordinate intelligence collection operations.

He was involved in everything from guiding research by the DefenceScience and Technology Organisation to leading and managing 85 staffdelivering language and culture training to 500 students a year in 20 languages.

"My time with the Army taught me a lot about how organisationswork, managing people and how to get the best out of them, and theimportance of being organised and focused," he said.

Bruce left the regular Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2006 and is stillin the Army Reserves. Prior to joining the Authority, Bruce was based inMelbourne with the Australian Taxation Office as the AssistantCommissioner for Intelligence and Risk.

Despite this varied career background, Bruce said it was probablyinevitable that he ended up in a corporate management role.

"It's hard to say, what I would be doing career-wise if I wasn’t doingwhat I am doing now," he said.

"I suspect that I would have eventually gravitated to corporate servicesor people management."

Bruce has a Masters in Defence Studies, a Bachelor of ProfessionalStudies and an Advanced Diploma in Indonesian Language.

A profile of

Bruce ElliotGeneral Manager

Corporate Services

2-68 Flinders StreetPO Box 1379

Townsville Qld 4810

Phone: (07) 4750 0700Fax: (07) 4772 6093

Email: [email protected]

If you do not wish to receive this newsletter inthe future or if you would like to receive thisnewsletter via email instead of as a hard copy,please email [email protected] or phone

the GBRMPA on (07) 4750 0700.

GBRMPA contacts

Calendar of

28 March

18 April

22 April

22 May

Earth Hour

World Heritage Day

Earth Day

eventsevents

12 – 15 May

Queensland Coastal Conference and Queensland Coastal Councils Forum, Gold Coast

In this spare time, he enjoys writing, reading, running and good wine.

"I like to spend a lot of my free time withmy family and there’s certainly no shortage ofthings for us to do in north Queensland. Welook forward to getting out and about – especially once all the rain stops."

International Day for BiologicalDiversity

23 May

World Turtle Day


weather triple whammy roughs up the reefelibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au/jspui/bitstream/11017/909/1/... ·...

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