Divers to survey true extent of coral bleaching on Great Barrier Reef
Divers in Australia have been retasked from controlling outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish to investigating levels of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.
Crew assigned to the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre’s starfish management program will refocus their attention on carrying out detailed underwater surveys of reefs between Lizard Island and Cairns.
At the same time, the Australian Institute of Marine Science will carry out surveys between Cairns and Townsville. Aerial surveys conducted by scientists last week showed up to 95 percent of reefs in the 344,400 sq km Far North sector was affected by coral bleaching.
AMPTO and RRRC say up-close examining of reports of widespread coral bleaching is needed to determine the true extent and severity of the event in prime tourism areas.
AMPTO executive director Col McKenzie said the divers had already seen evidence that bleaching around Cairns was less severe than expected.
“In the last two weeks, AMTPO has already conducted more than 100 Reef Health Indicator Surveys (RHIS) on reefs off Cairns that show a bleaching average of less than 5 per cent,’’ he said.
Source: www.cairnspost.com.au
