News
Great Barrier Reef protection plan report card fails to make the grade
The Queensland government’s Reef Water Quality Protection Plan released its Report Card 2014 on September 21. It states, “Results show the need to accelerate the rate of change and drive innovation to meet the ambitious targets.”
Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles, who released the report, said there was more bad news than good in the report.
“If one of my kids came home with a report card like this, I’d be a bit disappointed,” he said.
“What is most disturbing is these results are far from our targets, and progress to these targets flatlined in the period 2013-2014. The report does show that progress on meeting our targets had stalled, and that UNESCO’s interest was the right thing; that they were right to be concerned that progress had stalled, because now we know it had,” he said.
The reef report card found despite it avoiding an ‘in danger’ listing from Unesco’s world heritage committee in July, inshore areas are undeniably in a bad shape throughout the 2,300km-long ecosystem..
The report card said that both sea grass beds and inshore coral reefs “remained in poor condition overall”.
While there had been reductions in the amount of chemicals flowing onto the reef from agriculture, the report found only 13% of Queensland sugar cane producers had adopted ‘best management practice’ in terms of nutrients, with only 30% using best practice with pesticides. Only 28% of graziers were managing their pastures properly to protect the reef, the report found.
The report card said 330 hectares of reef wetlands and 30,980 hectares of riverbank vegetation was lost between 2009 and 2013.
“There are some trends that are improving but more needs to be done,” said Roger Shaw, chairperson of the scientific panel responsible for the report card.
“We know the pollutant levels exceed the guidelines so we need to bring them back down. The inshore area is still recovering from major floods we had in 2010 and 2011. Climate change is still the number one threat but I’d add climate variability too — if we have extreme events in a short period of time, there is less capacity for coral to deal with other stressors.”
“The figures in the reef report card represent a clear fail for current programs,” said WWF spokesperson Sean Hoobin.
“Governments have promised to give the reef the clean water it needs to recover by 2025 — to meet this commitment they will need to overhaul current programs, and provide significant additional resources.
“Key first steps are to enforce existing regulations to stop overuse of fertilisers. Leading farmers are showing that it is possible to achieve big reductions in fertiliser pollution while still being profitable.”
The Water Quality Protection Plan needs to be seen within the context of Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (which incorporates water quality).
In a formal response to the Reef 2050 plan in 2014, the Australian Academy of Science stated that the strategy is “inadequate to achieve the goal of restoring or even maintaining the diminished outstanding universal value of the reef”, noting there was “no adequate recognition” of the importance of curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
Professor Terry Hughes, director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and an academy fellow, said: “There’s nothing in the plan on addressing climate change. The science is quite clear that you can’t keep the Great Barrier Reef in good condition if you’re going to develop huge coal reserves. We are already on our way to 2°C warming and unless Australia cuts back on carbon dioxide emissions we won’t have much of a Great Barrier Reef left.”
The day after the release of report card 2014 the federal government announced in Cairns the $32 million research hub, which will be led by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre and James Cook University researcher Dr Damien Burrows, to connect scientists, policymakers and communities to deliver a research program that provides practical solutions to maintaining and improving water quality.
One of the research projects highlighted was the development of a tradable permit scheme for cost-effective reduction of nitrogen run-off in sugarcane reef catchments. Market mechanisms are unlikely to lead to improved water quality. Enforcement of existing penalties against polluters are preferable responses.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomed the federal government’s announcement of the Tropical Water Quality Hub in a September 22 media release, but warned of other dangers, including global warming and “unbridled industrialisation of the Reef”.
AMCS Great Barrier Reef campaigner Gemma Plesman said: “While the Reef Trust will help address water quality, other significant challenges remain.
“The unbridled industrialisation of the Reef presents further risks that will not be addressed with this announcement.
“More needs to be done, including rejecting the coal port proposal for Abbot Point which includes massive amounts of dredging that could put nesting turtles under even greater risk.
“Despite all of the evidence of risk to the Reef, the state and federal Governments are still pushing ahead with their plans for the Abbot Point coal port expansion.
“Water quality is only one piece of the puzzle. Abbot Point presents further risks to this natural wonder.
“The expansion would see 1.1 million cubic metres of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area dredged and then dumped on land adjacent to the internationally significant Caley Valley Wetlands which support 40,000 birds in a good wet season.
“This project would also mean an extra 390 coal ships crossing the Reef each year, increasing the potential for devastating oil spills.
“The Abbot Point expansion would also enable a dramatic increase in the mining and burning of coal which contributes to global warming and places even greater pressure on this fragile ecosystem,” Plesman said.
Source: www.greenleft.org.au
News
Spooktacular Underwater Adventure: Oyster Diving’s First Halloween Scuba Party at Mercers Lake
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
Marine Life & Conservation
Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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