Scientific Research and its connections to ecotourism
Coral bleaching is already responsible for killing more than 16% of the world's coral reefs. Marine biologists believe if these bleaching events continue, then within three decades the undersea gardens of the Great Barrier Reef and the rest of the world will be destroyed.
To gather knowledge essential in this struggle over such a vast area, the scientist are now looking for assistance from the people who will be the most affected by the loss of these beautiful marine structures - the tourists. Prof Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, has recently made a major break though in being able to measure the colour of coral and its direct relation to coral health and believes the cause of bleaching is from global warming. Prof Marshall and his team have discovered that while coral health can be calculated by measuring the number of living organisms within, it can be more simply measured by checking the coral's colour.
The large outcrops of plate coral and the magnificent bommies rising metres off the sea floor, along with rest of the marine super-structure are deep greens, rich browns or dark yellows. These are the base tones that underscore a grand symphony layered with the more spectacular coral colors and iridescent marine life. Coral colours that we see come largely from the number of algae contained within the body of the polyp. This loss of colour results from a breakdown in the relationship between coral and plant and, for reasons only just becoming understood, the algal lodgers were evicted in 2002. Scientists are now noticing are more frequent and more wide spread bleaching events.
Each of these happens when sea temperature stays unusually hot for too long and this is the result of global warming. What happens after a bleach? Monitoring bleach and recovery of coral on even a small reef is a huge time-consuming task. What is needed is a quick, but also scientifically sound method of assessment.The research team had already proved that they could determine the number of algal lodgers in coral, based on the varying shades of color. Rich colors indicate millions of tiny of algae present, as the corals' colours slide toward the lighter shades there are fewer nutrition providers, ending in white which may lead to starvation.
The question was; How to gather thousands more people to go out to the reefs every day to snorkel, dive and walk around making colour matches and recording codes?
At the research station on Heron Island, swarms of tourists take guided tours to see what work is being carried out to preserve their beloved coral cay and everyday the visitors ask the same question of the researchers, "What can I do to help protect the reef?".The answer to that question is now a Coral Health Chart. Tourists set off on their scheduled reef walks or diving trips more than sight-seers, but as a willing army of data recorders. Some of the tourists make only a few recordings, others fill the data sheet and ask for another. All the codes they record are either entered into the database by the tourists or delivered to the research team who plug them into the computer database themselves, constantly enriching the quality of information they now have on coral health. "This is a good new idea for the resorts guests.
Visitors to Heron Island are now offered the charts to take with them on their daily activities as well as a specialised Coral Health Reef Walk.
The facts indicate that to have a real chance of saving the world's reefs, countries around the world must decide to do something about humankind's acceleration of global warming. Prof Marshall carefully explains, "It's only when we change our consumption patterns that we can really contribute to saving the world's reefs from bleaching. And I think that these Coral Health Charts can assist in raising awareness and working toward those outcomes". "The program of using charts we hope will become just another one of the enjoyable past-times that people do when they visit a reef system. The data that is collected will certainly help us monitor the health of coral and may even provide an early warning system if a bleaching event was on the way.
To gather knowledge essential in this struggle over such a vast area, the scientist are now looking for assistance from the people who will be the most affected by the loss of these beautiful marine structures - the tourists. Prof Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, has recently made a major break though in being able to measure the colour of coral and its direct relation to coral health and believes the cause of bleaching is from global warming. Prof Marshall and his team have discovered that while coral health can be calculated by measuring the number of living organisms within, it can be more simply measured by checking the coral's colour.
The large outcrops of plate coral and the magnificent bommies rising metres off the sea floor, along with rest of the marine super-structure are deep greens, rich browns or dark yellows. These are the base tones that underscore a grand symphony layered with the more spectacular coral colors and iridescent marine life. Coral colours that we see come largely from the number of algae contained within the body of the polyp. This loss of colour results from a breakdown in the relationship between coral and plant and, for reasons only just becoming understood, the algal lodgers were evicted in 2002. Scientists are now noticing are more frequent and more wide spread bleaching events.
Each of these happens when sea temperature stays unusually hot for too long and this is the result of global warming. What happens after a bleach? Monitoring bleach and recovery of coral on even a small reef is a huge time-consuming task. What is needed is a quick, but also scientifically sound method of assessment.The research team had already proved that they could determine the number of algal lodgers in coral, based on the varying shades of color. Rich colors indicate millions of tiny of algae present, as the corals' colours slide toward the lighter shades there are fewer nutrition providers, ending in white which may lead to starvation.
The question was; How to gather thousands more people to go out to the reefs every day to snorkel, dive and walk around making colour matches and recording codes?
At the research station on Heron Island, swarms of tourists take guided tours to see what work is being carried out to preserve their beloved coral cay and everyday the visitors ask the same question of the researchers, "What can I do to help protect the reef?".The answer to that question is now a Coral Health Chart. Tourists set off on their scheduled reef walks or diving trips more than sight-seers, but as a willing army of data recorders. Some of the tourists make only a few recordings, others fill the data sheet and ask for another. All the codes they record are either entered into the database by the tourists or delivered to the research team who plug them into the computer database themselves, constantly enriching the quality of information they now have on coral health. "This is a good new idea for the resorts guests.
Visitors to Heron Island are now offered the charts to take with them on their daily activities as well as a specialised Coral Health Reef Walk.
The facts indicate that to have a real chance of saving the world's reefs, countries around the world must decide to do something about humankind's acceleration of global warming. Prof Marshall carefully explains, "It's only when we change our consumption patterns that we can really contribute to saving the world's reefs from bleaching. And I think that these Coral Health Charts can assist in raising awareness and working toward those outcomes". "The program of using charts we hope will become just another one of the enjoyable past-times that people do when they visit a reef system. The data that is collected will certainly help us monitor the health of coral and may even provide an early warning system if a bleaching event was on the way.
Laws/Treaties
Other Commonwealth legislation relevant to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (‘the EPBC Act’) came into force on 16 July 2000. The EPBC Act replaced the following Commonwealth legislation:
Provides for a number of aspects relating to sea installations including requirements that they be operated in a manner that is consistent with protection of the environment.
Other Commonwealth legislation relevant to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (‘the EPBC Act’) came into force on 16 July 2000. The EPBC Act replaced the following Commonwealth legislation:
- Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974
- Endangered Species Protection Act 1992
- National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975
- Whale Protection Act 1980
- Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982
- World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981
Prohibits dumping of waste or other matter from any vessel, aircraft or platform in Australian waters unless a permit has been issued.
Provides for a number of aspects relating to sea installations including requirements that they be operated in a manner that is consistent with protection of the environment.