DOCSLIB.ORG

Cairns Outer Great Barrier Reef

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Cairns Outer Great Barrier Reef CAIRNS OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF Cairns fastest, most spacious and luxurious vessel From $165 + $20 LEVY Full Day Reef Cruise Unlimited Snorkelling and up to three Certified Dives! Adventure awaits on board the fastest, award-winning Adult Child Family $ $ $ luxury vessel EVOLUTION, the best value tour to the 185 95 485 Outer Great Barrier Reef in Cairns. TOUR INCLUDES *INCLUDES $20 LEVY PAYABLE ON BOARD TWO OUTER REEF SITES FASTEST REEF VESSEL SNORKEL HIRE HOT BBQ CHEESE & FRUIT PLATTER, WINE FIVE HOURS REEF TIME BUFFET LUNCH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCED DIVE MODERN AIR SPACIOUS SUN DECKS INSTRUCTORS CONDITIONED BOAT FOR SUNBATHING DEPARTS CAIRNS REEF FLEET TERMINAL DAILY RETURN TRANSFERS DAILY FROM CAIRNS CBD ($17) CHECK IN 7:15am DEPARTS 8:15am RETURNS 4:30pm. AND NORTHERN BEACHES ($24). CAPE TRIBULATION Agincourt Reef C o nti n e Two Outerntal Reef Sites Undine Reef S St Crispin Reef h e Locations selected for lfclarity of water Opal Reef Rudder Reef & abundance of Marine Life Tongue Reef PORT DOUGLAS Norman Reef Saxon Reef Batt Reef Hastings Reef Pixie Reef Breaking Patches Michaelmas Cay Oyster Reef Vlasoff Cay Upolo Cay Double PALM COVE Island Green Island Arlington Reef KURANDA Moore Reef Skyrail Kuranda Scenic Rail CAIRNS Fitzroy Island MAP NOT TO SCALE Extras Prebooked Only Only $50 $10 $25 INTRO & CERTIFIED DIVES SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE TOURS MARINE BIOLOGY TOURS Scuba Dive without any previous experience, or Enjoy the spectacular coral formations without Learn the secrets of the reef from our Marine use your Scuba Certification to explore the Great getting wet on our semi submersible tour with Biologist and then explore the coral gardens Barrier Reef. Guide not mandatory for Certified live commentary and marine life identification on a guided snorkel tour. Divers. cards provided (weather permitting). Get High Down Under See the Reef from above and below! Experience the ultimate adventure package on the Great Barrier Adult Child Reef enjoying our Full Day Reef Cruise, Certified or Introductory Adult Dive Snorkel Snorkel $ $ dive and 10-minute scenic flight to see the magical colours of the 358 $308 263 reef from the air. TOUR INCLUDES *INCLUDES $20 LEVY PAYABLE ON BOARD TWO OUTER REEF SITES FASTEST REEF VESSEL SNORKEL HIRE HOT BBQ INTRODUCTORY FIVE HOURS REEF TIME BUFFET LUNCH OR CERTIFIED DIVE 10 MINUTE SCENIC MODERN AIR SPACIOUS SUN DECKS HELICOPTER FLIGHT CONDITIONED BOAT FOR SUNBATHING FLY + CRUISE HALF DAY TRIP $ CRUISE + FLY FULL DAY TRIP $ 25 min flight over Hastings Reef from Cairns 389 25 min flight over the Reef and Sand Cays to Cairns 419 2 hrs Reef time, 12pm Depart Cairns - Return Cairns 4:30pm 5 hrs Reef time , 8:15am Depart Cairns - Return Cairns 3:30pm Gold Class Private Yacht Experience The most luxurious way to experience the World Heritage 2 Guests 4 Guests + 1 Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy 5 star service and luxury in a private $799 $1400 $250 lounge accommodating up to 8 guests. 8 MAX TOUR INCLUDES *INCLUDES $20 LEVY PAYABLE ON BOARD PRIVATE CBD PICK UP ESPRESSO MACHINE, MINI BAR & DEDICATED AND DROP OFF PRIVATE SALOON MARINE BIOLOGIST PRIVATE HOT BBQ CHEESE AND FRUIT SNORKEL TOUR BUFFET LUNCH PLATTER & WINE SUBXPLORER FREE SNORKEL & SEMI-SUBMARINE TOUR PRESCRIPTION MASKS WET SUIT HIRE 5 STAR SERVICE AND LUXURY PRIVATE LOUNGE ON BOARD AWARD WINNING EVOLUTION Open Water Courses Learn to Dive! PADI 4 Day Learn To Dive* PADI Advanced Course Our professional and friendly instructors will provide attentive This course can be taken after completing the PADI Open Water expert tuition on all Open Water dive courses. Once you have Diver certification. It’s titled PADI Advanced Open Water Diver successfully completed your chosen course you will be competent because it advances your diving knowledge & skills. and internationally recognised as a PADI Open Water Diver. 2 DAYS INCLUDES $ INCLUSIONS 6 DIVES, PADI MANUAL & TUITION 620 BBQ lunch provided on board vessel for Days 3 & 4. All equipment is included. Free city transfers provided. COMMENCING TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS DAY 1 Medical checks and paperwork completed on site at 8am, before 6 DAYS SAVE classroom & training pool sessions completed. Learn To Dive + $ $ DAY 2 PADI Advanced Course 980 300 Classroom sessions re-commence & small exam completed and finalising your skills in the training pool. COMMENCING MONDAYS & FRIDAYS DAY 3 On board Evolution we travel to 2 fantastic dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef to conduct a series of training skills in the open water PADI Adventure Course environment. 2 dives are completed. Complete three Adventure Dives (underwater photography, fish identification, etc.) and earn the Adventure Diver certification, a DAY 4 subgroup of the PADI Advanced Open Water Course. On board Evolution we again travel to our dive Only 1 DAY sites for completion of your course. When 2 $ INCLUDES $370 dives are completed your Instructor will present 660 3 DIVES, PADI MANUAL & TUITION you with your temporary Scuba Diving License! INC. $40 LEVY COMMENCING TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS PADI Referral Course PADI Refresher Course Ideal for those that have completed part Perfect for those wanting to refresh of their Open Water course previously and 1 DAY 2 DAYS their scuba diving skills in a safe pool HALF DAY 1 DAY would now like to complete their open $ $ environment with one of our professional $ $ water diving. 310 570 dive instructors. 80 160 COMMENCING DAYS 3 & 4 OF LEARN TO DIVE COURSES COMMENCING MONDAYS & FRIDAYS *All students must complete a Medical Declaration on Day 1. A Dive Medical may be required for some conditions. Over 45 yrs must provide a Dive Medical. * All prices include EMC. Adult Adult Adult $280 $284 $396 2 DAY REEF & 2 DAY REEF + SKYRAIL & 3 DAY REEF + SKYRAIL & SCENIC DAINTREE RAINFOREST SCENIC RAIL RAIL + DAINTREE RAINFOREST DAY 1 DAY 1 DAY 1 Full day Outer Reef - Evolution (Snorkel Only) Full day Outer Reef - Evolution (Snorkel Only) Full day Outer Reef - Evolution (Snorkel Only) DAY 2 DAY 2 DAY 2 Full day Cape Tribulation Starter Pak with the Full day Skyrail/Scenic Rail & Kuranda. This Full day Skyrail/Scenic Rail & Kuranda. Adventure Company. adventure includes: DAY 3 Cape Tribulation Beach, Mossman Gorge, Historical train journey to Kuranda’s famous Full day Cape Tribulation Starter Pak with the Daintree River Wildlife Cruise, Cable Ferry markets and village, Skyrail Rainforest Adventure Company. across the Daintree River, experienced naturalist Cableway experience in a comfortable six Cape Tribulation Beach, Mossman Gorge, guides, free accommodation transfers. person gondola over World Heritage listed Daintree River Wildlife Cruise, Cable Ferry rainforest, Skyrail ranger guided boardwalk across the Daintree River, experienced Optional pre-booked dive discount $50 tour, entry to Interpretation Centre, views naturalist guides, free accommodation from three lookouts over Barron Falls. transfers. Starter Pak excludes lunch (add $27) and Includes return transfers (excluding Yorkeys Wildlife Habitat (add $27) Optional pre-booked dive discount $50 Knob, Machans Beach & Holloways Beach). Starter Pak excludes lunch (add $27) and Wildlife Habitat (add $27) * Reef Levy included in Price ExPlOrE MoSsMaN GoRgE AnD Adult Child ThE DaInTrEe RaInFoReSt $125 $95 DAY TOUR DEPARTS CAIRNS 7AM, NORTHERN BEACHES 7:30AM, PORT DOUGLAS 8:30AM. SCENIC COASTAL DRIVE PORT DOUGLAS MOSSMAN GORGE CAPE TRIBULATION BEACH WALK ALEXANDRA LOOKOUT DAINTREE RIVER CRUISE LUNCH ADD $27 WILDLIFE HABITAT ADD $27 DELUXE PAK $179 FARES LEVY TOTAL TIME LINE Adult $165 $20 $185 7:15AM Check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal Adult + 1 Intro/Cert Dive $215 $20 $235 8:15AM Depart Cairns Child (4 - 16 yrs) $75 $20 $95 4:30PM Return Cairns Family (2a + 2c) $405 $80 $485 Infants (0 - 3 yrs) FREE CERTIFIED DIVES *Lycra suits & equipment included 1ST Dive $70 ND $30 EXTRAS - PAY ON BOARD 2 Dive 3RD Dive $20 SubXplorer Semi-Submersible $10 Guided Cert Dive $10 Marine Biology Snorkel Lesson/Tour $25 *Lycra/Wet suits & equipment included City Transfers $17 Beaches / Outer City Transfers $24 INTRODUCTORY DIVES Scenic Helicopter Reef Flight $194 1st Dive $90 Wet Suit Hire $10 2nd Dive $35 Digital Underwater Camera Hire $55 $ (SD Included) 3rd Dive 25 *Lycra suits included *Wet suits not included REFRESHMENTS, SNACKS, BAR, SOUVENIRS & PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES ARE ALL AVAILABLE ON BOARD. ADVICE FOR WATER ACTIVITIES Certain medical conditions and medications may exclude some people from introductory and certified diving. For advice please contact our office. Minimum age for diving is 12 years old. Snorkelling can be a strenuous activity, please use caution and inform our crew of any medical conditions. Certified divers must have proof of certification. After a single dive, a wait of 12 hours is recommended before ascending to altitude or if multiple dives are completed, an interval of 24 hours is suggested. WHAT TO BRING SUNSCREEN HAT SWIMMERS TOWEL DRY CLOTHES CASH CREDIT CARD CONDITIONS Pricing: Adult age: 17yrs+; Child age: 4-16yrs; Infants up to 3yrs. Children up to 15yrs must be accompanied by an adult. Passengers under 18yrs will require parental guardian signature. Safety: Divers 65yrs+ must provide a current ‘AS4005.1’ dive medical prior to travel. Please consider weather and wind strength before booking. Semi-submersible tours are weather permitting. Cancellations/Alterations/Refunds: No refunds for cancellations within 18 hours of departure time; 24 hours for dive courses and packaged products. Re booking fees apply for alterations made within these times. The operator reserves the right to cancel the tour, change vessel type or arrange an alternative carrier in the event of bad weather or mechanical problems. No refunds for voluntary uncompleted dives. ALL PRICES ARE IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS. VALID FROM 1/4/2019 - 31/3/2020. *Levies are per person and include environmental management charge $3.50, port charges $1.25, administration fee $5.25 and fuel levy $10 inclusive of GST.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 7 Day Gbr Itinerary
    7 DAY & 7 NIGHT GREAT BARRIER REEF ITINERARY PORT DOUGLAS | GREAT BARRIER REEF | COOKTOWN | LIZARD ISLAND PORT DOUGLAS Port Douglas is a town on the Coral Sea in the tropical far north of Queensland, Australia. Located a scenic 50 minute drive north of Cairns International airport, It's known for its luxury beach resorts and as a base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, and Daintree National Park, home to biodiverse rainforest. In town, Macrossan Street is lined with boutique shops and restaurants. Curving south is popular Four Mile Beach. THE RIBBON REEFS - GREAT BARRIER REEF - Characteristically no wider than 450m, the Ribbon Reefs are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marina Park and are covered in colorful corals that attract a plethora of reef life big and small, with sandy gullies separating them, themselves containing interesting critters. The Ribbons reef host several of Australia’s most spectacular dive sites, as well as arguably the most prolific Black Marlin fishing in the world at certain times of year -with general fishing topping the list also. LIZARD ISLAND Lizard Island hosts Australia’s northernmost island resort. It is located 150 miles north of Cairns and 57 miles north east off the coast from Cooktown. Lizard Island is an absolute tropical paradise, a haven of isolation, gratification and relaxation. Accessible by boat and small aircraft, this tropical haven is a bucket list destination. Prominent dives spots on the Ribbon Reefs are generally quite shallow, with bommies coming up to as high as 5 metres below the surface from a sandy bottom that is between 15-20 metres below the surface.
    [Show full text]
  • Coral Reef Education and Australian High School Students
    CORAL REEF EDUCATION AND AUSTRALIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS by Carl M. Stepath, MEd PhD Candidate: School of Education, and School of Tropical Environment Studies & Geography; James Cook University, Cairns, Qld 4878, Australia, [email protected] In proceedings of the Marine Education Society of Australasia 2004 Conference, Noosa, Queensland, October 2-3, 2004. Keywords: tropical marine education, environmental and marine experiential education, environmental awareness and attitudes, ecological agency, coral reef education Abstract: This paper reports on a PhD research project investigating marine education in coral reef environments along the Queensland coast. The study explored relationships between awareness, attitudes and ecological skills of high school students who were trained in coral reef ecology and monitoring in offshore sites along the Great Barrier Reef in 2002 and 2003. The research investigated the question of whether experiential marine education can change the reported environmental knowledge, attitudes and ecological agency of student participants. Some key data outcomes are presented and implications for effective marine education strategies discussed. Introduction Educational programs that focus on humans and their relationship to coral reefs are becoming necessary, as reef structures along the Queensland coast come under mounting ecological pressure (GBRMPA, 2003; Hughes et al., 2003; Talbot, 1995). Marine education has been defined by Roseanne Fortner (1991) as that part of the total educational process that enables people to develop sensitivity to and a general understanding of the role of the seas in human affairs and the impact of society on the marine and aquatic environments. Improving pedagogical techniques concerning aquatic environments is valuable since continuing intensification of human activity near coastline areas adversely affects marine and coastal ecosystems worldwide (NOAA, 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Technical Memorandun Gbrmpa - Tm-5
    GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY TECHNICAL MEMORANDUN GBRMPA - TM-5 REPORT OF SCIENTIFIC DISCUSSION MEETING ON THE PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHYOF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF REGION Held at the University of New South Wales 5-6 July 1982 with support from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Academy of Science i. _. JASON H. MIDDLETON SUMMARY A scientific discussion meeting was held in July 1982 to generate a statement concerning the physical oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef region. The statement was to be framed by answering the questions below: .. (a) What is the present state of knowledge? (b) What appear to be the most important unanswered questions? (c) With regard to (a) and (b), what methods would be‘mogt effective in answering the questions posed in (b)? (d) What routine monitoring measurements would appear to be of most scientific value in increasing our knowledge of the region? This report summarises the discussions of the meeting. Technical Memoranda are of a preliminary nature, representing the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Postal Address: The Chairman, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, P.O. Box 1379, TOWNSVILLE. QLD. 4810 -l- 1. SUMMARYOF IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS The meeting identified a number of important scientific questions. These were of two types: (i) What is the description of certain events? and (ii) Which model is needed to predict these events. Considering events in decreasing time scale, the following . I statements summarize the important questions addressed in the body of the report.
    [Show full text]
  • PRESS RELEASE –Embargoed Until February 13, 2020 Cancun, Mexico * Belize City, Belize * Guatemala City, Guatemala * Tegucigalpa, Honduras
    Melanie McField Director-Healthy Reefs Initiative /Smithsonian Institution Cell: (754) 610 9311, [email protected], Skype: melaniemcfield -------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE –embargoed until February 13, 2020 Cancun, Mexico * Belize City, Belize * Guatemala City, Guatemala * Tegucigalpa, Honduras CARIBBEAN’S LARGEST BARRIER CORAL REEF SYSTEM FACES NEW THREATS, BUT ALSO TESTS NEW SOLUTIONS (Mesoamerican Reef – February 13th, 2020) -- The Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative (HRI) today released its 2020 Mesoamerican Reef Health Report Card. For the first time in 12 years of tracking the health of the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, the overall condition of this vital ecosystem has deteriorated. The Reef Health Index (RHI), which synthesizes ecological data into a “Dow Jones” style index, decreased from 2.8 in 2016 to 2.5 in 2018. Despite the recent decline, reef health still shows improvement compared to 2006 when the HRI monitoring efforts began. A similar report released last summer for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef also marked a dramatic reduction in reef condition, signaling a worrisome outlook for two of the world’s most important reef systems in different hemispheres of the globe. ”Over the past decade we have documented a slow but positive recovery of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System,” according to Dr. Melanie McField, Director of the Healthy Reefs Initiative and marine scientist with the Smithsonian Institution, “but this recent decline highlights the need to step up local actions to improve water quality and increase fish populations and accelerate international commitments to reduce carbon emissions in order to halt climate change impacts on reefs.” The report is based on a new study of 286 coral reef sites along 1000 km of the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
    [Show full text]
  • Protection of Coral Reefs and Related Ecosystems for Sustainable Livelihoods and Development – Australian Submission
    Secretary-General’s report: Protection of coral reefs and related ecosystems for sustainable livelihoods and development – Australian submission The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 65/150 “Protection of coral reefs for sustainable livelihoods and development” was initiated by Australia working in close partnership with Pacific countries that may be directly affected by the health of coral reefs and related ecosystems. It was adopted by consensus in the UNGA on 25 November 2010, with co-sponsors comprising 84 States from the Pacific, Caribbean, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. The resolution called for urgent action for the protection of coral reefs and related ecosystems. It also requested the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to prepare a report on the issue. Australia considers this report as a timely opportunity to highlight the social, economic and environmental benefits of protecting coral reefs and related ecosystems and the urgent need for action to address the alarming trend in threats to the world’s coral reefs and related ecosystems. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (the Rio+20 Conference) will be an important opportunity to secure a strong global outcome for coral reefs and related ecosystems, and recognition of their critical role for securing sustainable livelihoods and development, particularly in small island developing countries. A strong outcome for coral reefs and related ecosystems must be a global response. The main threats to coral reefs and related ecosystems include climate change, catchment runoff, coastal development and under-regulated fishing. For further details see Attachment A . The extent and persistence of damage to coral reef ecosystems will depend on change in the world’s climate and on the resilience of coral reef ecosystems.
    [Show full text]
  • Spearfishing in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
    · Great • Reef Marine Park Authoiity LAw Bu • Issue Number 18 SPEARFISHING IN GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK Where am I allowed to spearfish? Seasonal Closure Areas You may spearfish in all gerieral use zones in the Seasonal Closure Areas are areas closed to all access Marine Park, and in all non-zoned sections of the during the breeding or nesting periods of birds or Marine Park. You should note that some Queensland other marine life. The closure of these areas is waters are closed to spearfishing - there are details advertised. of those areas in the Queensland Harbours ahd What equipment can I use? Marine Tide Tables. You may only spearfish using a snorkel and a hand Where am I NOT allowed to spearfish? spear or speargun. You may not use any other You may not spearfish in Marine National Park 'A', underwater breathing equipment (such as scuba or Marine National Park Buffer and Marine National hookah) and you may only use a powerhead for Park 'B' Zones, nor in Scientific Research or protection against a shark attack. Preservation Zones. You also may not spearfish in areas where periodic restrictions are in operation. Can I sell fish I spear? These areas may be Replenishment Areas, Reef Spearfishing for the purpose of sale or trade is not Appreciation Areas, Reef Research Areas or Seasonal allowed in the Marine Park, with one exception, in Closure Areas. the Far Northern Section of the Marine Park it is permitted to spear crayfish for purposes of sale or Replenishment Areas trade (you can also use scuba or hookah in this A Replenishment Area is an area closed for a circumstance - but only for crayfish).
    [Show full text]
  • Anomalies in Coral Reef Community Metabolism and Their Potential Importance in the Reef CO2 Source-Sink Debate
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 95, pp. 6566–6569, May 1998 Population Biology Anomalies in coral reef community metabolism and their potential importance in the reef CO2 source-sink debate JOHN R. M. CHISHOLM* AND DAVID J. BARNES Australian Institute of Marine Science, Private Mail Bag No. 3, Mail Centre, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia Communicated by Andrew A. Benson, University of California, San Diego, CA, March 20, 1998 (received for review September 23, 1997) ABSTRACT It is not certain whether coral reefs are ratio of photosynthesis to respiration on unperturbed reefs sources of or sinks for atmospheric CO2. Air–sea exchange of over 24 h is considered to be close to unity (10). CO2 over reefs has been measured directly and inferred from In March 1996, we made an expedition to Lizard Island, changes in the seawater carbonate equilibrium. Such mea- northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia (Fig. 1), to measure surements have provided conflicting results. We provide changes in the O2 concentration and pH of seawater flowing community metabolic data that indicate that large changes in across a 300-m section of the reef flat by using a floating CO2 concentration can occur in coral reef waters via biogeo- instrument package (11–14). Measurements were made in chemical processes not directly associated with photosynthe- March when tides permitted the instrument package to float sis, respiration, calcification, and CaCO3 dissolution. These freely over the reef flat, a short distance above the benthos. processes can significantly distort estimates of reef calcifica- On arriving at Lizard Island, we encountered environmental tion and net productivity and obscure the contribution of coral conditions that we had not anticipated.
    [Show full text]
  • The Economic, Social and Icon Value of the Great Barrier Reef Acknowledgement
    At what price? The economic, social and icon value of the Great Barrier Reef Acknowledgement Deloitte Access Economics acknowledges and thanks the Great Barrier Reef Foundation for commissioning the report with support from the National Australia Bank and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. In particular, we would like to thank the report’s Steering Committee for their guidance: Andrew Fyffe Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg Finance Officer Director of the Global Change Institute Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Professor of Marine Science The University of Queensland Anna Marsden Managing Director Prof. Robert Costanza Great Barrier Reef Foundation Professor and Chair in Public Policy Australian National University James Bentley Manager Natural Value, Corporate Responsibility Dr Russell Reichelt National Australia Bank Limited Chairman and Chief Executive Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Keith Tuffley Director Stephen Fitzgerald Great Barrier Reef Foundation Director Great Barrier Reef Foundation Dr Margaret Gooch Manager, Social and Economic Sciences Stephen Roberts Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Director Great Barrier Reef Foundation Thank you to Associate Professor Henrietta Marrie from the Office of Indigenous Engagement at CQUniversity Cairns for her significant contribution and assistance in articulating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander value of the Great Barrier Reef. Thank you to Ipsos Public Affairs Australia for their assistance in conducting the primary research for this study. We would also like
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 3—Relative Risks to the Great Barrier Reef from Degraded Water Quality
    Scientific Consensus Statement 2013 – Chapter 3 ©The State of Queensland 2013. Published by the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Secretariat, July 2013. Copyright protects this publication. Excerpts may be reproduced with acknowledgement to the State of Queensland. Image credits: TropWATER James Cook University, Tourism Queensland. This document was prepared by an independent panel of scientists with expertise in Great Barrier Reef water quality. This document does not represent government policy. 2 Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality Scientific Consensus Statement 2013 – Chapter 3 Table of Contents Executive summary .......................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Synthesis process ............................................................................................................................. 7 Previous Consensus Statement findings ........................................................................................ 19 Current evidence on the relative risks of water quality pollutants to the Great Barrier Reef ...... 21 What is the current relative risk of priority pollutants to Great Barrier Reef marine systems? .............. 21 Where are the risks highest or the benefits of improved management greatest? .................................. 26 When are the risks
    [Show full text]
  • Upwelling As a Source of Nutrients for the Great Barrier Reef Ecosystems: a Solution to Darwin's Question?
    Vol. 8: 257-269, 1982 MARINE ECOLOGY - PROGRESS SERIES Published May 28 Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. / I Upwelling as a Source of Nutrients for the Great Barrier Reef Ecosystems: A Solution to Darwin's Question? John C. Andrews and Patrick Gentien Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia ABSTRACT: The Great Barrier Reef shelf ecosystem is examined for nutrient enrichment from within the seasonal thermocline of the adjacent Coral Sea using moored current and temperature recorders and chemical data from a year of hydrology cruises at 3 to 5 wk intervals. The East Australian Current is found to pulsate in strength over the continental slope with a period near 90 d and to pump cold, saline, nutrient rich water up the slope to the shelf break. The nutrients are then pumped inshore in a bottom Ekman layer forced by periodic reversals in the longshore wind component. The period of this cycle is 12 to 25 d in summer (30 d year round average) and the bottom surges have an alternating onshore- offshore speed up to 10 cm S-'. Upwelling intrusions tend to be confined near the bottom and phytoplankton development quickly takes place inshore of the shelf break. There are return surface flows which preserve the mass budget and carry silicate rich Lagoon water offshore while nitrogen rich shelf break water is carried onshore. Upwelling intrusions penetrate across the entire zone of reefs, but rarely into the Lagoon. Nutrition is del~veredout of the shelf thermocline to the living coral of reefs by localised upwelling induced by the reefs.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 24 the Great Barrier Reef and Climate Change: Vulnerability and Management Implications
    Part IV: Enabling management Chapter 24 The Great Barrier Reef and climate change: vulnerability and management implications Paul A Marshall and Johanna E Johnson Image courtesy of Triggerfish Images Part IV: Enabling management This book provides an authoritative assessment of climate change vulnerability for the species and habitats that make up the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The picture that emerges from the combined knowledge of 86 experts is that the GBR is exposed to a range of stressors associated with climate change, and that many components of the GBR (which includes both ecological and human dimensions) are highly sensitive to these stressors. While the GBR is likely to be more resilient to climate change than most tropical marine ecosystems around the world, it is far from immune to this pervasive threat. In fact, signs of vulnerability to climate change are already being observed in critical parts of the GBR ecosystem, such as corals and seabirds. In addition to presenting a synthesis of current and emerging knowledge, the experts who contributed to this assessment provided recommendations for ways to reduce the impacts of climate change on the GBR. These insights provide the foundations on which tropical marine ecosystem managers can build an informed and effective response to climate change. In this chapter, we begin with a synopsis of previous chapters, covering the latest knowledge on exposure, sensitivity and vulnerability of the GBR to climate change. Building on this summary, we synthesise ideas about potential management responses suggested by the contributing experts. The findings of this vulnerability assessment provide a rigorous and comprehensive basis for management planning and policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 14 Vulnerability of Seabirds on the Great Barrier Reef to Climate Change
    Part II: Species and species groups Chapter 14 Vulnerability of seabirds on the Great Barrier Reef to climate change Bradley C Congdon, Carol A Erwin, Darren R Peck, G Barry Baker, Michael C Double and Paul O’Neill Birds are indicators of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we’ll soon be in trouble. Roger Tory Peterson Part II: Species and species groups 14.1 Introduction Seabirds are highly visible, charismatic predators in marine ecosystems that are defined as feeding exclusively at sea, in either nearshore, offshore or pelagic waters. At a conservative estimate there are approximately 0.7 billion individuals of 309 species of seabirds globally15. Such high population abundance means that in all ecosystems where seabirds occur the levels of marine resources they consume are significant15. Such high consumption rates also mean that seabirds play a number of important functional roles in marine ecosystems, including the transfer of nutrients from offshore and pelagic areas to islands and reefs, seed dispersal and the distribution of organic matter into lower parts of the developing soil profile (eg burrow-nesting species such as shearwaters)57. A total dependence on marine food resources makes seabirds key upper trophic level predators in marine ecosystems… This means that seabird demographics and reproductive parameters are strongly impacted by, and closely reflect, changing oceanographic and trophic conditions. Prey abundance and seabird reproductive biology have been significantly correlated many times (eg Anderson et al.3, Burger and Piatt19). For this reason seabirds are widely considered important indicator species in marine ecosystems43. Therefore, understanding how changing oceanographic conditions impact seabird population dynamics and reproductive ecology leads directly to critical insights into the potential future impacts of climate change, not only on seabirds, but on other functionally important components of tropical marine ecosystems.
    [Show full text]