Special Climate Change Supplement
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SeaReadNo37.qxp 11/02/2011 1:40 PM Page 1 GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK NEWS SEA FROM CATCHMENT TO CORAL No. 37 Jan/Feb 2011 Special Climate Change Supplement Flood impacts on Reef Tourism taking action Reef Guardian Schools awarded Fishers are doing their bit 1 SeaReadNo37.qxp 11/02/2011 1:41 PM Page 2 Chairman's message Welcome to our new-look schools were awarded for SeaRead newsletter, which reducing their carbon we've redesigned to better footprint, sustainability, present the news of the encouraging behavioural Great Barrier Reef. It change in their community includes the first in a series and restoring local Cover: Bleached staghorn corals with those communities on Keppel Island Reefs with of in-depth supplements wetlands. We congratulate affected. When Prime fluorescent purple tipped corals in focussing on key issues. the 10 award winners and Minister Julia Gillard foreground. Climate change seemed an also acknowledge the good visited Rockhampton, she obvious choice for this first work of all the 230 Reef took the time to discuss special newsletter feature, Guardian Schools. the flood's impact on the In this as future predictions of Fishers are also taking Great Barrier Reef. With climate change dominate action to future proof their such a significant flood Issue most aspects of the Reef's industry in the face of plume bringing sediments, outlook over the next few threats from climate nutrients, pesticides and GBRMPA meets the PM 3 decades. The ability of the change. Many people rely other contaminents into Reef Guardians awarded 4 Reef to withstand the on fishing for the southern part of the Climate change special impacts will edition 5-8 their Great Barrier Reef, the depend on its Mysteries of the Reef 10 livelihoods GBRMPA will continue to resilience in ...future Reef HQ opens its doors 11 and a monitor and assess its the immediate What can I do? 12 predictions of healthy Reef impact. future. It's is vital to the While the GBRMPA, its important for climate change seafood partners, schools and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander us to readers are advised that this dominate most industry. The communities achieved so publication may contain names and understand Great Barrier much in 2010, we have a images of deceased persons. what we can aspects of the Reef Marine long road ahead to DISCLAIMER do to build the Reef's outlook Park continue to reduce the While all efforts have been made to Reef's strength verify facts, the Great Barrier Reef Authority impacts of climate change, Marine Park Authority takes no so it can cope over the next few (GBRMPA) the greatest long-term responsibility for the accuracy of with the information supplied inSeaRead. decades. has threat to the Reef. I look stresses on its ISSN 1834-6774 introduced forward to working with ecosystem. Copyright Commonwealth of an online everyone this year in our Australia Schools, organisations emissions calculator to help shared goal to protect the Please note that you are welcome to and businesses have fishers measure and photocopy SeaRead. However, if the Reef for future text is reproduced separately, it must implemented a range of reduce their carbon generations. not be altered and must environmental initiatives footprint. acknowledge the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as the source. that are invaluable in The Queensland Seafood Illustrations must not be reused supporting the health of the Industry Association is also separately without Reef. This includes the permission. Please contact the actively supporting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park work undertaken on Lady GBRMPA by encouraging Authority if in doubt. Elliot and Low Isles islands fishers to report sightings Great Barrier Reef to reduce energy of species of conservation Marine Park Authority consumption. Initiatives concern, such as marine 2-68 Flinders Street include installing a new turtles. With commercial Russell Reichelt PO Box 1379 Great Barrier Reef Townsville Qld 4810 solar-powered energy fishers spending a large Marine Park Authority system. Phone: (07) 4750 0700 part of their lives on the Fax: (07) 4772 6093 The 2010 Reef Guardian water, their observations of Email: [email protected] Awards were announced species and habitats is Reduce your ecological footprint by late last year, recognising critical in the protection of receiving SeaRead electronically! 10 Queensland schools some marine animals. Send us your email address at [email protected] or phone the along the Great Barrier In early January, flood GBRMPA on (07) 4750 0700 Reef that have adopted waters devastated best practice environmental www.gbrmpa.gov.au Queensland towns and the initiatives. The winning GBRMPA's thoughts are 2 SeaReadNo37.qxp 11/02/2011 1:41 PM Page 3 Flood impacts on Reef The mouth of the Fitzroy leading into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Photo courtesy CQ discussed with the Environmental/GKI Resorts Pty Ltd Prime Minister During Queensland's recent about the impact on the extends out from the Reef Rescue Monitoring floods, Prime Minister Julia Reef. Fitzroy and Burnett Program, the GBRMPA in Gillard met with the Great Kalair said the briefing, catchments into the Marine conjunction with its partners Barrier Reef Marine Park held in Rockhampton, was Park. and the community will Authority's Southern a great opportunity to "The Prime Minister was continue to monitor the Regional Liaison Officer discuss the effects of a particularly concerned impact of the flood plumes. Kalair Conaghan to talk freshwater flood plume that about the community," "We also talked about our Kalair said. other programs that build "We spoke with her about the Reef's resilience, which local people's concerns will help corals and regarding the impact of the associated ecosystems to floods on the Reef and any be better able to deal with flow-on effects this might stresses such as this have on industries such as plume,” Kalair said. tourism and commercial "It was a great opportunity fishing that rely on the to talk to the Prime Minister Reef." about this significant event The Prime Minister was and voice the community's advised that the full effects concerns." of the flood plume wouldn't Presently, the area be known for some time. affected by the flood plume There has been an is localised to a part of the increased flow of Central Coast off sediments, and elevated Queensland, which only levels of nutrients, covers a small percentage pesticides and other of the Great Barrier Reef. contaminants into the Most Great Barrier Reef southern part of the Great tourism operators remain Barrier Reef. open for business. However as part of the 3 SeaReadNo37.qxp 11/02/2011 1:41 PM Page 4 Mother of Good Counsel School received the Reef Guardian 'r-Amp It Down' award Reef Guardian Schools recognised Ten Reef Guardian and reduce the pressures Manager Megan Sperring footprint and looking after Schools throughout the on its ecosystem. said Gordonvale State the environment. Great Barrier Reef "These awards and School won the Reef "Trinity Anglican School catchment have been funding grants will assist Guardian Champions won the 'Habitat Heroes' rewarded for their the schools to further their award for a raft of award for their tireless work environmental work. onground projects and sustainability initiatives. in restoring Sawpit Gully, Minister for Sustainability, implement their Reef "The school's initiative which is an ongoing project Environment, Water, Guardian Action Plans." aimed to create a culture of that saw students stabilise Population and Among the winners were environmental sustainability the site that feeds to Trinity Communities Tony Burke three Reef Guardian within the school and local Inlet and the Great Barrier said the schools received Schools in Cairns, community with a particular Reef." prestigious Reef Guardian including Mother of Good emphasis on long-term Entering its eighth year, Awards and $1000 to Counsel School, Trinity behaviour change," she the Reef Guardian program continue their Anglican School and said. currently sees more than environmental initiatives Gordonvale State School. "Mother of Good Counsel 60 000 students from over that protect the Great Great Barrier Reef Marine School won the Reef 230 schools committed to Barrier Reef for the future. Park Authority Reef Guardian 'r-Amp It Down' the protection and "The Reef Guardian Guardian Schools Program award for their commitment conservation of the Great Schools Program provides to reducing their carbon Barrier Reef. students, teachers and their communities with the Our champions opportunity to instigate Thuringowa State High School Sea 'Stars' Award for youth-directed and owned activities positive change for the Yeppoon State School Waste Watchers Award for reducing, reusing and recycling environment in the face of Feluga State School Water Warriors Award for water conservation or water quality improvement threats like climate Mercy College Learning Legends Award for outstanding education in the classroom arena change," Mr Burke said. Miriam Vale State School Action in Adventures Award for action in the field Burdekin Christian College Community Connection Award for reaching out to the local community "It is fantastic to see the Trinity Anglican School Habitat Heroes Award for outstanding improvement in the local environment contribution our young Ayr East State School Bright Sparks Award for creativeness, inventiveness and innovations people are making to Gordonvale State School Reef Guardian Champions Award for mentoring or facilitating higher learning protect the World Heritage Mother of Good Counsel School 'r-Amp It Down' Award for reducing their ecological footprint listed Great Barrier Reef 4 SeaReadNo37.qxp 11/02/2011 1:41 PM Page 5 SUPPLEMENT Climate change is real and it's affecting the these incidents. In light of this evidence, Great Barrier Reef the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority The Great Barrier Reef sea surface temperatures cyclone in 35 years.