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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

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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 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 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 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

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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

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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

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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. Since (GBRMPA) is working to Outlook Report 2009 recorded and the average 2005 two category five build the health of the identified climate change temperature over the past cyclones have hit the Reef, Great Barrier Reef against as the greatest threat to 30 years also increased by one of which was cyclone impacts from climate the long-term health of about 0.4oC. Hamish in 2009. change. the Great Barrier Reef. At least 50 per cent of Cyclone Hamish travelled Just as a healthy person Rising temperatures, coral reefs in the Great down the Queensland is better able to cope with increased ocean Barrier Reef faced coast and caused an illness, a healthy Reef acidification, rising sea unprecedented bleaching extensive damage to the is better able to cope with levels and increased in 1998 and 2002. On Reef, which led to social stresses on its system. storms and cyclones have each occasion, it is and economic impacts for Communities, schools, already had an effect on estimated that up to five industries and communities organisations and councils the Reef. per cent of the Reef was that depend on the Reef. are working with the severely damaged. Some climate change However because of GBRMPA to build the impacts on marine life In addition to impacts efforts from the broader health of the Reef by include the gender balance from rising temperatures, community to build the working to improve water of marine turtles tipping to acidification is also resilience of the Reef it has quality and protecting more females, a lower reducing the coral's growth been able to recover from habitat biodiversity. success rate of turtle nests rate and structure through as well as disruption to increased acidity in the Summer's here seabirds' feeding patterns. water. Over summer, marine can pose a threat to the managers and scientists health of the Reef. Rising temperatures are An increase in the have been keeping a close severity and frequency of Field officers from the also detrimental to the eye on the Great Barrier extreme weather Department of Environment health of the Reef as they Reef. increase the risk of coral conditions has also been and Resource Management and several tourism bleaching. recorded in the past five High sea surface years. temperatures, cyclones and operators have undertaken The last decade alone flood run-off are all linked to surveys to provide an early has seen two of the Prior to 2005, there was Queensland's summer and warning of coral bleaching warmest five-year average only one category five and storm damage.

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Low Isles and Lady Elliot Island get a 'green' makeover

Lady Elliot Island

With a helping hand from solar-powered energy power to the resort. It showcases responsible the GBRMPA, Lady Elliot system and it also now Together with the island management and Island Resort and Low uses environmentally GBRMPA, the Lady Elliot suggests how visitors can Isles have had a green friendly biodiesel in other Island Resort added a trail help mitigate climate makeover to reduce energy systems. of interpretive signs to change to protect the Great consumption and carbon A change to their sewage educate visitors on how Barrier Reef. emissions. treatment system has climate change could affect The sustainable energy The eco-friendly islands halved their energy usage the island. use initiatives on Low Isles are popular tourism, to 7.5 kWh/day. The signs display how and Lady Elliot Island are recreation and research Since Lady Elliot Island various ecosystems on the being showcased as spots, and are now Resort's initial energy audit island could be affected by examples of best practice operating in a more climate in 2007, electricity use has increased sea management for other friendly way. decreased by 32 per cent temperatures and storms, islands and resorts. Low Isles, offshore from and a hybrid solar power rising sea levels and ocean Port Douglas, has a new station is now providing acidification. Tourism industry takes action Great Barrier Reef tourism Since its launch in 2009, Detailed climate change Climate Action Certification operators are taking action tourism operators have actions included in applications through to climate-proof their adopted business practices Ecotourism Australia's Eco workshops run by the industry in the face of a that are both good for the Certification Program mean GBRMPA and tourism changing climate. environment and good for that all of the Marine Park's industry partners. In partnership with the their bottom line. high standard tourism A range of online tools, GBRMPA and the Initiatives include tourism operators are now seriously including an emissions Queensland Government, operators becoming carbon addressing climate change. calculator that identifies tourism industry leaders neutral, using low-emission Operators have received ways to reduce emissions, have developed the outboard engines on boats guidance on how to assess can help operators push Tourism Climate Change and purchasing 'green' the climate change threat to through the climate change Action Strategy to provide a products such as reef- their businesses and have clutter and take practical blueprint for industry and friendly cleaning products kick-started their Eco and action. management action. or recyclable materials.

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providing the opportunity to be more energy and cost efficient. In addition to this, the GBRMPA conducted a series of workshops to show fishers how to use the tool and encourage them to look at ways to minimise their energy use and improve waste management. In 2009 a Climate Change Liaison Officer was appointed to the QSIA to facilitate fisheries and climate change related projects established under the partnership. The liaison officer provides a contact for commercial fishers on all matters relating to climate change. The partnership between Fishers team up on the QSIA, marine managers and the climate change GBRMPA is giving the Great Barrier Reef a better opportunity for a The seafood industry future proof their industry Queensland Seafood sustainable future. depends on a healthy Reef against climate change. Industry Association for its livelihood and fishers An online emissions (QSIA), allows fishers to have teamed up with calculator, developed by measure and understand Marine Park managers to the GBRMPA and the their carbon emissions, Pro-vision Stewardship Action Plan In a world first, fishers, managers and scientists are working together to ensure the wild capture harvest industry of the Great Barrier Reef remains sustainable under impacts from climate change. The innovative Pro-vision Stewardship Action Plan sets standards across the industry to plan low impact strategies for collecting and to provide information on the health of habitats. The Action Plan will also help to assess the vulnerability of the marine aquarium supply industry to climate change.

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Reef Guardians do their bit

More than 230 schools and 13 councils in Queensland have pledged their support for the Great Barrier Reef through their involvement in the Reef Guardian Program. The action-based program empowers students, teachers, schools, communities and councils to be leaders in sustainable living and to help build the Reef's resilience against the impacts of a changing climate. Councils are working to build and maintain the resilience of coastal and The Reef Guardian energy to improving water the wider community to marine areas to climate Schools program provides quality and water adopt energy efficient change impacts. the future custodians of the conservation. practices. These actions are leading Great Barrier Reef with the The GBRMPA has also In 2011 the Reef to a more coordinated opportunity to take the lead sponsored the Energy Wise Guardian program will environmental planning and in the Reef's protection. Schools program for expand to include fishers, management approach to Students are involved in schools to reduce energy farmers and graziers, to address the impacts on the everything from recycling, consumption and raise further protect the Reef for Great Barrier Reef. composting and reducing awareness and encourage its future.

replace all incandescent The Reef is in our hands Reef HQ globes with compact fluorescents and all tubular We all have a role to play in keeping the Great Barrier Reef goes fluorescent lamps with LED healthy against impacts from climate change. Here are a few lighting. handy hints that will go a long way in the Reef's protection: energy In addition, pumps were • Choose environmentally-friendly products, such as efficient replaced to be more energy biodegradable detergents efficient and variable speed • Install energy-efficient lights Reef HQ Aquarium is drives were installed on • Leave your car at home actively reducing its carbon large tank pumps. • Check your fridge temperature footprint and energy use. The GBRMPA is also • Keep cool with fans and use air conditioning efficiently The move follows a recent improving business and • Lower your hot water temperature audit of water and energy environmental practices to • Let your clothes dry naturally systems that showed how decrease its carbon • Turn off appliances at the wall when you are not using them better environmental emissions and improve its initiatives could also result environmental • Recycle, reduce and reuse in economic benefits. performances. The first steps in a five This includes waste opposed to travel and The process is being year plan to significantly management processes, incorporating good implemented by the decrease energy increased use of environmental practices agency's Green Office consumption saw Reef HQ videoconferencing as into daily staff activities. Committee.

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BRIEFS Reef HQ Aquarium makes a splash After winning three awards at the North Queensland Tourism Awards in November, Reef HQ Aquarium was named as a finalist in two categories at the Queensland Tourism Awards. Reef HQ Aquarium Director Fred Nucifora said it was an honour to make the finals in both the Significant Tourism Attraction and New Tourism Development categories.

The LMAC is put Crabbing along to the test The Capricorn Coast Local Queensland's coast Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC) recently hosted a Reef-themed trivia night for Summer and crabbing go Queensland in partnership to help reduce the catch of more than 80 people. hand-in-hand along with the Department of non-target species such as The trivia night was a Queensland's vast Environment and Resource turtles," he said. success in increasing local coastline and all crabbers Management recently "Often badly constructed knowledge of the Reef and have a part to play in released an information crab pots can trap other was supported by the Great reducing impacts on the package on how to crab marine animals. Barrier Reef Marine Park environment. responsibly. Authority and Fitzroy Basin "The practices outlined in Association Incorporated. Along the Great Barrier Minister for Primary this package will help us to Reef some crab pots can Industries, Fisheries and ensure the sustainability of trap other marine animals, Rural and Regional our fisheries for future Compliance boost such as turtles, and the Queensland Tim Mulherin generations." The Great Barrier Reef pots can also become lost said that when crabbing, it is For a copy of the Marine Park Authority works important people follow the and continue to 'ghost fish' responsible crabbing in partnership with – meaning it could fishing rules. guidelines contact Fisheries Traditional Owners to continually trap marine "The information package Queensland on 13 25 23 or improve the management of animals. aims to educate people visit www.deedi.qld.gov.au the Marine Park. In light of this, Fisheries about crab pot construction Two Indigenous Community Liaison Officers have been Crabbing responsibly employed to support this work.

• Adjust the pot opening size – a maximum pot opening size of approximately 60cm in The best job just circumference or smaller is recommended got better • Adjust the pot weight – pots should weigh about 3kg or more to ensure they sit firmly on the sea floor The Best Job in the World's Ben Southall will be • Use the right rope – pots should be secured by an approximately 6mm UV stabilised travelling along the Great rope, which is either not buoyant or is weighted so it hangs below the surface of the Barrier Reef this year in the water Best Expedition in the World • Consider pot construction – if a pot is constructed of trawl mesh (or a similar material) campaign to promote the then it should be of reasonable quality so that it will not easily entangle marine species Reef. • Maintain pots – crabbing gear should be maintained regularly. This means regular The three month journey will cleaning and repairing or replacing any damaged pots, ropes or floats. commence in May from the Town of 1770.

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Beneath the waves

Undersea canyons off the coast of Cooktown

A scientist has developed has revealed the seafloor reefs have grown." including underwater robots 3D images that plunge in extraordinary detail. An unbroken 900km-long and satellite imagery. viewers kilometres deep “Users can see vast line of fossil barrier reefs "Previously we've had into the Great Barrier underwater dune fields, the and ancient river beds can little understanding of what Reef's waters – exposing extensive algal reefs on the also be seen for the first exists below 20m, so it's submarine canyons, northern Great Barrier Reef time in the 3D depth model, very exciting to be able to underwater seabeds and shelf and ancient river creating unprecedented map from the coastline all soaring undersea channels preserved in imagery of what lies the way down to the abyss, mountains. seabeds," Robin said. beneath the sea surface. over five kilometres deep," It took James Cook "We’re able to show the To create the model, data Robin said. University's Dr Robin true shapes of the coral was collected from nearly "Coral reefs comprise only Beaman three years to reefs, including the older 1000 million individual five to seven per cent of create the 3D model of the and deeper Pleistocene points in the Reef through the geographical area of Great Barrier Reef but he bases upon which modern a number of sources the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and even the most experienced of divers will usually only Underwater mysteries dive down around 40m. "It certainly gives you a unveiled sense of how dramatic the undersea landscape is and More than 2700 scientists probed how little we really know the ocean's depths in a mammoth 10 about it." year project to unveil the first global The model may be used Census of Marine Life, as a solid foundation for with about 6000 other research aimed at potential new improving the species discovered understanding of the Great world-wide. Barrier Reef. In the Great Barrier It could also allow Reef's waters, new species oceanographers to were discovered including soft accurately map currents corals. During the Census of and biologists to target Marine Life, scientists photographed important sites on the Christmas tree worms (right) near seafloor for studying deep Lizard Island. sea marine life.

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BRIEFS Celebrating National Water Week As part of National Water Week, the Mackay Local Marine Advisory Committee and Reef HQ offered a Reef video conference as first prize in a colouring-in competition. All Reef Guardian Schools in Mackay and the Whitsundays region were invited to enter and Philippa Vella from St Anne's Catholic Primary School was announced the winner.

New wing for Turtle Hospital In just over a year, about 50 marine turtles have been cared for at the Reef HQ Aquarium Turtle Hospital, and now it's time for expansion. To meet the demands of the Reef HQ traineeship increasing number of patients, the hospital's capacity will be doubled program opens doors for with the addition of a second wing. It will house local Indigenous youth another eight tanks. Reef HQ Aquarium will Reef HQ Aquarium has "Through the traineeship "I used to be very shy, and again be relying on opened its doors to program I'm learning to didn't believe in myself, but generous donations from Indigenous youth with an guide tours through the now I can look back and the community and opportunity to complete a Aquarium, which includes see how far I've come corporate sector to make this dream a reality. To find Certificate in Tourism school visits such as the already. out how you can make a through the Sea Country Reef Sleeps educational "I want to use this donation please call (07) Connections Traineeship sleep over program," she opportunity to open doors 4750 0800. Program. said. in the travel industry. One The 12 month program "The traineeship has day I'd like to work as a aims to develop future made me more aware of travel agent, and travel Snapper closure Indigenous leaders, my cultural heritage, myself. My dream is to A six week reef closure will providing them with on-the- because it's not something travel to Canada, and learn take place early this year to job training and the I knew much about growing about that country's help reduce fishing opportunity to share their up." Indigenous people." pressure on Queensland’s cultural and spiritual Khrishna said she sees The Sea Country over-fished snapper stock. connections to the Great opportunities for her Connections Traineeship The closure will apply along Barrier Reef. generation through the Program is part of the the Queensland east coast Khrishna Wyles, a tourism traineeship. Great Barrier Reef Marine from 15 February to 31 Girramay Traditional Owner Park Authority's Caring for March 2011, making "Aboriginal and Torres snapper, teraglin and pearl in the Cardwell region, said our Country Reef Rescue Strait Islander children perch off limits until new the program has made her need to have faith in their Indigenous Land and Sea management arrangements more aware of her cultural abilities," she said. Country Partnerships can be finalised. heritage. Program funded by the Australian Government.

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Calendar of What can I do? events 2011 Composting We are running out of • While you can buy • Make sure your bin has 4 January space to dump our special composting a lid so your compost GBRMPA offices reopen rubbish! Recycling is bins, you could also doesn't dry out or get just one way to reduce just use a large wooden soggy. It also helps to 1-23 February the amount of litter that box - it's cheaper keep out flies, pests • A bigger bin makes it and pets LMAC meetings may go into the Great Barrier Reef. What easier to turn the • Your bin should have 1 Capricorn Coast compost later no bottom so earthworms 2 Gladstone about your apple cores • Keep your layers loose can get in and out 8 Port Douglas and bread crusts? - compost needs air • For a better result, you 9 Cairns can sprinkle manure, 15 Hinchinbrook You can also reuse and • Put the coarsest waste blood and bone or lime 16 Cape York, reduce the amount of food on the bottom between the layers. Cassowary scraps by creating your own 17 Burnett, Townsville compost in the backyard, 21 Mackay which in return will give you 23 Whitsunday rich fertiliser for your gardens. 2 February Here are some handy hints while creating your first World Wetlands Day compost:

Creature feature The echinoderms and their relatives Starfish, featherstars, brittlestars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers all belong to a group of animals called echinoderms. Each of these animals has no head or brain, yet they have some amazing features and once you start to learn more you will never look at them the same again! Starfish are probably one of the more easily recognised Sea cucumber animals on the Great Barrier Reef with their five 'arms' Moving about and variety of colours. • Generally slow movers, echinoderms have Feeding tentacle-like structures Echinoderms have a range of called tube feet. feeding techniques such as: • Fluid passes in and out of • Sea urchins use a the tube feet with the help tooth-bearing jaw Starfish provide another splash of colour to the Great Barrier Reef of muscles surrounding structure known as each foot. This creates 'Aristotle's lantern' to • Sea cucumbers act like be produced from body a suction effect and scrape algae from rocks. vacuum cleaners, they suck fragments. helps to move the animal • If it needs to, a up sand, extract the food, • Sexual reproduction along. starfish's stomach can then expel the clean sand. usually involves mass come outside its mouth to spawning. Many sea These animals can be easily begin digesting food and Reproduction cucumbers rear up like damaged if handled by people eventually the stomach • Some starfish and snakes and sway in the diving and snorkelling. Avoid and partially digested food brittlestars are capable of water as eggs and touching any plants or is sucked back into the asexual reproduction, sperm are released from a animals when you are out starfish's body. where a new starfish can pore on their head. enjoying the Great Barrier Reef.

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