4 June 2009

Tourism operators in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park near Cairns will be better equipped to keep an eye on the Reef after comprehensive training in reef health monitoring by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).

Forty-five crew members, from 20 tourism operators, will take part in the training in Cairns as part of the successful Eye on the Reef Monitoring Program.

GBRMPA Chairman Russell Reichelt said the Eye on the Reef Monitoring Program was an important way for the agency to gather long-term data on the health of the Reef.

“This program is vital at a time when the Reef’s health is under pressure from threats such as climate change and declining water quality. We can manage the Reef better with up-to-date data on key locations," he said.

"Given the size of the Marine Park, it is useful to have a network of people able to keep an eye on the condition of the Marine Park and this information is invaluable to marine managers.

“Tourism operators are among our best allies for monitoring the health of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as they're out on the water regularly and can collect long-term data."

This week, tourism crew members will be trained in scientific monitoring methods.

As part of the program operators are asked to fill in the log sheets on each visit to their reef sites, listing the conditions at their sites such as turbidity, water temperature, algae, coral diseases and bleaching as well as the health, numbers and spawning activity of iconic and protected species.

The information is then collated by the GBRMPA and used by managers and scientists. The findings are regularly returned to tourism operators and crew who can use the data for interpretation and staff training.

The majority of tourism operators involved in the program are eco-certified or are in the process of seeking certification.

The program is believed to be the largest tourism-driven coral reef monitoring program of its kind.

It relies on a strong relationship between three program partners which include the GBRMPA, the marine tourism industry and the reef research community.

Since its inception, the program has been able to contribute positively to coral reef science, reef health and understanding as well as environmental education.