14 December 2009

With the start of summer, temperatures are beginning to warm up on the Great Barrier Reef and an army of more than 200 volunteers are standing by to help keep an eye on corals.

The volunteers, who include tourism operators, fishers, researchers, and recreational reef users, will be on the look-out for signs of coral stress as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's (GBRMPA) BleachWatch Program.

GBRMPA Director of Climate Change, Dr Paul Marshall said information provided by the BleachWatch volunteers helped managers detect the early signs of problems on the Reef, and to target detailed scientific surveys and management responses.

"Warmer than average summer temperatures are stressful to corals and cause the corals to turn white, a response called coral bleaching. If temperatures stay hot, bleached corals can die.

"The amount of coral bleaching that occurs in any given summer is an indicator and predictor of the health of the Reef. With climate change, we now have to watch conditions closely every summer.

"Because the Great Barrier Reef is so large, we need as many people as possible looking out for signs of coral reef stress and reporting these back to us so we can make the best possible management decisions.

"Reports received from BleachWatch volunteers provide us with essential information about trends in Reef health and climate impacts.

"This information helps us validate predictive models and satellite data and is critical to the success of the Early Warning System for our Coral Bleaching Response Plan."

BleachWatch reports enable managers to identify highly impacted areas so management strategies can be implemented to help these areas recover more quickly.

In recognition of their outstanding contribution to the BleachWatch Program last summer, the GBRMPA has awarded nine BleachWatch participants Certificates of Appreciation. The recognised BleachWatch volunteers are:

Emily Smart – Fantasea Adventure Cruising, Airlie Beach

Jack Martin – Cairns Dive Centre, Cairns

Brad Lee – Cairns Dive Centre, Cairns

Alan Cousland – AL & PK Cousland Pty Ltd, Yorkey's Knob

Erica Larson – Quicksilver Cruises, Port Douglas

Jim Buck – Queensland Turtle Conservation Project, Lady Musgrave Island

Eric Fisher – Reef Magic Cruises, Cairns

Justin Harzmeyer – previously with Cruise Whitsundays, Airlie Beach

Michelle Landers – Cruise Whitsundays, Airlie Beach

If you would like to join the BleachWatch network or learn more about the program, please contact our BleachWatch coordinator at bleachwatch@gbrmpa.gov.au or visit GBRMPA at www.gbrmpa.gov.au