Reef Research: Volume 6 No. 1 March 1996

Gabi Caswell, Raine Island Corporation

Introduction

Raine Island lies approximately 120 kilometres east-north-east of Cape Grenville, Cape York, at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. It is just off the eastern edge of the continental shelf, next to a shipping channel known as the Raine Island Entrance.

Raine Island Corporation is a self-funding non-profit organisation established under the auspices of the Meaker Trust (Raine Island Research) Act 1981, to promote research into, and the preservation and protection of, the nature and the environment of Raine Island (11o36'S, 144o01'E), Moulter (11o26'S, 144o00'E) and Maclennan (11o22'S, 143o48'E) cays and the surrounding seas.

Raine Island is within the northern Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. A stone beacon was constructed in 1844 by convict labour using the island's phosphate rock and timbers from the Martha Ridgeway. The beacon is considered one of the most important historical monuments in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is listed on the State Heritage Register and the Commonwealth Register of the National Estate.

Environment description

Raine Island, as a detached section of the edge of Queensland's continental shelf and in the middle of a major reef passage, is unusual along the Great Barrier Reef. Its associated reef supports rich and diverse coral communities which show a greater affinity to those of the Coral Sea reefs than to those of the Great Barrier Reef (Lassig et al. 1993).

Photo: Raine Island
Photo by J. O'Dyer; © GBRMPA

Raine Island is a vegetated coral cay dominated by low herbaceous annual vegetation (Batianoff et al. 1993). The cay is comprised of a central core of phosphate rock surrounded by sand and extensive fringing reefs.

The island holds special significance as a seabird breeding and roosting site. It is considered as the most significant tropical seabird breeding site in the Great Barrier Reef (Taplin and Blaber 1993).

The central core of phosphate rock forms a small cliff above the beaches of the cay, producing rock ledges used by Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda) as nest sites. Behind the cliff is a vegetated ridge frequented by nesting Brown (Sula leucogaster) and Red-footed (Sula sula) Boobys. The island was extensively mined for guano in the 1880s, leaving a shallow depression in the centre of the cay, providing nesting sites for the Lesser Frigatebirds (Fregata ariel) and Masked Boobys (Sula dactylatra).

Raine Island, and nearby Moulter Cay, are also the principal nesting sites of the largest breeding population of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the world (Limpus et al. 1993). During the peak nesting period an estimated 4000 turtles have been known to come ashore each night to lay their eggs.

Biological and cultural values

In a report on the biological and heritage values, commissioned by the Raine Island Corporation, Claridge (1995) states 'More than sixty separate values have been identified. It is highly unlikely that any comparable area in the Great Barrier Reef region, or even in Australia overall, could match the number and breadth of values associated with Raine Island and its environs.'

The aim of Raine Island Corporation is to foster research and develop appropriate conservation strategies for the biological and cultural heritage of Raine Island and its environs.

The Corporation currently funds one trip a year to Raine Island and is looking at ways to increase visitation for scientific purposes. The number of researchers able to join each trip is limited both by the availability of funds for project support and the necessity to minimise human impact on the resident wildlife.

The Corporation is exploring various cooperative ventures in an effort to increase the range of research projects which provide data for the Corporation to effectively guide the management and conservation of Raine Island and its environs.

PLEASE NOTE

To preserve the biological and cultural value of Raine Island, and to minimise the disturbance to the resident population of turtles and seabirds, tourism is not permitted on the Island. Raine Island Corporation administers applications for visitation and permits must be gained before visiting Raine Island, Moulter or Maclennan Cays.

REFERENCES
Batianoff, G. N., Hacker, J. B., Miller J. D. & Price, I. R. 1993, 'Vegetation on Raine Island', in Raine Island and Environs, Great Barrier Reef: Quest to Preserve a Fragile Outpost of Nature, eds K. H. Zevering & C. E. Zevering, Brisbane, Raine Island Corporation, pp. 33-38.
Claridge, G. 1995, A risk assessment for Raine Island and environs in relation to values of the natural and cultural environments, Report for Raine Island Corporation, Brisbane.
Lassig, B., Ayling, A., Birtles, A., Done, T., Drew, E., Kelly, G. & Wilkinson, C. 1993, 'The benthic communities of Raine Island', in Raine Island and Environs, Great Barrier Reef: Quest to Preserve a Fragile Outpost of Nature, eds K. H. Zevering & C. E. Zevering, Brisbane, Raine Island Corporation, pp. 21-32.
Limpus, C., Miller, J. D. & Parmenter, C. J. 1993, 'The Northern Great Barrier Reef green turtle, Chelonia mydas, breeding population, in Raine Island and Environs, Great Barrier Reef: Quest to Preserve a Fragile Outpost of Nature, eds K. H. Zevering & C. E. Zevering, Brisbane, Raine Island Corporation, pp. 47-50.
Taplin, A. & Blaber, S. J. M. 1993, 'Seabird breeding population studies at Raine Island', in Raine Island and Environs, Great Barrier Reef: Quest to Preserve a Fragile Outpost of Nature, eds K. H. Zevering & C. E. Zevering, Brisbane, Raine Island Corporation, pp. 51-56.

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Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
PO Box 1379 TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810. Phone: (077) 500 700, Fax: (077) 726 093
E-mail: registry@gbrmpa.gov.au