Among other things, the four-day May Board meeting looked at strategic planning to the year 2000 and considered requirements if the Centre is to continue beyond that date.
In June Ms Jenni Metcalfe, formerly of CSIRO and now with the environmental communications company 'Econnect', commenced an independent review of the Extension and Training Program which will take into account the views of researchers and managers from all our partner organisations, and those of our major stakeholders. While it is notoriously difficult to measure the success or shortcomings of a communications strategy, the attempt will hopefully shed some light and provide suggestions for the future.
By the time of publication, CRC Reef will have its own page on the Internet.
It will contain information about the research programs, a list of research tasks, technical reports and other publications, and Ecologically Sustainable Development information. The homepage will also link to the national CRC Program and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and James Cook University.
socioeconomic implications of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks,
dugong management in the Great Barrier Reef, and
developing reliable monitoring programs for use by marine tourism operators and community volunteers.
Once a working model has been produced with adequate quality controls, these monitoring programs will be available over a broader scale. Operators and community groups have wanted to become involved in research programs for a long time, and this project is expected to find useful ways in which they can do so. Operators visit parts of the Reef that scientists don't necessarily get to, and they go there frequently. If their monitoring is successful, they will provide information that can be achieved in no other way. For further information contact Ms Barbara Musso on (077) 81 5243.
Cappo, M and Brown, I 1996 Evaluation of sampling methods for reef fish populations of commercial and recreational interest, CRC Reef Research Centre Technical Report No. 6, CRC Reef Research Centre, Townsville.
Mapstone, BD, Campbell, RA, and Smith, ADM 1996 Design of experimental investigations of the effects of line and spear fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, CRC Reef Research Centre Technical Report No. 7, CRC Reef Research Centre, Townsville.
In press or in peer review are:
Dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) and crown-of-thorns starfish (T. Ayuki), The estimation of visitor use in the Great Barrier Reef (P. Valentine), and A review of environmental impact monitoring of pontoon installations (V. Nelson & B. Mapstone).
ADDRESS
Post Office James Cook University, Townsville Queensland 4811
Phone: (077) 81 4976 Fax: (077) 81 4099
E-mail: crcreef@jcu.edu.au Internet site: CRC Reef Research Centre Online
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