 
s promised, this issue of Reef Research contains a `bumper' article of COTS COMMS. In response to reports received about renewed outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is taking its very successful COTSWATCH scheme to the international community. `COTSWATCH - International' was recently launched by the Authority and is being promoted by both the Authority and the CRC Reef Research Centre. If you have any sightings of the starfish to report (and remember, zero sightings are also useful) please contact Udo Engelhardt at the Authority on +61 77 500 812. Martin Russell reports on the management implications learnt from closing and re-opening a reef to fishing. He draws his conclusions from a study at Bramble Reef which was closed to fishing in 1992. Following the re-opening of the reef in 1995 researchers have found that the population of coral trout on Bramble Reef is now at the same level as it was before the closure. However, a great deal of new information was gained from this study and it is this information that will enable management agencies to ascertain what management actions to take in the future. Steve Raaymakers discusses the threat of the introduction of foreign species through ships' ballast water and the international response to this issue. In What's Out There? Jamie Oliver writes on the damage caused to the Great Barrier Reef by cyclone Justin in March 1997. Finally, a synopsis of the Augmentative Grants awarded to post-graduate students in 1997 is included. In the December issue I promised to keep you up-to-date with the review of the marine tourism industry in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The review was jointly funded by the Authority and the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism's Office of National Tourism. I last reported that the terms of reference were being finalised. The review is now finished and a report was submitted to the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council in July 1997. The report makes a number of recommendations for planning and management of tourism use within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The Ministerial Council endorsed the report subject to some minor changes and further consultation. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the report, Review of the Marine Tourism Industry in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, contact Karen Robinson at the Authority on +61 77 500 759. The Authority also recently released, for comment, a management plan for the Cairns area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. For further information on the plan please contact Carol Honchin on +61 77 500 753. Ed. |
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