This edition of Reef Management News
features a story about the significant contribution
that social
science research makes to
the decision-making processes of management agencies
such as the Authority. People’s social and
cultural affiliations and economic ties to the Great
Barrier Reef are many and varied. How do we even
begin to measure the total social, cultural and
economic value placed on the Reef, not only by
Queenslanders and Australians, but by people from
across the globe? We spoke to the Authority’s
Socio-cultural and Economic Project Manager about
some of the research commissioned by the Authority to
delve into these important issues.
Staff from the Authority travelled
to the site of the 17 May ship grounding north of Cooktown to check on the physical
impact the ship may have had on Heath Reef. Photos
and video footage revealed the extent of the damage,
which is ‘not too severe’ according to the
Authority’s Research and Monitoring Project
Manager Ken Anthony. Reef Management News also looks
at the role of the Authority in oil spill response
and contingency plans developed for the Great Barrier
Reef, and at some of the initiatives in place to
improve navigational safety in Great Barrier Reef
waters.
The future of a marine project to
protect turtles in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
is looking secure, with a new Marine Turtle
Conservation Policy
announced. Public contributions to this policy are
welcomed and the process is explained in an article
in this issue. Dugong conservation
is also in focus, after concern over the continued
decline in numbers on the Great Barrier Reef prompted
a review by the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial
Council of all dugong conservation strategies
currently in place in the Marine Park.
The Whitsundays bareboat industry has been praised for its adoption of new
industry standards and an accreditation and training
scheme designed to improve knowledge of marine safety
and environmental best practices. Whitsunday Bareboat
Operator’s Association president Terry Kemp says
this training and accreditation will do "much
for the solidarity and professionalism of the
industry".
Thanks for reading!
