Reef Research: Volume 6 No. 4 December 1996
Editorial
G
reetings and a happy belated New Year to you all! Well, this issue is certainly a mixed bag of offerings. COTS COMMS provides us with an update on the latest fine-scale survey results. Vicky Nelson discusses the use of fixed transects versus random transects for monitoring reef benthos in What's Out There? - this article may be a little 'heavy' for some of you but it presents a good overview of the issues involved. The Effects of Fishing Program has provided us with a précis of the projects it is currently involved in and James Innes discusses indigenous involvement in the management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. In Slick Talk we hear that the Great Barrier Reef has been witness to five shipping incidents in the past two years - luckily none of these have led to serious pollution but, unfortunately, there's always a next time. It's great to hear, however, that steps are being made to improve the prevention of shipping incidents in the Great Barrier Reef.

This is my first issue as Editor - having inherited the role from Steve Hillman on his departure (I was previously Assistant Editor). While I can assure you that there will be no major changes to the newsletter, you may see a few new additions here and there. Thanks to all of you who have returned your survey forms. I have received 576 in total. If you haven't yet returned your form please do so as we are updating our mailing list and your comments are invaluable. Over the next few issues I will attempt to have as many of your suggestions for future articles addressed. Oh, and I must apologise for asking surveys to be returned by 31 February 1997 (this date doesn't even exist). Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. To `err is human' after all!

We are running quite late with this issue. It seems to be a busy time for all, including many of our writers. Please bear with me as I endeavour to get us back on track. We are looking to have the next issue out in May but hope to be back on track for the 'June' issue.

Looking back on 1996, it was a very interesting and busy year for the Authority. We were involved in many issues such as the debate on the ethics of manipulative research and the proposed increase to the Environmental Management Charge on tour operators. Late in 1996 the Federal Government announced that there would be an independent review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: the outcomes should be known later this year. It is also anticipated that the proposed review of the management of tourism use in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, endorsed by the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council in December 1995, will commence shortly. Terms of reference are currently being finalised. I shall keep you posted.

`Till next time. Happy reading...
Ed.


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