News
Divers to survey true extent of coral bleaching on Great Barrier Reef
Divers in Australia have been retasked from controlling outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish to investigating levels of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.
Crew assigned to the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre’s starfish management program will refocus their attention on carrying out detailed underwater surveys of reefs between Lizard Island and Cairns.
At the same time, the Australian Institute of Marine Science will carry out surveys between Cairns and Townsville. Aerial surveys conducted by scientists last week showed up to 95 percent of reefs in the 344,400 sq km Far North sector was affected by coral bleaching.
AMPTO and RRRC say up-close examining of reports of widespread coral bleaching is needed to determine the true extent and severity of the event in prime tourism areas.
AMPTO executive director Col McKenzie said the divers had already seen evidence that bleaching around Cairns was less severe than expected.
“In the last two weeks, AMTPO has already conducted more than 100 Reef Health Indicator Surveys (RHIS) on reefs off Cairns that show a bleaching average of less than 5 per cent,’’ he said.
Source: www.cairnspost.com.au
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
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