Warmer seas a threat to state tourism

WARMING oceans off Tasmania’s East Coast are having significant negative impacts on the state’s tourism industry, marine experts have warned.

A Senate inquiry report into the impacts of climate change on Australia’s fisheries and biodiversity was handed down last week.

It revealed major concerns about waters off Maria Island that were now as warm as those off Eden in southern NSW during the 1940s and would warm to those off Batemans Bay by, at worst case, 2060.

But the inquiry also found the death of kelp forests due to the warming had ramifications for the tourism industry as they were home to many animals, including rock lobster.

Eaglehawk Dive Centre owner Michael Baron told the inquiry that international visitors were interested in diving the South East region to see kelp forests, seals and weedy sea dragons.

Mr Baron explained that the destruction of the kelp forest in Munro Bight had caused a reduction in business from international visitors — his prime source of income.

“We have estimated that this year, which is the first year we have no forest at all, we have probably lost roughly 25 per cent of our clientele,” he said.

He said it could drop more because international visitors usually organised their holidays one or two years in advance.

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies researcher Professor Gustaaf Hallegraeff also told the inquiry that negative publicity about marine diseases like algal blooms had an impact on tourism.

“When we did some research we found that some of the most pristine areas near Coles Bay were also toxic,” he said.

“I saw Chinese tourists picking periwinkles from the rocks. I got in touch with the Department of Health and they are signposting that whole area. They realised it just needs one tourist to die from this phenomenal shellfish poisoning — and it could also damage the tourism industry.”

But CSIRO senior research scientist Dr Alistair Hobday said continued warming of waters might mean that a marlin fishery and a related tourism industry could be created on the East Coast.