Partnership to keep an eye on marine life

JAMES Cook University will today sign an agreement with North Queensland Bulk Ports under a new research partnership that will monitor Weipa’s waters.

Under the partnership, scientists from JCU’s Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research Centre (TropWATER) will be responsible for keeping an eye on the marine environment at four of NQBP’s four sites, at Mackay, Hay Point, Abbot Point and the Port of Weipa.

TropWATER co-director Dr Michael Rasheed (above) said they would provide the authority with independent environmental data, collected in a scientifically rigorous manner.

“We’ll be watching what happens to water quality at 18 separate points, and checking on seagrass at 23 meadows,” he said.

“We’ll also be monitoring six different sites to keep an eye on the coral.”

Helicopter surveys, divers and boat-based camera sleds would also be used as part of long-term assessments of seagrass and coral health.