SPLASH ON REEF
Part of funding to be used in crown of thorns battle
DIVE operators will aim to use their share of a half a billion dollars in commonwealth money to cull more crown of thorns starfish from the Great Barrier Reef.
The Federal Government has announced $500 million to help restore and protect the Reef – the largest single government investment for the natural wonder in history.
Some of the funding will be directed straight to farmers to allow them to modify their practices and reduce the amount of sediment run-off flowing into the Reef catchment.
Other funding will go towards improving water quality, tackling the crown of thorns (COTS), and more research.
Former Queensland governor Penelope Wensley, who is the chairwoman of the Government’s Reef 2050 advisory committee, told reporters in Cairns yesterday more money would still be needed to safeguard the natural wonder for the future.
“May I say that we will need more,” she said.
“And I’m looking at the (Great Barrier Reef) Foundation because this is a big job.
“I’m looking to the foundation to help us leverage more money including from the community, and the international business community, to build on this magnificent base announced today to take the Barrier Reef and Australia to the very forefront of world attention and protection of coral reefs.”
The coral-eating COTS are considered by scientists as one of the worst biological threats to the Reef, blamed for 42 per cent of coral decline throughout the marine park.
To date, the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) and Reef and Rainforest Research Centreled COTS control program has eliminated 750,000 starfish from key sites in four years.
The program, however, has been criticised by some scientists and media as being a waste of time and money due to the sheer number of the animals.
Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg acknowledged the COTS program was a big task.
“There is still millions of COTS left,” he said.
“The work that we’re doing … will make a significant impact on tackling this insidious threat to the Reef.”
AMPTO executive director Col McKenzie said the organisation would apply for government tenders for more vessels and divers to assist with the starfish eradication effort.
“We have to do action, and this is the call to action that we’re pleased to see the Federal Government endorsing,” he said.
Mr McKenzie said reports that the COTS program was an improper use of public funds were based on studies of old methods of culling, which had since been improved with more applied science.