Snorkellers celebrate – coral in the spotlight.

Sue Brooks February 4th, 2009

Wonderful news recently received and warmly welcomed by all of us concerned about the health of our local corals, is the granting of nearly nine thousand dollars to conduct coral bleaching monitoring in Hervey Bay. Our media release follows but a big personal thank you to everyone who helped put together the grant application. Let me know if you are interested in helping as there is always room for some more snorkellers.

SNORKELLERS CELEBRATE FUNDING SUCCESS – $8900 to study our local coral

The snorkellers of Hervey Bay are celebrating receiving a grant of $8900 from the federal Community Coastcare Program for a project of coral bleach monitoring. Not many cities can boast coral reefs only 100 metres from the shore – but at Hervey Bay there is 15km of coral reefs conveniently within walking or snorkelling distance from the shore.

The Great Barrier Reef receives such overwhelming attention that the 600 hectares of coral reef in Hervey Bay is not well known. Ardent snorkellers Sandy and Lloyd McKay are totally wrapt in the coral reefs of Hervey Bay. Lloyd says “Our coral is just an underwater garden of paradise. Every time we snorkel there is something different to see”

While Hervey Bay doesn’t have the legions of brightly coloured fish seen on the Great Barrier Reef, you can see dozens of colourful hard corals including subtropical or rare species not normally seen on the GBR. Cr Sue Brooks was amazed the first time she donned her snorkel and flippers. “I have snorkelled in many, many places from the Cook Islands to North Queensland but simply didn’t realise what wonders lie beneath the waves within a short walk and paddle off our city beaches. Our coral must be preserved and I hope that we can make our coral a prominent tourist attraction”.

Carol Bussey from Wildlife says “The stress of city life can prove too much for a coral community already suffering from the increasingly hot waters produced by climate change. The result is bleaching, which has already happened in 1996″.

Fraser Coast Wildlife Preservation Society’s Coral Care project has been funded by the Australian Government to monitor coral bleaching and recovery along our coast. The project will also look at factors to increase the reef’s resilience to stress such as improving water quality.

A free training workshop will be held at Bundaberg by GBRMPA in February to train snorkellers in Bleachwatch monitoring followed by practical training in monitoring coral and taking GPS readings at Torquay Beach on Feb 21. If you are interested in attending the training or joining our volunteer coral monitoring group please contact Carol Bussey 4129 5979 or email frasercoastwpsq@bigpond.com To be successful we need as many volunteers as possible.