Coral Sea Reserve Proposal Launched

Pacific Marinelife Blog NewsDesk
Australia: The Commonwealth marine reserve proposal for the Coral Sea region was launched by the Federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, on 25 November 2011.

Information about the plan is available at:
www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/coralsea

Below are details when and in what towns the Department will be running information sessions. Times and venue details will be available shortly on the department’s website at: www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/coralsea/consultation

Hervey Bay: Monday 5 December
Cairns: Thursday 8 December
Gladstone: Monday 12 December
Mackay: Tuesday 13 December
Townsville:Friday 16 December

Register here to be part of the Pacific Marinelife Institute submission on the Coral Sea Marine Reserve, register here.

Apps Coming Soon

Pacific Marinelife Institute has started development on a suite of Apps to make it easier to be part of the volunteer programs. The new Marinelife Log App will make it easy to log dolphin, whale, turtle and dugong sightings. While special Apps for the ReefHabitat Project and FishStats will allow divers and anglers to get involve.

OnH2O will release an App to help boat owners log sightings, access tips on eco boating and plan their next boating adventure.

More details soon.

Hinchinbrook Dugong Project

Pacific Marinelife Institute has launched a marine mammal monitoring program in conjunction with Hinchinbrook Ferries and Cruises (HFAC).  The HFAC team will collect data on a daily basis around the northern tip of Hinchinbrook Island in North Queensland. After only a few successful trips, the project has already collected data on dugongs, indo-pacific humpback dolphins and Australian snub-fin dolphins, as well as turtles.

All of the data will be collated by the Institute's new Marine Mammal Centre and shared with other Institute projects such as the ReefHabitat Project. Sightings will be reported in a regular newsletter and shared with other affiliated projects, government agencies and universities. To be part of the expanding project along the entire Queensland coast, contact David Joyce on 0412 761 016 or david.joyce@pacificmarinelife.com. 

Issuu Newsstand Launched

Pacific Marinelife Institute has launched a new Issuu Newsstand - called Marinelife Media. On the newsstand you will be able to view in flipbook style most of the Institute's, or if you are an Issuu Member (free to join), you will be able to download a PDF version of the issue.

Visit our Marinelife Media Issuu Newsstand.

Finance Supports Ocean Conservation

PMI Finance Broking Services (PMIFBS) has joined the Pacific Marinelife Institute as a Principal Partner. PMIFBS has access to a range of finance products to suit anyone looking for marine industry, boat and motor vehicle finance. PMIFBS will make a contribution from each finance solution to the Institute's marine research and community programs. Visit the PMIFBS Blog to find out more.

Photo Of The Week

Juvenile Common Loinfish photographed by Nam Baldwin during a dive at Wavebreak Island inside the Gold  Coast Broadwater at the southern edge of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Bioregional Plan Input Needed

Anglers, boat owners, divers and the wider community all need to play a constructive role in the proposed conservation zones around Australia's coastline. Development of Bioregional Profiles for Australia's eastern, northern and western coastlines is part of the development of a Bioregional Plan for all Australian Commonwealth Waters. A large amount of misinformation has derailed constructive community consultation. The reality is only small areas will be restircited to fishing and other activities that may have a high impact. The aim of the process is to protect a portion of the key types of ecosystem. If you can imagine the ocean divided into the sea floor, reefs, water column between the reefs and near the surface, and the water column just below the surface; the aim is to protect key habitats and species populations within each of these key ecosystems. This means while activities that could impact on the seafloor in an area may be restricted, the remaining parts of the water column could be open to activities such as fishing and spearfishing. That is why the community must be involved in constructive consultation processes, instead of continuing political positioning that many groups have adopted without success. To be part of Pacific Marinelife Institute's consultation, register here.

New Moreton Bay Artifical Reefs

From the PMI News Desk

Queensland Government announced yesterday two new artificial reefs in Moreton Bay. One will be located west of Peel Island and the other east of Coochiemudlo Island. Both reefs are part of a Government commitment to establish six artifical reefs for recreational fishing after increases in the protection zones within Moreton Bay Marine Park. Using Reef Balls, the Peel Island site will cover an area of 50ha and Coochiemudlo 15ha. Reef Balls have proven very affective around the world for creating artificial reefs. Their ball design increases the surface area available for encrusting growth and the various holes creates the prefect habitat for many fish species.