Where are the reef studies?
They are in the files at GBRMPA, unpublished. For two decades GBRMPA has funded extensive underwater surveys of coral trout and other commercial reef fishes. These reports show no significant statistical difference in fish populations between the supposedly heavily fished reefs and remote and rarely visited reefs or on protected reefs where fishing is prohibited.
This is not surprising. The current annual commercial catch of reef fishes from the GBR is about 4000 tonns and the recreational catch is
estimated to be about 2000 tonns. With some 346,000 Km² of reef and lagoon area on the GBR the total annual catch comes to about 17 Kg per Km². Elsewhere, over a wide range of Pacific reefs, the average annual catch averages some 7700 Kg per Km². The reality is, fishing pressure on the GBR is extremely low. So low in fact that there is no effective difference between protected areas and those open to fishing The further expansion of green zones is unwarranted by experience of the existing green zones, GBRMPA’s own surveys, actual fishing pressure, nor anything we know from sustainable reef fisheries elsewhere. Most of the GBR is already well protected by distance, weather conditions and our own relatively small population. Of the 2900 reefs in the GBR complex only a few dozen are regularly visited and even those have but a few boats on good days and one or two or none most of the time.
Why has GBRMPA not published the well conduced, extensive and expensively acquired results of their coral trout surveys? Their nutrient studies at One Tree Island also did not show the expected detrimental results of nitrates and phosphates and this too has not been published.
Reef users, be they commercial or recreational fishermen, divers or tour operators, all have a vested interest in a healthy reef and most would be willing to accept restrictions if they are seen to be needed.
GBRMPA should be required to provide its basis for a major green zone expansion and also to make available all of the evidence from studies they have funded with our money not just what supports their chosen position. A Freedom of Information request by interested parties would seem to be in order.
Dr Walter Starck
Webmasters comment, Dr
Walter Starck is one
of the pioneers in the scientific investigation of coral reefs
please visit his web
site