Great Barrier Reef

CORAL reef fin fish will be off limits from this Saturday, October 10 as part of the first of two annual closures that protect these fish during spawning season. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol District Manager Bob Russell said the two five-day closures coincided with the new moon when key coral reef fish species aggregate to spawn. “October and November have been found …

TARGETED compliance patrols in high-risk areas of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area have detected a four-fold increase in recreational fishing offences over three years. In 2014-15, 538 recreational fishing offences were reported, representing the highest annual number recorded. The incidences were among 1161 reported breaches of Commonwealth and state laws in the World Heritage Area for the year, covering …

HOUSEHOLD vinegar could soon be called on for its most important mission yet: saving the Great Barrier Reef. Researchers at Queensland’s James Cook University have described in a new paper the effectiveness of vinegar in killing crown of thorns starfish. Outbreaks of the venomous, coral-eating animals are considered one of the most significant threats posed to the Great Barrier Reef. The paper’s …