TOURISM INDUSTRY MEETS TO DISCUSS THORNY ISSUE

2 July 2003

CRC Reef and the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) are holding workshops in Port Douglas, Cairns, Townsville and Airlie Beach to update the tourism industry on the status of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. The workshops will also discuss current control measures in the Cairns and Central sections of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) have been a major issue on the Great Barrier Reef for nearly 40 years, generating great concern among the community and considerable debate among scientists. The starfish eat coral polyps, and in large numbers can devastate coral cover on a reef.

Over the past 18 months, AMPTO and the Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation have been running a program funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments to control COTS outbreaks at high priority tourism sites on the Reef. AMPTO Executive Director Mr Col McKenzie will report on the status of the program at the workshops. Tourism operators will have the chance to talk to COTS control program dive supervisor Ian Stevens, who is part of the team removing COTS from reefs, about his observations on the effectiveness of the program.

Workshop participants will also hear from marine biologist and ecotourism consultant Ms Robin Aiello, who will present the results of recent COTS surveys of selected reefs in the Cairns area.

The workshops will be held at

For more information:
Ms Robin Aiello, workshop co-ordinator, by phone on 0407 673 590 or by email: robin.aiello@iig.com.au

Ms Bryony Barnett, CRC Reef Research Centre by phone on 0402 243 116 or by email: bryony.barnett@crcreef.com