Program 4: Application of Research, Communication and Extension

The objectives of the Communication and Extension Program are to facilitate interactive communication with key stakeholders and client groups; distribute research results; input into policy, legislative and industry development; and assist stakeholders identify and solve problems concerning sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Centre exhibition travelled to Canberra again in 1997 for National Science Week in April.

Following an independent review of internal communication activities, the Communication and Extension Strategy was revised to assist researchers, managers, program leaders, students and industry associates improve the effectiveness of the Centre's overall communication efforts.

In addition to existing links that many researchers already have with user groups, the Program increased internal staff communication, enhanced collaboration with partner organisations (including new associate organisations), promoted research outcomes to users and community interest groups, and increased public awareness of research and education programs through extensive media exposure.

The extent of collaboration is recognised by the Centre's Third Year Review which highlighted "the strong and increasing involvement of users in all facets of the Centre's operation; the increasing commitment in material and organisational support by its partners; its public profile and the competence of its administration and communication".

During the year, a range of extension and communication activities were undertaken, including:

• Hosting a major national conference in Townsville - "The Great Barrier Reef: Science, Use and Management" which attracted more than 250 delegates and covered contemporary issues on understanding and sustainable use of the Reef region.

• Maintaining "management and industry associates" as partners for each research task, who help improve quality of research output, assist scientists achieve goals and publish information to stakeholders.

• Producing seven refereed Technical Reports distributed to Reef managers, scientists, tourism operators, libraries and academics, which make up the basis of each final task report.

• Distributing a series of "Exploring Reef Science" colour fact sheets on collaborative research issues for Reef user and interest groups.

• Contributing CRC feature stories to a range of high profile and popular journals, newsletters, and trade magazines including New Scientist, Canegrower, Nature, Reef Research, Scuba Diver, Better Business, Search and Australian Geo.

• Producing a regular bi-monthly newsletter, CRC Reef Research News, and a quarterly Effects of Line Fishing Newsletter for staff, supporters and interest groups.

• Organising a joint GBRMPA, its Aquarium, AIMS and CRC marine display at the Australian Science Festival, Canberra, including posters, tropical aquaria, information kits and school competitions seen by 50,000 people.

• Supporting a joint Reef Seminar Program by researchers to present their work to CRC partner organisations, Regional Marine Resource Advisory Committees, Marine Parks management staff, fisheries Zonal Advisory Committees and other community groups to discuss research findings.

• Hosting the CRC Reef Research Prize for Marine Science Journalism at James Cook and Central Queensland Universities, to encourage professional reporting of marine issues by students.

• Providing media skills courses and communication planning workshops for CRC researchers.

• Developing the Heritage and Interpretive Tourism Certificate training course with 10 regional TAFE colleges and several secondary schools via a National Ecotourism Program grant for new resource materials and industry training kits.

• Expanding the Centre's website, CRC Reef Research Online, for wider distribution of Centre reports, media releases, feature stories and scientific papers. The site is linked to the Centre's partner organisations and has been visited more than 80,000 times during the year.

• Producing a corporate video documentary, Researching the Reef, for industry groups, educational institutions and research staff to use as a presentation tool at conferences, staff meetings and seminars.

• Helping promote national awareness of the CRC Program by producing and distributing 20,000 copies of a booklet 'Highlighting Environmental CRCs in Australia', organising a State Science Briefing in Brisbane for Queensland parliamentarians, and developing a national CRC communication plan.

• Coordinating extensive media and parliamentary briefing papers in support of the Effects of Line Fishing Experiment on selected reefs. Federal parliament passed the bill to proceed with the experiment to test sustainable fishing of coral trout, which started at Easter.

• Leading the Users Advisory Group and a number of workshops to plan and disseminate research information to Reef management agencies, shipping, fishing and tourism industries.

• Initiating a `CRC Reef Research Affiliate' certificate of recognition to private companies providing significant in-kind support to researchers. Eight certificates were awarded this year.

• Establishing an internal electronic news service to staff and students associated with the Centre, which provides updates, announcements and results on email.

Media Achievements

The Centre's media monitoring service shows a large increase in CRC media publicity this year. Accurate and positive publicity between 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 is grouped below:

A high level of public awareness of Centre achievements was maintained across all programs, with senior researchers initiating debate in the media and responding to requests for expert scientific opinion (for example, Four Corners on Port Hinchinbrook, the impact of Cyclone Justin, and the progress of the Crown-of-Thorns starfish outbreak). The greatest challenge however, occurred in the Effects of Fishing project. The Third Year Review noted that the scientific work of the Centre had been the target of "uninformed and extremist attacks", and much effort was responsibly expended in holding public meetings, private meetings at the request of representatives of conservation groups, briefing politicians, the production of ELF newsletters, and media interviews. In an exceptional year when the ELF research was debated in detail in the Federal Parliament, the ELF media coverage represented about 75% of the increased Centre's media activities.

Public support for the work was voiced by many agencies including QCFO, QFMA, SUNFISH, the Seafood Industry Council, FASTS, AMSA, and politicians from the major Federal parties. The bulk of the public contest was however carried by members of the ELF research team, which, under protracted attack from a vocal minority, responded with unwavering determination to present the facts, in fora as different as Nature and the Australasian Post. Its courage in achieving success forged high morale and strong cohesion among members of the team, and across disciplines, institutions, and levels of academic seniority.

Some direct influence of CRC research to public policy and industry practices include:

• Greater regional understanding of GBR water quality is assisting GBRMPA prioritise policy and management decisions in short-medium term.

• Various inputs are being used by GBRMPA in the development of the Representative Areas Program for the GBR Marine Park (long-term monitoring, seagrass resources, decision support systems, socioeconomics).

• Depositional history studies on mercury in Missionary Bay have led the sugar industry to find substitutes for organomercurial fungicides and the DPI AgroChemical group to reinvestigate the accumulation of mercury in caneland soils.

• Sediment accumulation data has been considered by Federal and State Department Environmental Impact Statements into the effects of the Port Hinchinbrook development.

• Regional sediment and contaminant budgets were used in developing the Cardwell/Hinchinbrook Management Plan.

• Facilitated establishment of AUSCORE - a network of Australian researchers in the area of coral records combining expertise and facilities to be competitive with the global best.

• Seagrass resource information and mapping by QDPI contributed to the designation of a Special Management Area at Lizard Island.

• New seagrass information used by the Queensland Fisheries Management Authority and GBRMPA management of the gill net fishery and GBRMP in Representative Areas Planning.

• Seagrass monitoring has assisted the Ports Corporation of Queensland better manage the impact of port development.

• Improved early warning system for Crown-of-thorns starfish is allowing Reef-based tourism operators to initiate local outbreak control measures.

• Providing information to help develop the new Cairns Sector Plan of Management and influence spatial planning and tourism licensing development.

• Seabird studies provided basis of current Department of Environment policy on visitor management to the Swain Reefs cays and will be incorporated in a future management plan for the region.

• A socio-economic survey model has been used to develop QFMA's Recreational Fishing Logbooks.

• A volunteer dive group has adopted a Centre-developed monitoring strategy for surveys of Reef sites.

• Tourism visitor information surveys have been used to underpin policy and strategic directions for a Cairns Sector Reef Tourism Industry Plan.

• Visitor survey data has provided input to the development of a management tourism plan for Michaelmas Cay.

• A technique to age coral trout populations has been used by GBRMPA in management options for timing potential reef closures.

• Provision of performance indicators/trigger points in proposed QFMA Tropical Coral Reef Fish Management Plan.

• Resource information has been used in the formulation of the `Shoalwater Bay Dugong Plan of Management' and to define location and size of new dugong sanctuaries along the Queensland coast.

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