June 2004
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Researcher visits
CRC Torres Strait research is up and running, with 14 researchers visiting the islands so far this year. As well as sampling for projects on fisheries, seabed biodiversity and port surveys, researchers met with Islander communities in Waibene (Thursday Island), Mer, Erub, Massig and Mabuiag islands. WebsiteDates and locations of researchers’ visits to the Torres Strait, as well as information about research tasks, and guidelines for researchers can be found on the new website: www.crctorres.com Islander scholarshipMasters student Mr Frank Loban received the CRC Torres Strait Prestige Research Scholarship, which is awarded to a Torres Strait Islander. He will be researching the potential for Torres Strait Islander participation in fisheries management, and will be based at James Cook University. Port of Thursday Island clear of introduced marine pests
CRC Torres Strait researcher Dr Kerry Neil and her team from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries conducted a survey of the Port of Thursday Island in March, looking for introduced marine species that could become pests. Introduced pests can arrive on the hulls of ships or in ballast water. If established, marine pests can have a devastating effect on native marine life, and could affect local fishing. During their survey of the port, the team found no introduced marine
species that would threaten the area. However, many introduced species
can be small and difficult to recognise, so the corals, fishes,
crabs, bivalves and worms collected during the survey will be analysed
in the laboratory over the next few months to confirm that none
of them are introduced.
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