• Mortality rates up
• Pesticides, herbicides degrading seagrass
• Fishers asked to modify their practices

 
Recent record fatalities of dugong and green turtles has resulted in an information campaign to be stepped up around the region to help protect the two species.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) campaign will attempt to improve smart boating and fishing practices and follows a Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) meeting of marine managers last Thursday to discuss the issue of marine mammal mortality rates.   

GBRMPA Chairman, Dr Russell Reichelt, said the cumulative effect of several years of extreme weather was taking its toll on seagrass, the animals' main food source, with recent cyclones and flooding increasing the amount of sediments, pesticides and herbicides entering the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, degrading seagrass habitats.

"Dugong and green turtles are doing it tough at the moment and we're asking all reef users to take extra care," Dr Reichelt said.

"We're going to see more dugongs and green turtles straying from their regular foraging areas in search of food. This makes them more vulnerable to disease, injury or death from other threats that may exist in these unfamiliar territories."

The campaign will see posters and information sheets distributed to information centres and marinas, calling on boaties to "Go Slow – Look Out Below", as a reminder to watch for animals, reduce speed when going over shallow water and seagrass beds, or to avoid those areas all together.

The agency is also encouraging reef users to use the GBRMPA Sightings Network to report animals in unusual locations within the marine park.  The program provides information that can assist GBRMPA to better understand the impact of extreme weather events on marine animals and their habitats.

Fishermen are also being asked to voluntarily modify their practices to minimise the impacts on turtles and dugongs.

“For example, commercial netters can shorten soak times to provide an opportunity for marine animals to be released alive if they get caught,” Dr Reichelt said.

“It's also valuable if fishers report all interactions with threatened or protected species to allow managers to identify hot spot areas.”

Dr Reichelt said significant management activities were undertaken by the GBRMPA, DERM and their partners to help build the resilience of the reef so it could better withstand the impacts of climate change.

“In the past 30 years, management arrangements have been instrumental in helping strengthen dugong and green turtle populations in the Marine Park,” he said.

“Without them, today's populations would not be as large, and the current events would pose an even greater threat to their long term survival.

"Other measures such as the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan and the Reef Guardian Farmers and Graziers program aim to improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef, working with coastal communities and industries to minimise the impact of run-off.”

Dr Reichelt said the Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships program and Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements were also important vehicles for the Authority to work with traditional land owners who were actively involved in managing sea country resources.  

The GBRMPA is requesting individuals who find sick or dead turtles or dugongs to not interfere with the animals, but to call the stranding hotline on 1300 130 372.