Media release
1 February 2013
The Gillard Government will provide a boost
to the Great Barrier Reef, with increased
funding to fight the crown-of-thorns starfish.
Environment Minister
Tony Burke said an additional $800,000 will
be provided this financial year, building
on the $1.43 million announced last year.
"The Gillard Government
is absolutely committed to protection to
the Great Barrier Reef as a top priority,"
Mr Burke said.
"The coral eating
crown-of-thorns starfish, which can reach
almost one metre in diameter when fully
grown and destroy coral faster than it can
regenerate, are recognised as a significant
threat to the reef.
"Of this funding,
$700,000 will put a second boat on the water
to remove crown-of-thorns starfish on high-value
tourism reefs identified as being under
threat.
"This will help
restore the diversity and resilience of
these areas, and support local communities
that rely on the reef for their livelihoods."
Last year the Gillard
Government provided $1.43 million to the
Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators,
which has a strong track record of engaging
its members to control crown-of-thorns starfish.
"Under the first
round of funding, tourism operations have
removed more than 37,500 crown-of-thorn
starfish from tourism hotspots around Cairns,
Port Douglas and the Whitsundays, restoring
the ecological balance and strengthening
the resilience of the target areas,"
Mr Burke said.
"This partnership
with tourism operators continues and has
proved highly successful and demonstrated
the effectiveness of government working
with the community to take direct action
to control crown-of-thorns starfish.
"Today's announcement
will ensure the important work of direct
action to control crown-of-thorns starfish
continues to deliver immediate benefits
to the reef and the communities whose livelihoods
are dependent on a healthy and resilient
reef.
"The Government
is also committed to finding innovative,
longer-term solutions and will provide $100,000
to the Australian Institute of Marine Science
to undertake studies into the control of
crown-of-thorns starfish by single injection.
"Control of crown-of-thorn
starfish by single injection is a promising
technique that would be much faster and
more efficient that the current practice
of administering multiple injections to
each starfish.
This continued support
for tourism operators to defend our tourism
hotspots by killing off crown-of-thorns
starfish is one of the many ways the Gillard
Government is delivering against the recommendations
of the World Heritage Committee to improve
the resilience of this unique World Heritage
Area.
