General News
19 April, 2024
Experts scrutinise great Reef
MORE than 300 global coral reef experts have joined forces in Cairns this week sharing innovative new solutions to protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef, and other reefs around the world.
In a collective effort to address the challenges threatening reef survival, the 300 local, national and international delegates have been joined by 500 others attending online.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chief executive officer Josh Thomas said the current bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef was, not only a sobering reminder of the global impacts of climate change, but the critical importance of targeted management actions on a local level.
“Reef protection is a collective effort and forums like these are important to demonstrate how the reef authority and partners are continuously adapting our management to contemporary issues, as well as informing our approach,” he said.
AIMS chief executive officer Professor Selina Stead said the meeting was a call to arms where experts have come to act collaboratively and share knowledge to improve the health of reefs.
She said reef protection measures were growing but more needed to be done about predator control, large-scale coral aquaculture, and larval deployment onto coral reefs.
