Tourism operators in the Whitsundays have
begun collecting data in a citizen science
project to keep track of the water quality in their
area.
The Whitsunday Water Quality Monitoring Blueprint
for Tourism Operators project aims to increase
understanding of water quality and reef health in the
Whitsundays.
Partners from the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac Healthy
Rivers to Reef Partnership are working hard to
improve the health of our waterways and marine
environments. As the tourism community has a vested
interest in the long-term health and functionality
of the Great Barrier Reef, keen tourism operators
have been assisting HR2RP with collecting samples
for analysis. The operators are well positioned and
willing to lead solution-based monitoring, and
effectively communicate water quality results.
Tourism operators will maintain data loggers and
take water quality samples every six weeks. They
are being trained by scientists from James Cook
University in how to take water quality samples.
The program method builds on the extensive water
quality monitoring that JCU has been undertaking
over many years with North Queensland Bulk Ports
across three ports in the Great Barrier Reef World
Heritage Area.
Tourism operators, JCU, Reef Catchments and
the Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association
deployed two loggers on 4 February 2020.
Katrina Dent, CEO of Reef Catchments said
it is great to see the tourism industry given
the opportunity to have more involvement in
understanding reef water health. “It’s very
exciting to be working with such a diverse range
of stakeholders and encouraging to see a group
come together to examine the challenges,
options and solutions for the future of the
Whitsundays.”
Sharon Smallwood, executive secretary of the WCBIA
said: “Water quality is one of the Whitsunday tourism
industry’s ongoing challenges. At peak times our
region carries more visitation to the Great Barrier
Reef than any other on the east Australian coast, so
it is vital we understand what is happening at our
inshore island reefs.
“Establishing baseline data through this water
quality monitoring project will empower us to
make the best possible management decisions
for the benefit of the environment, a sustainable
tourism industry, and the one million visitors a
year we welcome to our section of the Great
Barrier Reef.”
NQBP Chief Executive Officer, Nicolas Fertin said
that after being awarded in 2019 – jointly with JCU
– the Business Higher Education Round Table award
for Outstanding Collaboration for National Benefit
to the Great Barrier Reef, NQBP is pleased to see
the same technology and practices deployed more
widely through the Citizen Science program.
“NQBP is a proud partner of this project and
the exciting connections it creates between
businesses, education and communities to
increase common knowledge and understanding
of what drives water quality in the Whitsundays,”
Mr Fertin said.
The Mackay-Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef
Partnership (HR2RP) represents 30 organisations
committed to understanding and improving the
health of Mackay-Whitsunday waterways and
marine environments. From ports and resources,
to agriculture, conservation and natural resource
management, research and Traditional Owners –
diversity amongst Partners ensures all sectors are at
the table. The Partnership allows collective access to
the best available science in waterway and marine
monitoring programs, representing an investment of
more than $4 million on an annual basis.
This project is funded by the partnership between
the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the
Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and NQBP, with
support from Reef Catchments, WCBIA, James Cook
University, Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac Healthy Rivers
to Reef Partnership and the Whitsunday Bareboat
Operators Association.
Participating tourism operators are Ocean Rafting,
Red Cat Adventures, True Blue Sailing, Southern
Cross Sailing Adventures, and Tallship Adventures.
