Press Release - Working Together for the Torres Strait
[26 September 2008] The latest scientific research being conducted in the Torres Strait was presented to the Board of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), plus leading community leaders and representatives from Federal Government agencies at a meeting on Thursday Island on Friday 26th September 2008.
Members of the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) today met with key Torres Strait management agencies to highlight some of the important outcomes from the latest research projects being conducted in Australia's most northern region. [pdf 50.6 kb]
Smart Women in the MTSRF
[9 September 2008]The Smart Women – Smart State Awards 2008 have recognised two researchers funded by the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) in north Queensland.
Dr Kirsten Heimann won the award for achievements in research science, while Amanda O’Malley won the inaugural Green Award for her PhD project. Both women are based at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville.
Fifteen awards were presented at the Smart Women – Smart State ceremony in Brisbane on 2nd September 2008. These awards are well-regarded and this year nominations included women who have made innovative contributions to their communities, those who have excelled at secondary school and university level, as well as those working in industry, business, the community and the public sector. [pdf 65.4 kb]
World leading Australian research to save the Great Barrier Reef from climate change
(25 July 2008)The Great Barrier Reef is under threat from climate change, but there is hope: scientists and managers are working together to try to keep the Reef healthy. That was the clear message delivered this morning by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, in Port Douglas, far north Queensland. The Prime Minister and Climate Change Minister were guided by Ms Sheriden Morris, CEO of the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, as they inspected some healthy and unhealthy reefs at the Low Isles, just offshore from Port Douglas. “Climate change is already affecting the Reef,” Ms Morris said. “While it is easy to be overwhelmed by the array of environmental and economic problems that are being caused by climate change, it’s important to remember that there are things we can do to mitigate or avoid these risks.” “Right now we’re developing an innovative tool that is going to be critical in our fight to save the Great Barrier Reef - the Reef Atlas,” she said. [pdf 51.2 kb]
Protected Fish Stage a Comeback
(24 June 2008) Dramatic evidence that protected fish populations can bounce back rapidly from the impact of years of heavy fishing has been obtained by a team of marine scientists working on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
A spectacular recovery in coral trout numbers on unfished reefs has been reported by researchers following the imposition of a strict no-fishing policy across 33 per cent of the total GBR area in 2004, to form the world’s largest network of no-take reserves.
A team led by Professor Garry Russ of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University, Dr Hugh Sweatman of the Australian Institute of Marine Science and supported by the Australian Government’s Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF), has found coral trout numbers rebounded by 31-75 per cent on a majority of reefs which had been closed to fishing for as little as 1.5 to 2 years.
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Recreational fishers' perceptions about the costs and benefits of the 2004 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan
This PDF document is designed to be printed double-sided. [pdf 4.8 Mb]
Understanding and Managing the Threats to our Reef, Rainforest and Torres Strait Environment
(28 April 2008)Many of Australia’s leading environmental and social scientists will be joining industry leaders in Cairns for a four day conference on the environmental risks facing our Reef, Rainforest and the Torres Strait.
The 2008 Marine and Tropical Science Research Facility (MTSRF) Conference is being held from Monday 28th April until Thursday 1st May 2008. The Conference will provide an opportunity to share information and explore solutions to the threats facing the unique natural systems of North Queensland. [pdf 102.0 kb]
Science in Parliament - The Great Barrier Reef in 2050
(17 March 2008) The Reef & Rainforest Research Centre Ltd (RRRC) has been successful in securing a Forum at Science in Parliament in Canberra on the future of the Great Barrier Reef which is conducted through the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies(FASTS).
The title of the Forum is ‘The Great Barrier Reef in 2050’ and is being held this Wednesday 19th March 2008 at 4:00pm (for approximately one hour) in the Main Committee Room of the House of Representatives. [pdf 91.1 kb]
Environmental Scholarships for North Queensland
(28 February 2008) Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, today announced nine scholarships for research projects into environmental challenges facing north Queensland.
The students will receive funding of $720,000 over three years under the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility Graduate Scholarship Scheme – part of the $100 million Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) program.
“These research projects will give us a better understanding of the environmental pressures on the Wet Tropics rainforest, the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Garrett said. [pdf 32.5 kb]
A Call For Recreational Fishers To Help Research
(December 2007) Marine and Tropical Science Facility researchers from James Cook University have caught, tagged and released nearly three thousand reef fish this year in the Keppel Island Group with the assistance of the Keppel Bay and Gladstone Sportfishing Clubs. The majority of fish tagged in 2007 were Longfin Rockcod, but Coral Trout, Stripey Snapper, Red Emperor, Blue Tuskfish and Estuary Cod were all represented in the total catch. Now the researchers need your help [pdf 261.4 kb]
Customised Model for Fighting Weeds in the Wet Tropics
(14 December 2007) A summary of research results of a project conducted with support of funding from the Australian Government’s Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) represented in North Queensland by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre(RRRC). This vital research will provide information to support environmental managers to make informed decisions about the current and future threat of pest weeds in the Rainforests of the Wet Tropics. Predicting the pattern of spread is an essential tool for curbing the destructive impact of weeds in the Wet Tropics. MTSRF researchers have developed a model that simulates the growth and dispersal of the nationally-recognised weed Miconia calvescens. [pdf 237.4 kb]
Turtles at Risk from Erosion and Disease
(16 November 2007)The green turtle population in the northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and Torres Strait region is the largest green turtle population in the world, with an estimated 50,000 females breeding there each year. Recent research by Queensland’s Environmental Protection Agency (QEPA) suggested this population may be in the early stages of decline. Indicators of this decline included a reduction in the average size of the breeding females, low nesting success and poor hatchling production of these Green turtle populations. [pdf 243.1 kb]
Farming Future Research
(2 November 2007) Researchers conducting the first ever representative survey of the region’s farmers expect feedback will paint a more accurate picture of the progress landholders are making toward better farming practices.
University of Queensland researcher Nick Emtage says that as the stewards of much of our regional landscapes, many landholders have already made significant voluntary improvements to the way they farm. The need now is to find out how to better support the activities in the future.
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New Managing Director Announced for the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre
(17 October 2007) Ms Sheriden Morris announced as the New Managing Director of the Reef Rainforest Research Centre. [pdf 130.5 kb]
Have your say on our rainforests
(21 August 2007) James Cook University researchers want to hear locals' views on the management and protection of the rainforests of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Three thousand surveys were distributed to communities between Townsville and Port Douglas, seeking feedback, with Cairns households due to be surveyed in September and October. [pdf 83.2 kb]
New Fisheries Research Centre for JCU
(3 August 2007) James Cook University has strengthened its commitment to the tropical marine environment with the formation of the Fishing and Fisheries Research Centre. The new Centre will focus on research that provides information in support of sustainable management of tropical fisheries and marine environments. Using the skills and expertise developed over the past twelve years, the new Centre will continue its work on important fisheries issues through research projects funded by the Australian Government's Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. [pdf 24.5 kb]
North Queensland benefits from $7.6 million research funding
(3 August 2007) More than $7.6 million will fund world-class environmental research efforts to protect North Queensland's unique reefs and rainforests, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull announced today in Cairns. The funding will support fifty research projects based in Cairns and Townsville during 2007/2008 through the Australian Government's $40 million five-year Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF). [pdf 36.5 kb]
$100,000 to Control Feral Animals
(3 August 2007) Landholders in an area from Babinda to Mossman in Far North Queensland will benefit from a $100,000 feral pig and dog control programme announced today by the Australian Government. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull, said the funds would allow for more comprehensive feral pig and dog control activities in northern portions of the Wet Tropics. [pdf 34.7 kb]
Locals' views on rainforest sought
(19 June 2007) James Cook University researchers are encouraging locals to have their say on the management and protection of the rainforests of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Four thousand survey forms are being distributed to communities from Townsville to Cairns, seeking residents' views on the World Heritage Area. [pdf 80.5 kb]
Researchers, Industry, Government to Review Status of North Queensland Ecosystems
(16 April 2007) Many of Australia's leading environmental scientists, mathematicians and social scientists will converge in Townsville this week to review the state of North Queensland's key ecosystems. The researchers are developing new ways for Australia to look after its priceless natural assets such as the Wet Tropics rainforests and Great Barrier Reef which are under pressure from the effects of climate change, increased use and rapid economic growth in the region. [pdf 34.8 kb]
DPI&F On The Hop Over Seagrass
(5 April 2007) Comprehensive seagrass surveys have been completed as part of a program to monitor the state of this vital fish habitat area between Hinchinbrook Island and Cape Bowling Green. [pdf 110.0 kb]
$570,000 for JCU Research
(19 December 2006) Federal Member for Herbert, Peter Lindsay, presented MTSRF funding of more than half a million dollars to JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Bernard Moulden today. The payment is the first installment of over $2 million in MTSRF funding that JCU will receive this financial year. [pdf 48.2 kb]
