waterways/wetlands – Page 30

Samford goes all out to use anything other than plastic shopping bags

community, environment, waterways/wetlands, wildlife

Jul 112013

Original story at Queensland Conservation

Queensland Conservation welcomes the “Changing our Bag Habits” program, which is being launched in front of the Samford IGA, in Samford Village at 11am this Saturday.

Plastic Bag Free Queensland. Qld Conservation

As of 13 July, Stamford will strive towards becoming a plastic bag free shopping environment, with participating retailers offering shoppers a free alternative to plastic bags during the transition.

Samford’s largest retailer, Drakes IGA is making the shift to IGA’s other environmentally friendly shopping bags. Other retailers will provide free re-used shopping bags and a fully compostable shopping bag for an introductory period. Some of Samford’s longtime environmentally friendly retailers, such as Four Seasons Organics will continue their plastic bag free practices.

So why has Samford decided to change their plastic bag community shopping habit?

On average, plastic bags are used for a minute, yet they take up to 1000 years to decompose and are responsible for the death of millions of animals, and for clogging and polluting our waterways.

Samford Project Coordinator, Howard Nielsen said, “People are well aware that using plastic bags is not a sustainably good idea, but remembering to bring shopping bags is a bit of a problem for all of us. So for an introductory period, alternate shopping bags will be made available, as well as a door-handle reminder sign.

To assist shoppers further, signs will be posted in public places and in participating retailers to explain how the “Changing our Bag Habits” program will work, Howard said.”

Bag alternatives are being provided courtesy of funds and other support from the Moreton Bay Regional Council, the Pine Rivers Climate Action Network, Samford Green Street, Samford Chamber of Commerce and the Samford Sustainability Hub.

Toby Hutcheon, Executive Director Queensland Conservation said, “Since we launched our ‘Plastic Bag Free Queensland’ campaign in October 2012, we continue to be encourage by communities such as Samford who get the message – this being that ‘Plastic Bags are wasteful and deadly’ and that they can be easily replaced with less harmful alternatives.”

Queensland Conservation continues to call on the Queensland Government to become a Plastic Bag Free State by 2015.

Pledge to go Plastic Bag Free in Queensland www.PlasticBagFreeQLD.com.au

For more information, contact the ‘Changing our Bag Habit’ Project Coordinator,

Howard Neilsen on 0407 190 162, or mail Howard@greenstreet.net.au.

Protect Barrier Reef or face catastrophe, say environmental groups

community, government, waterways/wetlands

Jul 102013

Original story by Amy Remeikis, BrisbaneTimes

Conservation groups are calling for both the state and federal governments to commit to greater action to avoid an irreversible catastrophe on the Great Barrier Reef.

The World Wildlife Fund said 72 per cent of the reef's hard coral had died since the 1960s and strong action was needed to ensure what was left survived.

Striped Surgeon (Acanthurus lineatus) on Flynn reef (near Cairns), Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.
Photo: Toby Hudson, Wikimedia Commons

“The outlook for the reef is not good, but the situation isn't hopeless, WWF spokesman Nick Heath said in a statement.

“Solutions do exist. We just need more investment, more targeted action in the most dangerous pollution hotspots.”

The state and federal governments jointly released the 2011 Great Barrier Reef report card on Wednesday.

The report found that the overall condition of the reef had deteriorated from a moderate to a poor condition, with extreme weather events like cyclone Yasi and agricultural runoff having the biggest impacts.

Mr Heath said the WWF recognised the progress farmers had made to improve their land management practices and praised the two governments, which have been at loggerheads over how to manage the reef, for striking an agreement on how to fund the Reef Management Plan.

But Mr Heath said the plan fell short and fertilisation reduction targets had been deferred for another five years.

Felicity Wishart of the Australian Marine Conservation Society said the governments had “missed an opportunity” to slow industrial development along the Queensland coast.

“The Queensland government is fast-tracking approvals for increased port, rail and mine developments which will threaten the reef and the federal government appears to be backing them,” she said.

Ms Wishart said while initiatives to improve water quality should be commended, the threat from expanded industrial developments and dredging overshadowed any gains.

Greens Senator Larissa Waters said any gains from the Reef Rescue program were dwarfed by the impact from mining and industrial projects which dotted the coastline.

"We've seen some reduction in chemical runoff from some reef catchments reported today but the old parties are continuing to ignore the major threat to reef quality - the scourge of dredging and dumping to build coal and gas ports," Ms Waters said in a statement.

"Labor has approved the dumping of 17.5 million cubic metres of sediment into the Great Barrier Reef – that's 193 times the amount of sediment the Reef Rescue program has prevented from running off into the reef."

The federal government is due to make a decision on the expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal in August. UNESCO, the body which lists world heritage areas, will consider whether to downgrade the reef to “in danger” again early next year.

Great Barrier Reef’s condition declines to ‘poor’

government, waterways/wetlands

Jul 102013

Original story by Jonathan Pearlman, the Telegraph

Australia has admitted the condition of the Great Barrier Reef is worsening and declined from "moderate" to "poor" in a report revealing the devastating toll wrought by extreme weather and pollution.

The much-awaited report was released following warnings by the United Nations that it will consider downgrading the heritage status of the famous 1,500-mile stretch of reefs and cays along the Queensland coast.

Australia is facing the embarrassing prospect of having the reef's heritage status downgraded and declared as "at risk" by UNESCO

The government's report found the coral reefs were in a poor state and that seagrass was in a "very poor condition".

It said the overall condition of the world's largest coral reef had worsened since 2009 due to cyclones and floods, as well as agricultural pollution flowing into the water. Pollution levels had reduced but well below their expected targets of 50 per cent reductions by 2013.

The report found major flooding in 2010 to 2011 and the subsequent Cyclone Yasi reduced overall coral cover by 15 per cent.

"Full recovery will take decades," it said.

The reef's main ecosystems were showing "declining trends in condition due to continuing poor water quality, cumulative impacts of climate change and increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events," the report said.

Environmental groups said urgent action was needed to protect the reef's coral – about three-quarters of which has died since the 1960s.

"The outlook for the reef is not good, but the situation isn't hopeless," said Nick Heath, from the World Wildlife Fund.

"We just need more investment, more targeted action in the most dangerous pollution hot spots."

Federal and state governments said today they would spend £230 million between 2013 and 2018 to reduce pollution from farms and improve water quality.

"There is still a great deal of work to do," said Mark Butler, the federal environment minister.

Australia is facing the embarrassing prospect of having the reef's heritage status downgraded and declared as "at risk" by UNESCO.

The organisation will decide on the reef's status by June next year. It has asked Australia to detail its plans to protect the reef from coastal development and from additional shipping and port construction, which is being undertaken to enable the state's coal and gas booms.

Treating oil spills with chemical dispersants: Is the cure worse than the ailment?

environment, fisheries, waterways/wetlands, wildlife

Jul 062013

Original story from the Society for Experimental Biology at EurekAlert

Treating oil spills at sea with chemical dispersants is detrimental to European sea bass. A new study, to be presented at the Society for Experimental Biology meeting in Valencia on July 6, suggests that although chemical dispersants may reduce problems for surface animals, the increased contamination under the water reduces the ability for fish and other organisms to cope with subsequent environmental challenges.

Oil and dispersant impact the ability of sea bass to face increased temperature, reduced oxygen availability or to swim against a current. Photo: Nicolas Le Bayon, Ifremer

A team of researchers headed by Prof Guy Claireaux at the University of Brest in France looked for the first time at the effects of chemically dispersed oil on the performance of European seabass to subsequent environmental challenges.

The researchers designed swimming challenge tests in an 'aquatic treadmill', similar to the tests used in human medicine for health diagnosis. They analysed European seabass' maximum swimming performance, hypoxia tolerance and thermal sensitivity as markers for their capabilities to face natural contingencies. They then exposed the fish to untreated oil, chemically dispersed oil or dispersant alone for 48 hours. During the following 6 weeks they measured individual growth and then once again analysed the seabass' performance in the swimming challenge tests.

Oil exposure impacted the ability of fish to face increased temperature, reduced oxygen availability or to swim against a current and these effects were further aggravated with the addition of the dispersant. The dispersant alone had no effect on the ability of fish to face the challenge tests.

Prof Claireaux said "An oil slick reaching the shore is not good for tourism and organisms living on the coast line. Treating the slick at sea will avoid or reduce these problems affecting surface animals (birds and marine mammals). On the other hand, oil dispersion will increase the contamination of the water column and the organisms that occupy it."

Though applying dispersants at sea may reduce the environmental and economic impacts of an oil spill reaching the shoreline, these results show that the choice of response deployed to deal with a spill involves a trade-off between the effects at the surface and in the water column.

$690,000 for Qld dams re-stocking

fisheries, waterways/wetlands

Jul 052013

Original story at the Gympie Times

AGRICULTURE, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh has announced a $690,000 restocking of Queensland dams with fingerlings.

Restocking Lake Somerset with silver perch fingerlings in 2011. Queensland Times

Mr McVeigh said the funding was part of the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme.

"The SIPS provides a sustainable, world-class freshwater fishing option for recreational fishers," Mr McVeigh said.

"Stocked impounded waters such as dams need to be continually replenished as most stocked species will not reproduce.

"Most of the popular dams in Queensland are stocked each year with fingerlings and under the scheme, fishers pay a fee to fish at any of the 32 registered dams across Queensland.

"Three-quarters of funds from the sale of permits goes to community stocking groups throughout Queensland to buy native fish fingerlings and for other activities aimed at enhancing the fishery.

"Species stocked include barramundi, golden perch, silver perch, Australian bass, Mary River cod, Murray River cod and saratoga."

Each year, the sale of permits from the financial year is divided among all 32 dams on the scheme.

SIPS permits can be bought online via the Queensland Government Gateway, through Fisheries Queensland or from small business outlets.

A weekly permit costs $7.70, a yearly one $38.60 and a concession $33.55.

Research flags devastating climate change impacts on Barrier Reef

environment, waterways/wetlands

Jul 052013

Original story by William Rollo, ABC News

A new study examining the effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef shows corals could start dissolving into the ocean within 100 years if nothing is done.

If greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed the Great Barrier Reef could face serious threat. Researcher Sophie Dove says if greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed the Great Barrier Reef could be put under serious threat within a century. Image: AFP

The University of Queensland research is measuring the effects of various climate change scenarios on carefully designed mini coral reef ecosystems built inside tubs.

The research is being conducted on Heron Island, off the coast of Gladstone in central Queensland.

Work on the project is expected to continue until September.

Worse than expected

Lead researcher Sophie Dove says if greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed the reef could be put under serious threat.

"Under the business-as-usual CO2 scenario, we found that the reefs were actually decalcifying," she said.

"It's quite alarming - there is more damage than I would have thought when I started out.

"I would have thought that more things would survive and it would look a lot healthier than it does."

She says coral skeletons have started dissolving in the tub representing what might happen if nothing is done about greenhouse emissions.

"That would mean that if a cyclone were to hit or something like that there would be no ability to rebuild the reef," she said.

Fewer NSW molluscs sounds alarm bell

environment, waterways/wetlands, wildlife

Jul 042013

Original story at the Australian

A decline in the number of molluscs found off the northern NSW coast shows ecological conditions are worsening, scientists warn.

Associate Professor Steve Smith, from Southern Cross University, says the reduced number of molluscs off Cook Island indicates an "undesirable marine community".

"This is an early warning sign," Prof Smith told AAP.

Intertidal molluscs. Photo: Ingrid Berthold, Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority

Researchers from the National Marine Science Centre have been monitoring reefs between Port Macquarie and Tweed Heads since 2005.

The "obvious decline" in molluscs off Cook Island is the first such observation at any of the monitoring sites, Prof Smith said.

"If we see broad style change in any structure it shows the ecological conditions have changed," he added.

A species of cerith has completely disappeared off the Cook Island reef following a downward trend in biodiversity between 2009 and 2012.

Prof Smith said the reason for the decline isn't obvious and is not solely due to pollution.

"Some changes are because of an increase in sediments from the catchments and run off through the Tweed River or Cudgen Creek," he said.

Researchers are also concerned about record levels of marine debris in the area, mainly consisting of fishing lines tangled in coral reefs off the island.

Prof Smith said researchers would now "more frequently monitor" Cook Island's surroundings to stay abreast of further changes.

Report to decide fate of western Queensland rivers

community, government, waterways/wetlands

Jul 032013

Original story by Amy Phillips, ABC Rural

A panel looking into the management of Western Queensland rivers has recommended there be no increase to water allocations for the Cooper Creek, Georgina and Diamantina river catchments.

The boom and bust nature of the western Qld rivers. The flooded Georgina River in January 2009. Now it is dry. (User submitted)

The Western Rivers Advisory Panel is made of 11 members including representatives from AgForce, local government and the resources sector.

The findings from the panel will help the State Government make changes to legislation governing wild rivers.

Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps says he'll now consider the panel's recommendations.

"They included that there be no further take of water beyond what is allocated currently in the water plans that cover those catchments, that were water is taken for irrigation purposes that the take of that water does not reduce or interfere with the natural flows of those river systems."

Secretariat for the panel, David Arnold, says a survey of the panel saw weeds and pests, as well as access to groundwater as issues that pose the biggest risk to the future sustainability of the western rivers.

Topics: irrigation, rivers, mining-rural, mining-environmental-issues, mining-industry, environmental-impact,

Major Changes Needed For Coral Reef Survival

environment, waterways/wetlands

Jun 302013

Original story at the Carnegie Institution for Science

This picture of coral reef in Florida taken by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary staff is provided courtesy of NOAA.

To prevent coral reefs around the world from dying off, deep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions are required, says a new study from Carnegie’s Katharine Ricke and Ken Caldeira. They find that all existing coral reefs will be engulfed in inhospitable ocean chemistry conditions by the end of the century if civilization continues along its current emissions trajectory. Their work will be published July 3 by Environmental Research Letters.

Coral reefs are havens for marine biodiversity and underpin the economies of many coastal communities. But they are very sensitive to changes in ocean chemistry resulting from greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to coastal pollution, warming waters, overdevelopment, and overfishing.

Ricke and Caldeira, along with colleagues from Institut Pierre Simon Laplace and Stanford University, focused on the acidification of open ocean water surrounding coral reefs and how it affects a reef’s ability to survive.

Coral reefs use a mineral called aragonite to make their skeletons. It is a naturally occurring form of calcium carbonate, CaCO3. When carbon dioxide, CO2, from the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean, it forms carbonic acid (the same thing that makes soda fizz), making the ocean more acidic and decreasing the ocean’s pH. This increase in acidity makes it more difficult for many marine organisms to grow their shells and skeletons, and threatens coral reefs the world over.

Using results from simulations conducted using an ensemble of sophisticated models, Ricke, Caldeira, and their co-authors calculated ocean chemical conditions that would occur under different future scenarios and determined whether these chemical conditions could sustain coral reef growth.

Ricke said: “Our results show that if we continue on our current emissions path, by the end of the century there will be no water left in the ocean with the chemical properties that have supported coral reef growth in the past. We can’t say with 100% certainty that all shallow-water coral reefs will die, but it is a pretty good bet.”

Deep cuts in emissions are necessary in order to save even a fraction of existing reefs, according to the team’s results. Chemical conditions that can support coral reef growth can be sustained only with very aggressive cuts in carbon dioxide emissions.

“To save coral reefs, we need to transform our energy system into one that does not use the atmosphere and oceans as waste dumps for carbon dioxide pollution. The decisions we make in the next years and decades are likely to determine whether or not coral reefs survive the rest of this century,” Caldeira said.

A video about this research is available here.

Boat noise stops fish finding home

fisheries, waterways/wetlands

Jun 302013

Original media release from Bristol University

Boat noise disrupts orientation behaviour in larval coral reef fish, according to new research from the Universities of Bristol, Exeter and Liège. Reef fish are normally attracted by reef sound but the study, conducted in French Polynesia, found that fish are more likely to swim away from recordings of reefs when boat noise is added.

Fish normally use the acoustic cues from fish and invertebrate reef residents to find suitable habitat. Photo: Sophie Holles

Sophie Holles, a PhD researcher at the University of Bristol and one of the study's authors, said: "Natural underwater sound is used by many animals to find suitable habitat, and traffic noise is one of the most widespread pollutants. If settlement is disrupted by boat traffic, the resilience of habitats like reefs could be affected."

Sound travels better underwater than in air and reefs are naturally noisy places: fish and invertebrates produce feeding and territorial sounds while wind, waves and currents create other background noise. Boats can be found around all coastal environments where people live and the noise they make spreads far and wide.

Co-author, Dr Steve Simpson, a marine biologist at the University of Exeter, said: "Boat noise may scare fish, affecting their ecology. Since one in five people in the world rely on fish as their major source of protein, regulating traffic noise in important fisheries areas could help marine communities and the people that depend on them."

The study used controlled field experiments with settlement stage coral reef fish larvae. Larvae in a long plastic tube could decide to swim towards or away from a speaker playing back different sounds. In ambient noise equal numbers of fish were found in each section of the tube and in reef noise most fish swam towards the sound. But when boat noise was played along with reef noise more fish swam away from the sound than in reef noise alone.

Co-author, Dr Andy Radford from the University of Bristol, said: "This is the first indication that noise pollution can affect orientation behaviour during the critical settlement stage. Growing evidence for the impact of noise on fish suggests that consideration should be given to the regulation of human activities in protected areas."

The research is published today in Marine Ecology Progress Series.

Reference: Boat noise disrupts orientation behaviour in a coral reef fish' by Sophie Holles, Stephen D. Simpson, Andrew N. Radford, Laetitia Berten and David Lecchini in Marine Ecology Progress Series

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