ACRS Submissions 2021-2022

ACRS Submissions

Historically the society has always worked hard to keep reef-related matters in the government and public eye. Our submissions have included feedback on marine reserves and zoning, reef biodiversity, reef management, scientific diving, drilling, coastal development, fisheries, climate change, support for the Great Barrier Reef Act and advocacy for species protection from overfishing.

These submissions have been critical in furthering Australian reef conservation.

Below: Word cloud showing frequency of submission topics. Bigger words indicate higher frequency.

The ACRS recommends the Teatfish fishery is not approved for Wildlife Trade Operation in the Coral Sea

A great proportion of ACRS members conduct research in Australia’s Coral Sea territory. We took this opportunity to comment on the Commonwealth Coral Sea Fishery (CSF), which requires approval for ongoing export. As a result of the current expertise of our Society Council, we focussed our comments primarily on the black and white teatfish, or sea cucumber, fisheries.

The ACRS made the following key recommendations:

• The Commonwealth Coral Sea Fishery upholds the CITES listings of the black teatfish (Holothuria whitmaei) and white teatfish (Holothuria fuscogilva).

• The black teatfish fishery is not approved for Wildlife Trade Operation.

• The white teatfish fishery is not approved for Wildlife Trade Operation.

• The Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s Observer Program is considered for sea cucumbers within the Commonwealth Coral Sea Fishery.

• Management considers antagonistic effects of ocean warming on winter spawning survival of the Great Barrier Reef.

You can access the full submission here.

See article by Kenny Wolfe next page for outcome of this matter.

Black teatfish. Photo credit: Kenny Wolfe

The ACRS response to the proposed ‘In Danger’ listing of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

The recommendation to add the Great Barrier Reef to the list of World Heritage ‘in danger’ is grim news for the Reef, the marine life it supports and the Queensland tourism industry. It is also a call to action to the Australian government to make meaningful steps toward curbing carbon emissions.

The ACRS details their views on the potential effect to multiple industries and agencies who work on the Great Barrier Reef, including Traditional Owners, the tourism industry, and regulating partners such as GBRMPA. Critically, the ACRS finds that combined efforts from these groups will only be effective if the government can begin urgent work on a credible national plan to achieve domestic greenhouse gas emissions reductions at a speed consistent with the survival of the Great Barrier Reef.

You can access the full submission here.

Above left: Anemonefish © Anna Scott. Below: Fluorescent corals © Christina Langley