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s the marine tourism industry in North Queensland continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Passions of Paradise, based out of Cairns, is continuing their efforts to grow and plant coral on the Great Barrier Reef through the Coral Nurture Programme. Under the supervision of Professor Dave Suggett and Dr Emma Camp of the University of Technology Sydney, Passions staff have spent the last 18 months refining their techniques, resulting in the planting of over 4,500 coral fragments at three dive sites on Hastings Reef. The Coral Nurture Programme is a new approach for the Great Barrier Reef and a globally unique partnership between tourism and science. Passions of Paradise first joined the programme in May 2019 and is part of a team of six other local operators participating in the scaling stage of the programme. As one of the key participants in this groundbreaking study, Passions of Paradise has been able to strengthen its commitment to conservation and sustainable area management. The programme is part of a larger management strategy that also includes crown-of-thorns starfish eradication and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s ‘Eye on Reef’ monitoring programme. Managing Director of Passions of Paradise, Alan Wallish, has made conservation and site stewardship his main priority since founding the company in 1989. “The Great Barrier Reef is an amazing ecosystem and a vital natural wonder,” says Alan. “It has always been in our best interest to look after the long-term sustainability and health of our reef sites.
We have had to contend with a lot of impacts in the last 30 years: Mass bleaching events, cyclones, crown-of-thorns outbreaks. But the reef is an amazingly resilient ecosystem, and through management techniques at the federal, state, and local levels, we have the opportunity to continue showcasing this amazing ecosystem to our guests.” While the idea of farming and planting coral is not new, the Coral Nurture Programme takes an innovative approach in the way coral is attached to the reef floor. A patented Coralclip (developed by Programme co-founder John Edmondson of Wavelength Reef Cruises), a 25mm masonry nail with a stainless-steel wire attached to it, is driven into the limestone bedrock of the reef. Coral fragments, either harvested from coral fragments detached from the reef and on the seabed or from one of Passions’ ten nurseries, are then placed under the wire after a quick brush to remove any sand or algae. The coral fragment then sits under pressure, immobilised, and after approximately six weeks, will hopefully
A team of eight divers can potentially plant up to 3,200 corals in a day, with a target cost of $1 per successful coral colony
The Great Barrier Reef is home to countless species including six species of turtles, 215 species of birds, 17 species of sea snakes and more than 1,500 species of fish! 10% of the world’s total fish species can be found within the Great Barrier Reef!
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