QPWS sponsorship for Moreton Bay dive site volunteer research

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is providing $5000 sponsorship to UniDive (the University of Queensland Underwater Club), to help trained volunteer divers conduct studies of the marine flora and fauna at Moreton Bay Marine Park dive sites.

National Parks Minister Dr Steven Miles said the sites, at Flinders Reef north of Moreton Island, supported a wealth of marine animal and plant life.

“This is a world class diving location and UniDive initiated assessments of the area to see if human and natural activities are having any adverse effects on the location,” Dr Miles said.

“UniDive’s volunteer research of Moreton Bay dive sites has been ongoing for some years.

“Recent surveys in 2013-14 at Flat Rock, Manta Ray Bommie and Shag Rock off Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island followed up on similar assessments undertaken by them at the same sites in 2001 and 2003.

“UniDive is well placed to do this type of project as the club’s membership includes marine science students and staff that provide the training and do the surveys.”

UniDive member and project organiser Dr Chris Roelfsema is part of the UQ’s Remote Sensing Research Centre at the School Of Geography Planning And Environmental Management.

“The research will record fish species and families, invertebrate numbers, substrate type, and any observed reef impacts.

“Maps describing the habitat are also being created by the volunteers for the sites based on geo-referenced photos, in-water mapping, bathymetry and satellite imagery,” he said.

Through marine conservation projects, UniDive members will be educated on how to identify and collate information about flora and fauna, creating more awareness for them and others about these beautiful dive sites.

Their presentations, publications and data sets will further make the wider community aware of these sites and understand the importance of protecting them.

Dr Miles said QPWS was pleased to support the research. “QPWS will have access to UniDive’s data, which can inform ongoing management decisions of the Moreton Bay Marine Park, as they have shown with previous projects.

“In particular, ongoing studies of dive sites are important to gain knowledge of how human and natural activities affect the areas over time.

“Data collected during the 2013-14 research has really benefitted the marine park’s management and helps with the ongoing protection of dive sites and their surroundings.

“Day-to-day decisions in the park are greatly assisted by having good quality data, such as that collected by these citizen scientists, readily available.”

UniDive’s citizen science projects are undertaken by some 50 volunteers trained by marine science staff and students, all members of the underwater club, and are supported by Reef Check Australia, Coral Watch and UQ’s Remote Sensing Research Centre.

A citizen science approach, such as the research conducted by UniDive volunteers, works extremely well for projects in the marine environment, as they cover large and often remote areas, and are relatively labour-intensive.

The UniDive citizen scientists undergo a lecture series as well as an exam and practical test as part of their training.

“We understand UniDive would welcome further financial support for the Flinders Reef Ecological Assessment, known as FLEA, and we encourage other organisations interested in marine conservation to consider contributing to this very worthy research work,” Dr Miles said.

Information on UniDive is available at http://unidive.org/home, a website that also provides online access to the research data.

Information on Moreton Bay Marine Park is available at www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/moreton-bay/index.html.

ENDS

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