Tackling crown-of-thorns

Tackling crown-of-thorns © GBRMPA

The number of vessels combating coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish is about to triple, as the Australian Government prepares for an all-out assault on one of the Great Barrier Reef's greatest threats.

Negotiations are underway between the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and five contractors to significantly increase the Authority's Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program.

Once contracts are signed, work will start on modifying vessels, training crew and mapping out vessel trips to cull the coral-eating starfish.

Assistant Minister for the Environment the Hon. Melissa Price MP said this work would significantly boost efforts to maintain coral cover and lower starfish numbers on priority reefs.

"In January 2018, the Australian Government injected an additional $10.4 million into the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program," Assistant Minister Price said.

"Boosting the Reef's resilience so it can withstand the increasing pressures from climate change and other threats is now more critical than ever."

This increased capability - along with improved underwater surveillance and the latest scientific research from the National Environmental Science Program's Integrated Pest Management Program - allows the Authority to better protect live coral cover and promote new growth.

The two existing long-term control program vessels managed by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre will continue their valuable culling and surveillance work.

Support for the crown-of-thorn controls was further boosted with this year's Federal Budget, including $58 million for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to join the Authority's fight against crown-of-thorns starfish.

"Protecting the Reef's future is a big task and it will take a unified effort to achieve it," Assistant Minister Price said.

"The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is the only place in the world where crown-of-thorns control is being undertaken in an area of this magnitude."

Ramping up crown-of-thorns control in the Marine Park is one of 10 key actions identified in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's recently released Reef Blueprint: Great Barrier Reef Blueprint for Resilience.

The Australian and Queensland governments are investing more than $2 billion over the coming decade to improve the health of the Reef through the Reef 2050 Plan, which has been endorsed by the World Heritage Committee.