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Tourism operators reignite water quality monitoring program

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Easing of COVID-19 restrictions sparked a return to action for Whitsunday tour boat operators involved in a citizen science water quality project.

This partnership, which began early in 2021 to kickstart a tourism-led water quality monitoring project in the Whitsundays, was been on hold, but now some of the tourism day operators are using their time to re-start the water quality monitoring project.

Ocean Rafting undertook water sample collection in early May for the first time since the tourism industry shut down in March due to COVID-19. Red Cat Adventures will undertake another trip this week. While still observing all the guidelines, this means the water sampling and data logger maintenance is back on track thanks to the commitment of the tourism operators.

Read the full media release here

Record numbers of young barramundi found migrating into wetlands

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Juvenile barramundi are on the move in the Mackay region.

Recent monitoring of fish ladders, situated in the Rocky Dam catchment south of Mackay, has recorded huge numbers of juvenile fish migrating from upper tidal habitats into large, coastal wetlands.

Fish ladders are critical to provide access past fish barriers, so that juvenile fish can reach their desired wetland nursery habitats.

Overall, an average of 1,410 fish per day was recorded representing 10 species. Most importantly, record numbers of juvenile barramundi were recorded with an average of 86 per day ascending one of the fish ladders monitored.

Read the full media release here

Reef Catchments to oversee major water quality improvement program

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The local not-for-profit natural resource management organisation, Reef Catchments, is overseeing an exciting four-year program which will benefit and support landholders to improve farm management practices and adopt new technologies.

Reef Catchments, which is community-owned and operated, has been awarded $2.25m from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to design and develop a regional program for managing major water quality improvement projects within the Plane and Pioneer Catchments. These catchments have been identified as priority areas.

The aim of the regional program is to improve reef water quality by reducing annual nutrient loads (dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN)) by 26t and pesticides by 215 kg. It will also benefit the local economy and help to build strong relationships between all stakeholders.

Read the full media release here

Tourism operators turn into citizen scientists to monitor reef water quality

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Tourism operators in the Whitsundays are collecting data through a citizen science project to keep track of the water quality in their area.

The Whitsunday Water Quality Monitoring Blueprint for Tourism Operators project aims to increase understanding of water quality and reef health in the Whitsundays.

The tourism community has a vested interest in the long-term health and functionality of the Great Barrier Reef, and they are well positioned and willing to lead solution-based monitoring, and effectively communicate water quality results.

Read the full media release here

Topsoil expert is guest speaker at Healthy Soils Symposium

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Reef Catchments is inviting primary producers and industry representatives along to an annual event promoting healthy soil within the region’s agricultural industry.

This month, Australia’s top regenerative farming guru will be in Mackay for a three-day soil health series, starting with the Healthy Soils Symposium on Wednesday 27th November at The Windmill in North Mackay.

Guest Speaker Dr Christine Jones will present on:

  • A fresh look at microbes – the symbiotic relationships that take place in the soil microbiome
  • The extraordinary power of diversity – learn how to replicate a productive and resilient farmecosystem
  • Biostimulants for regenerative agriculture – replacing detrimental synthetic N and P with biostimulants

Landholders will also be sharing their approach to regenerative farming.

Read the full media release here