… or we can just do it.

Thirty years ago, Dr. Robert Endean, a world authority on marine toxins, witnessed the first Crown-of-thorns attack on the Great Barrier Reef. After two years of thorough research Endean wrote the first scientific analysis of the problem, its causes and the prognosis. This report outlined a strategy for survival for the reef in the face of the Crown-of-thorns onslaught.  Ignored by the authorities of the day and forgotten by the subsequent regimes, Bob Endean's strategies have been adopted by OCEANGUARD to combat this ongoing problem (see Eco-Warrior).

Because of the massive damage caused by coral bleaching to the Great Barrier Reef last year and qualified scientific predictions of worse to come, only reef areas that are capable of surviving rising sea temperatures will be targeted for protection. The Plan's objective is to reverse the Crown-of-thorns crisis on these sections of the Great Barrier Reef and put in place elements for the reefs to return to their natural state. Though the plan is simple in design it is never the less a mammoth undertaking. This section of the rescue programme is made up of four parts.

1. MONITORING

The plan includes for the Great Barrier Reef region to be divided into working zones. Then on a year round basis a charter diving boat or boats will sweep reefs in each zone.  Areas capable of surviving rising sea temperatures will be targeted for protection. There, Volunteer divers will assist marine scientists to monitor reefs for starfish populations and their fish predator numbers. Data will also be collected on the state of the coral on each reef and sea temperatures. OCEANGUARD will maintain a computer model from collected data which will be made available to marine institutes.

2. CONTROL

The plan includes helping tourist operators control starfish numbers on their reefs.
If starfish populations increase to unacceptable levels on other reefs being monitored, and the coral is threatened with destruction, permission will be sought from the relevant authorities to control these numbers. The control method will be by injection of an environmentally safe formula under supervision of marine scientists.

The control plan on the Great Barrier Reef can then be applied to other endangered reef ecosystems by experienced control teams.

3. FARMING

Plan includes setting up a facility to farm fish species which are natural starfish predators, such as:  Lethrinidae, Balistidae and Arothron. Then under scientific supervision to reintroduce them back onto selected reefs.  A feature of this farming programme will be an attempt to cultivate the Giant Triton shellfish, the most prolific natural predator of the starfish. Hopefully before it becomes extinct on the Great Barrier Reef because of decades of over-collecting.

4. EDUCATION

Plan includes for a series of marine awareness programs to be made for transmission via free to air TV, Cable TV and the Internet.  The emphasis will be on good ocean management.  Then targeting the youth population, these and other specially prepared awareness programs will be made available on video and CD-ROM and distributed through the school systems.  Traveling school seminars are also envisaged.  Education is the first step in preserving our greatest heritage – the oceans.