Page 24 - Tropic Magazine Issue 21

TROPIC • ENVIRONMENT
Help protect With the Reef under increasing pressure,
there’s no excuse for not knowing and
your patch following the zoning rules. In the Cairns
area, the Marine Park Authority is
focusing patrols on particular poaching
REEF TIPS
hotspots in no-take green zones near
GBRMPA outlines a number Green Island, Upolu Cay, Michaelmas Cay,
of ways we can all play a role in Hastings Reef, the Frankland Islands and
Scott Reef. “Fishers may think taking one
protecting the Great or two fish from a green zone is okay, but
Barrier Reef. repeated poaching in the same spot can
have a significant impact,” Matt said.
With the Great Barrier Reef on our
doorstep, Cairns is known for its large The Marine Park Authority is also urging
boating population and plethora of visitors to marine parks to ‘Protect your
offshore activities, so it’s important to Patch’ by reporting suspected no-take Other ways you can help
take some simple steps to help protect the green zone poaching or other illegal protect the Reef
World Heritage Area you’re exploring. activity via an anonymous 24-hour hotline Anchor on sand or use a
Whether you’re out on the boat with 1800 380 048 or www.gbrmpa.gov.au. free public mooring to avoid
family, visiting Green or Fitzroy Islands, All reports are investigated damaging coral
or just chatting to friends who are Avoid taking herbivorous fish
keen fishers, you can play a key part in like parrotfish, which remove
protecting your special patch of the Reef. seaweed and provide space for
So what can you do? “It’s important to new corals to grow
know the marine park’s zoning rules and Share information with
understand where you’re going and what’s your friends and family by
allowed before you head out,” Great Barrier downloading the GBRMPA
Reef Marine Park Authority compliance ‘champions pack’. Search
manager Matt Slatcher said. “Know how online for “Protect your Patch”
to use your GPS plotter, get a free zoning GBRMPA to download, tag
map, and download the free ‘Eye on the @gbrmarinepark and use the
Reef’ zoning app from the App Store or hashtag #ZoningRules
Google Play.”

When

local

means

local

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24 • Tropic • Issue 21