Page 16 - Tropic Magazine Issue 223

TROPIC • TOURISM

Real-time reef sharing this information on a map to

MAPPING CORAL HEALTH make it easier for people to see what the
reef looks like before they visit. Great
A new tool is helping to provide Barrier Reef Today is another example of
accurate, real-time information operators in the Cairns & Great Barrier
about the condition of the Reef region working with the science
community by compiling data to give
world’s largest coral reef. GBRMPA a clear picture of the reef’s
Words: Renee Cluff health.”
Daily underwater vision of popular Great
Barrier Reef sites is being uploaded to a
central online database to provide visitors TTNQ is also sharing this
a snapshot of the Reef’s health. The Great information on a map to
Barrier Reef Today map was launched Beautiful display of coral at night. Pic: Cairns Aquarium
as high temperatures and low rainfall make it easier for people to
threatened a mass bleaching event earlier see what the reef looks like and Gareth Phillips of Reef Teach as part of
this year. It was developed by Tourism their Reef Today series. Travellers are also
Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) before they visit being encouraged to contribute by using
and uses pictures of sites visited by tour #GreatBarrierReefToday when they post
vessels that are also sent to the Great Mark Olsen reef images and to upload them to the Eye
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s TTNQ CEO on the Reef app.
(GBRMPA) Eye on the Reef program.
“The Great Barrier Reef Today map A quick glance at the site certainly
currently shows the main reefs off Cairns combats any message that the reef is
and Port Douglas where tour operators dead. Spectacular colours and marine View the map at:
visit and will gradually expand to shows life abound. You can also view video tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/
reefs to our north and south,” TTNQ updates from Cairns Marine biologists great-barrier-reef-today
CEO Mark Olsen said. “TTNQ is also Stuart Ireland of Calypso Productions

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16 • Tropic • Issue 23