Friday, 09 April, 2021
MACKAY LOCAL NEWS •
Friday, 09 April, 2021
Circulating in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday Regional Council areas
1
www.mackaylocalnews.com.au Issue 9 • $2.50
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Corals ‘not so delicate’ By JOHN BELL
CORALS have grown on rocks in Mackay’s artificial Harbour breakwater, which is one of the harshest environments for coral on the Queensland coast. Reef academic Dr Peter Ridd said that “this proves that corals are not the ‘canary in the coal mine’ and the delicate creatures that warn us of environmental damage. “If corals grow in dirty water in these very unfavourable conditions, then it calls into question claims about the impact farming and industry has on corals that are so far away from the coast,” Dr Ridd explained. “Water in Mackay’s enclosed Harbour is murky and muddy, with reduced sunlight reaching the coral. “At times there is also a light oily film on the water from all the boat and ships, and well as chemical deck wash.” Dr Ridd said he had researched inshore reefs since 1992. “We took the first long-term measurements of water turbidity with instruments that we invented,” he said. “It was evident that inshore reefs such as Roundtop Island (just offshore from Mack-
ay Harbour) often have very dirty water. In some cases, all light can be extinguished for days, even weeks – totally naturally. “But inshore reefs have adapted to these conditions and have healthy coral, typical of inshore reefs. “However, Mackay Harbour corals are nothing like the quality of corals at the Great Barrier Reef, which is over the horizon, 100 km away.” Dr Ridd said that if one had to compare corals to other organisms, rather than a canary in a cage, “then I suggest a cockroach is more appropriate – except cockroaches are not beautiful. “But corals like cockroaches are tough and resilient, they recover from total destruction during cyclones and keep coming back. You can kill the odd one, but they keep coming back. “Corals have survived for hundreds of millions of years and through times of tough upheavals.” However Dr Ridd stressed that just because corals are tough and resilient, it is not a good reason to not take care of the reef. “But we must not allow science institutions to make false claims about the impact of farms and industry on the coral reefs.”
Reef campaigner Tony Fontes, a Whitsunday dive operator for 40 years, refutes the claim made by Dr Peter Ridd that corals found growing in Mackay Harbour are a significant indication of reef health. SEE STORY ON PAGE THREE
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