Plunder or protection: WWF calls for safeguard of Coral Sea
17 Sep 2007
Recently declared a 'predator diversity hotspot' for its abundant shark populations, and recognised as one of Australia's last tropical marine wilderness regions, WWF-Australia is calling on the Government to declare the entire Coral Sea region a Marine Protected Area.
"The Coral Sea is still remarkably pristine and attracts international visitors who pay a premium to see the reef's vast populations of white tip and grey reef sharks, hammerheads, manta rays and other sea creatures", said Richard Leck, WWF'S marine policy manager.
"However, despite the Coral Sea's reef sharks being 'tourism jewels', WWF and the tourism industry are very concerned that illegal fishers will raid the Coral Sea reefs - mainly for shark fins for the Asian market - threatening both the future of these fish in Australian waters and a burgeoning marine wildlife tourism industry worth millions."
Marine research estimates reveal that the economic value of sharks - recognised as the main attraction for visitors to Australia's popular reef sites - is approximately $250,000 each, based on revenue from dive boats operating in the Coral Sea, now Australia's premier underwater exploration site.
"The total value of tourism out to the Coral Sea is approximately $11.2 million a year," said Richard Fitzpatrick, a leading Australian marine biologist and shark researcher.
"The resident population of sharks at Osprey Reef, the main dive site in the Coral Sea, is 40 animals, making each shark worth over $250,000 per year. When you compare this figure to $62.50 - the asking price for shark catch by local fisheries, it is more than evident Australian reef sharks are more valuable alive than dead."
The severe depletion of ocean predators world-wide has hit Australian shores, with Australia's own Great Barrier Reef shark populations - the white tip and grey reef shark - showing a decline in abundance by 80 per cent and 97 per cent outside areas that are not effectively protected, sounding a warning for the neighbouring reef shark populations of the Coral Sea.
"Global numbers of oceanic predators have plummeted 90 per cent in population since 1950. We only have to look in our own backyard to see the severe population decline and shark population collapse that is occurring in oceans all over the world. We must act now to save the Coral Sea from a similar fate", says Richard Leck.
In addition to the threat of over fishing, the Coral Sea has also been earmarked for future oil and gas exploration and, with climate change increasing water temperatures, the Coral Sea reefs are also highly susceptible to coral bleaching.
"The Coral Sea presents us with a unique opportunity to safeguard one of the world's few remaining pristine marine regions. If we act quickly we can protect one of our most precious and fragile resources before irreversible damage is done," Mr Leck said.
Stretching from the outer boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to the edge of Australia's territorial waters - in some places more than two hundred nautical miles off the Queensland coast - a protected Coral Sea would create the largest Marine Protected Area in the world.
More information
Rachael Hoy, WWF-Australia Press Office, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1242
Mobile: 0407 204 594
Richard Leck, Program Leader - Tropical Marine and Coasts, WWF-Australia
Phone: 07 3211 2521
Mobile: 0439 814 847
Gilly Llewellyn, Program Leader - Oceans, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1227
Mobile: 0406 380 801
