Tourism Tropical North Queensland has launched a map showing underwater vision shot daily by tour vessels within the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region.
The map, called Great Barrier Reef Today, uses information gathered by the tour operators who regularly document what they see on the reef included in the innovative Eye on the Reef program with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
TTNQ Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen asserted TTNQ is sharing these details on the map to make it easier for individuals to determine just what the reef looks like before they visit.
“The Great Barrier Reef Today map currently shows the primary reefs off Cairns and Port Douglas where tour operators visit and will gradually expand to shows reefs to the south and north.
“The first daily natural history records from the Great Barrier Reef were gathered by tourism operator Reef Biosearch in 1986 which were the catalyst for GBRMPA's Eye around the Reef program”, continue Mr Olsen.
“The partnership between tourism and science continues to develop and this past year included a global first IVF program throughout the annual coral spawn. Operators assisted researchers from Southern Cross University and James Cook University to gather coral eggs and sperm therefore the coral larvae could be fed and released on the Great Barrier Reef to grow new corals.
“Numerous other projects concerning the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef tourism industry include coral nurseries, coral resettling and ultizing electricity to stimulate coral growth.”
Visitors may also be encourage to sign up within the program by uploading images they've adopted the reef for the Eye around the Reef app, and also to utilize the hashtag GreatBarrierReefToday when posting for his or her social networking.
“Great Barrier Reef Today is yet another example of operators in the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef region dealing with the science community by compiling data to provide GBRMPA a clear picture from the reef's health,” Mr Olsen concluded.
