- Maintenance dredging and dredge spoil dumping begun in Townsville on 4 November, during a critical period for coral reproduction and recovery.
- The Great Barrier Reef is already under enormous pressure from climate change, with a strong El Niño underway and the threat of further marine heatwaves and bleaching this summer.
- Australia narrowly avoided a World Heritage in Danger listing just four months ago, with the World Heritage Committee specifically calling for stronger measures to address the impacts of maintenance dredge spoil dumping.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has raised concerns about the unnecessary risks maintenance dredging and dredge spoil dumping pose to the Great Barrier Reef in Townsville during the annual coral spawning period.
Dredging began less than one week after the coral spawning, despite concerns about the potential impacts of sediment on coral reproduction and recovery around Magnetic Island.
Coral spawning is essential to the Reef’s recovery, allowing new corals to establish and replenish damaged reefs. Sediment from dredge spoil dumping can interfere with this process, particularly in the sensitive weeks following spawning.
The timing is especially concerning as the Reef approaches another summer under threat from marine heatwaves and coral bleaching, with a strong El Niño already underway.
AMCS Campaign Manager Dr Lissa Schindler said the Reef’s ability to recover must be protected wherever possible.
“The Great Barrier Reef is already under enormous pressure from climate change, repeated bleaching events and poor water quality. With an El Niño summer threatening to bring more marine heatwaves and coral bleaching, we should be doing everything in our power to give the Great Barrier Reef a fighting chance.
“Instead, the Australian and Queensland governments are allowing dredging and dumping of mud in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, less than a week after corals spawned. This risks the survival of the next generation of corals and is the exact opposite of what the Reef needs right now.”
The dredging also comes just four months after the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided against placing the Great Barrier Reef on its List of World Heritage in Danger.
In its July decision, the Committee specifically asked Australia to assess the impacts of maintenance dredge spoil dumping and strengthen measures to prevent harm to the Reef’s World Heritage values.
“After three years of scrutiny by the World Heritage Committee, the Australian and Queensland governments have finally been given some breathing room to prove they’re up to the task of protecting the Reef. Yet just four months later, they’re allowing dredging and dumping during a critical period for coral recovery. It’s hardly the reassurance the Committee needs.
AMCS is calling for dredging and spoil dumping to be paused during the sensitive coral spawning and settlement period, and for stronger measures to ensure future dredging does not undermine the Reef’s recovery.
Image credit: Oliver Scheele
