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Australian Minister for the Environment Mark Butler announced on Thursday that the federal government will provide new funding of 5 million AU dollars (4.6 million U.S. dollars) to protect the Great Barrier Reef from coral- eating predators, a media release received here said.
Part of the Caring for our Country grants program, the Reef Rescue component will fund the control of the crown-of-thorns starfish in the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and support continued research into starfish management.
Butler said the crown-of-thorns starfish can destroy coral faster than it can regenerate and is one of the most significant threats to the reef.
"Although crown-of-thorns starfish are normally found in reef environments, pollution and run-off has led to an explosion in their numbers," he said.
Of the new funding, 4 million will support a dedicated boat and crew used by the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, with oversight from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, to continue culling efforts over the next two years.
A further 1 million AU dollars (920 million U.S. dollars) will be directed towards research to advance scientific knowledge of the crown-of-thorns starfish through the Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University.
"While the current techniques use multiple-injections to control the spread of starfish, the method being funded through Caring for our Country involves a single injection method and has proved effective and non-lethal to other marine life under test situations," the minister said.
Butler said the protection of the Great Barrier Reef was imperative with research into crown-of-thorns starfish part of a broader effort that includes monitoring, research and development activities over the next five years.
"Due to climate change, the incidence of extreme weather events have had an incredibly detrimental effect on the Reef which we saw after the devastating Queensland summer floods of 2008, 2009 and 2010, and Cyclone Yasi," he said.
Since 1979, there have been devastating coral bleaching occur across the Reef nine times due to climate change and the warming sea waters, when there was no previous recorded occurrence.
"We must protect one of our most valuable environmental and tourism assets, with visitors to the Great Barrier Reef contributing 6.2 billion (5.7 billion U.S. dollars) to the economy last year and 120,000 Australian jobs dependent on the health of the Reef," Butler said.
The government has already provided 2.53 million (2.32 million U.S. dollars) towards research and eradication efforts in response to crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks across the Great Barrier Reef after the significant summer floods of 2008, 2009 and 2011.
