Coral Sea Reef protection

Undersea Explorer has been conducting scientific research and lobbying for conservation of the northern Coral Sea reefs for many years. We are pleased to report that in working together with the fishing permit holders in the Coral Sea Fishery a Memorandum of Understanding is being undertaken.

The basic principle will be to support sustainable fishing practices at appropriate Coral Sea reefs, while agreeing to protect tourism and conservation values at key locations, including Osprey Reef. This includes protection for sharks, key fish species such as maori wrasse, potato cod and coral trout.

Meetings between tourism operators, fishers and aquarium fish collectors have been very positive and we feel there will be an excellent agreement arrived at soon. The ability to work together towards sustainable future and share resources is a positive outcome.

Undersea Explorer feels proud to have driven this process and are encouraged by the attitude and ideas for the Memorandum of Understanding proposed by the fishery groups.

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Location
Osprey Reef is located at 13°50'S, 146°35'E within the Coral Sea Islands Territory, about 330 km north-east of Cairns, Queensland. It lies some 150 km east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and 550 km nor' north-west of the Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reef National Nature Reserves.

Separated from Australia's continental shelf by the deep water Queensland Trough, Osprey is the Northernmost reef on the Coral Sea (Queensland) plateau.

Physical Description
Osprey is an isolated oceanic reef. It is elliptical in shape and covers approximately 195 square kilometres. It is about 25 km long and 12 km at its widest point 

Rising from a volcanic seamount the Reef has steep walls. The water around Osprey shelves to 1 000 metres within one kilometre of the reef edge. The lagoon is almost totally enclosed, with only a narrow entrance on the western side of the Reef. The maximum water depth within the lagoon is 30 metres. 

Conservation Significance
Osprey is an outstanding example of an oceanic reef, with unique topographical features and populations of big fish species not usually encountered elsewhere. This is due in part to the unusual current pattern in the region and the lack of fishing pressure in the area. Its remote offshore location has saved the Reef from many human influences that have severely degraded reefs closer to shore.

Osprey Reefs near pristine condition affords it high scientific value as a reference site for long-term research and monitoring. Its accessibility, via vessels such as Undersea Explorer who visit Osprey on a weekly basis, make it an important site for baseline, and in particular cross-shelf, studies. 

While not well-known scientifically, research to date has shown that Osprey Reef supports a diverse range of flora and fauna, including potentially undescribed species (refer following Section Previous Studies and Current Research). 

A wide range of marine algae, sponges, corals, molluscs, crustaceans and fish, including 'conservation dependent' species such as the potato cod and hump-headed maori wrasse have been recorded at Osprey Reef. 'Listed' species regularly sighted include green and loggerhead turtles. Loggerhead turtles have been observed mating at Osprey. Mega-fauna observed in waters in and immediately adjacent to Osprey Reef include sperm whales, beaked whales, bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, whale sharks, manta rays, marlin and sailfish. 

Osprey Reef is internationally renowned for its outstanding water clarity and its spectacular underwater scenery-including 1000 metre walls, caves and overhangs. The presence of large schools of tuna and barracuda, combined with its resident shark population has resulted in Osprey Reef becoming an increasingly popular destination for adventure diving and underwater filming. To date, these activities have held a strong educational and natural history focus. 

Physical Data

• Tidal data (1990 - 2000): held by AIMS (contact Craig Steinburg);

• Water temperature profiles (1998 - ongoing): dataloggers are currently deployed at North Horn and Admiralty entrance: data held by GBMPRA (contact David Haines);

• Water quality data: collected as a part of GBRMPA's long-term water quality monitoring program: Osprey represents the easternmost site on the Cooktown cross-shelf transect and is significant in that it is the only site unaffected by coastal influences: data held by GBRMPA (contact David Haines);

• Bio-erosion data: is available as a part of a cross shelf program assessing the rate of erosion versus the rate of building and colonisation by reef organisms for corals: Dr Pat Hutchings, Australian Museum; Dr Mirielle Peyrot, Institute of Marseille; Andy Dunstan, Undersea Explorer; and

• Geological survey data: miscellaneous: Dr John Gell, University of Queensland.

Biological Data

• Shark data (1994 - ongoing): collected as a part of Undersea Explorer's long term monitoring program researching the behaviour, growth and reproductive patterns of sharks at North Horn, Osprey Reef (contacts: Andy Dunstan, Undersea Explorer; Richard Fitzpatrick, Australian Shark Foundation; Dr Russ Andrews, University of British Columbia);

• Nautilus data (1996 - ongoing): collected weekly by Undersea Explorer with the aim to describe the taxonomy and morphology, movement patterns, growth rates, population size and structure of Nautilus pompilius at Osprey Reef (contact Andy Dunstan); 

• Reef Check data (1997 - ongoing): two sites at Osprey have been monitored on an annual basis as a part of this global reef survey. Monitoring takes place on permanently marked transects. Information collected includes substrate type, bleaching events and a range of target invertebrate and fish species: data held by Undersea Explorer (contact Andy Dunstan);

• Coral bleaching data (1997 - ongoing): Dr Kirsten Michaelek-Wagner, GBRMPA/Undersea Explorer project;

• Flourescent coral survey (2000 - ongoing): Dr Anya Salih, University of Sydney/Undersea Explorer project;

• Cephalopod data (1998 - ongoing): miscellaneous: Dr Mark Norman University of Melbourne/Melbourne Museum project;

• Plankton data (1999 - ongoing): miscellaneous: Dr Mark Norman, University of Melbourne/Undersea Explorer project;

• Marine mammal sightings: joint University of Queensland/Undersea Explorer project: (contact Dr Peter Arnold);

• Sponge and marine natural products program survey data (1997-1998): joint AIMS/Undersea Explorer program: data held by AIMS; and 

• Coralline sponge data: identification of living fossil sphinctozoan sponge colonies in shallow water caves at Osprey Reef: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschhaft (DFG) project (contacts G. Worheide & J. Reitner).

Appeal - (Click Here)

Against the shark fin trade in French Polynesia