ReefBlitz kicks off in Moreton Bay

Amateur scientists – including children - will be able to work with experts to study the health of coral, seagrasses and mangroves this month during a ReefBlitz stretching from Port Douglas to Moreton Bay.

The activities – which aim to protect local marine habitats and wildlife - will this year be held in south-east Queensland for the first time.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles, who today (Saturday) previewed the range of citizen science events planned for Moreton Bay, said the month-long ReefBlitz was “designed for the whole family”.

“It’s critical we start teaching our younger generations how they can protect our waterways and their local environment,” Dr Miles said on board the MV Inspiration for today’s ReefBlitz cruise.

“I’m delighted to support this event, which puts residents in direct contact with dedicated volunteers who are monitoring the health of local ecosystems.

“Come and discover Moreton Bay’s amazing marine environment and find out more about local corals, seagrasses and mangroves,” Dr Miles said.

The ReefBlitz kicked-off with a dive and Reef Check survey at North Stradbroke Island, and will include hands-on and educational activities throughout Moreton Bay tomorrow (Sunday).

Member for Lytton Joan Pease encouraged as “many people as possible to take part’ and become “scientists even for a day’.

“It’s easy to join in these fun and fascinating citizen science events – you don’t even have to get wet,” Ms Pease said.

“We need to encourage more people to start looking after these precious habitats, right in Brisbane’s backyard”.

ReefBlitz is an initiative of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation with support from the Queensland Government, Boeing, Orica, Qantas and event partner the Great Barrier Reef Citizen Science Alliance.

This is the third year ReefBlitz has been held and the first time events will be staged in multiple locations across a whole month.

Around 30 events are planned for Port Douglas, Cairns, Central Queensland and Moreton Bay and every observation uploaded in October will count towards creating the biggest snapshot of Reef health and life powered by citizen science.

Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said she was excited about ReefBlitz being extended for the first time to south east Queensland and Moreton Bay.

“Moreton Bay has an important connection with the Great Barrier Reef, with migrating animals such as turtles and whales using the area as feeding grounds,” Ms Marsden said.

 “This is a wonderful opportunity for people to get up close to the reefs and marine creatures on our doorstep, viewing them alongside our citizen science experts who have a real passion for protecting and monitoring these precious environments.

“As well as enjoying a great experience out on the water or by the Bay, ReefBlitzers will capture and contribute valuable information about the health of our reefs and marine ecosystems,” she said.

Twelve activities will be on offer tomorrow (Sunday) on Moreton Bay and a ReefBlitz Basecamp will be set up at the Manly Creative Markets at Little Bayside Park, Manly from 8am to 3pm.

“At the basecamp, people will also be able to virtually visit the Great Barrier Reef via QUT’s ‘Monitoring Through Many Eyes’ initiative, using virtual reality headsets to take part in an innovative citizen science study,” Ms Marsden said.

“Then ReefBlitz will be heading north to Central Queensland, Cairns and Port Douglas with more activities and events through to the end of October.

“People who are already out on the Reef or planning to be this month can also get involved. They can snap, count and upload what they see through one of these five citizen science programs: Eye on the Reef, CoralWatch, Project Manta, Redmap and Tangaroa Blue. I hope locals and visitors alike will both enjoy and make a positive impact with their Reef experiences this October.”

Many of the activities are free, while others are low cost. You also need to register for some events.

Activities include:

·       Reef Check surveys on North Stradbroke Island

·       keeping watch on seagrass at Manly and Thorneside

·       seagrass spot checks

·       monitoring mangroves

·       super saltmarsh savers

·       Moreton Bay cruises.

Check out the range of ReefBlitz activities and register for specific events at www.reefblitz.com.