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Reef Catchments works with partners Wildmob and Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. to deliver the Islands Programme.   This programme is funded through the Australian Governments National Landcare Program.  The program is run in partnership with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to rehabilitate and conserve the islands of the Mackay, Whitsunday, Isaac region.

With a focus on education, Wildmob runs Island Conservation Expeditions that take volunteers to camp on the islands for a few days.  This gives volunteers the opportunity to contribute to a hands-on program focused on island rehabilitation and conservation while re-connecting with nature and learning valuable skills.   Works conducted include weed control and removal of marine debris.  Islands visited in 2015-2017 include Shaw, Percy, Goldsmith and Avoid Islands.   Trips have also collected valuable opportunistic turtle nesting data and wildlife sighting information.

Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. has a huge volunteer pool that conducts day trips to the islands and mainland coasts to remove marine debris.   With around ten volunteers on each trip the Eco Barge clears huge amounts of debris from the environment.   All debris is sorted and counted and data uploaded into the Tangaroa Blue National Marine Debris Database.

In 2015/16 over 103 individuals volunteered more than 293 days to protect and enhance island ecosystems.   Each year over 30 ha of priority island areas have been rehabilitated.  More than 4.2 tonnes of marine debris was removed from over 150 ha of coastline across 17 islands and mainland locations in 2015/16.

Over the programmes completion (2013-2018) achievements include:

  • Engagement of over 160 volunteers
  • More than 8.9 tonnes of marine debris removed from the environment
  • Invasive weed control across more than 150 ha of endangered and high value island ecosystems

Monitoring Organisation Reef Catchments

Name Katrina Dent

Phone 4968 4207

Email katrina.dent@reefcatchments.com

Position in organisation General Manager

Activity Type land management (e.g. revegetation, pest and weed management)

Activity Indicators water quality in inshore marine zones

Activity location Central inshore zone, Northern inshore zone

Frequency of monitoring

Monitoring Start Date 01/07/2015

30/06/2018

Location of monitoring data

Date quality / confidence

Website URL http://reefcatchments.com.au/coasts-marine/island-rescue/

Collaborators Wildmob, Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc.

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