Ecological Facts & Information
Islandive.com Pty Ltd has been granted “Advanced Eco-Certification” from Ecotourism Australia
Overview:
Islandive.com Pty Ltd has always maintained that our business and the ecology of the area are intrinsically linked. While you are sailing with us, we will endeavour to show you the very best of the Whitsunday area and in the most ecological the sound way. Our staff is trained above industry standards to maintain the area in which they work space (both above the waterline and below) and see that it is in pristine condition for the next generations to experience.
In keeping with this standard, we have prepared an overview of some areas of interest in order to better prepare you to enjoy your experience with us. Along with the information provided, we also have listed some Web links you to further your knowledge more extensively should you be interested.
These brief overviews are contained in 8 main sections, as listed below.
- Ecotourism – Definition and Certification
- History of the Whitsunday Islands
- Historic Heritage - General and Indigenous
- Cultural Heritage
- Natural Heritage
- Conservation
- Marine Life and Wildlife
- General Guidelines
Although these only brief overviews, you may provide you with a little more information to understand why we love this area so much, and insight into the who, what, why and how! This information has been duplicated and is available on board for your perusal.
Please feel free to ask any of our staff if you have any questions on any subject, it is quite likely they will have an answer but if not, they will endeavour to get one for you. We hope you enjoy your tour with us, and hope the information following provides with information to you make your stay with us even more enjoyable and enhances your Whitsunday experience.
What is Ecotourism?
The definition of ecotourism adopted by Ecotourism Australia is:
"Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation".
Ecotourism Australia believes that the ultimate definition of ecotourism is compliance with the core criteria stated within the Eco Certification Program.
Tourism operators in Australia who have their tour, attraction or accommodation accredited under the Eco Certification Program can genuinely claim to provide authentic ecotourism product.
There are three (3) levels of certification: Nature Tourism, Ecotourism, and Advanced Ecotourism being the highest.
More Information regarding the Accreditation Program and its quality can be found at the official Ecotourism website:
http://www.ecotourism.org.au/eco_certification.asp
What is the Eco Certification Program?
The Eco certification program is a world first. It has been developed by the industry or industry, addressing the need to identify genuine ecotourism and nature tourism operators in Australia, and is quickly spreading to the world stage.
NB: The text on this page is a direct copy from Ecotourism Australia, this and other valuable information can be accessed at http://www.ecotourism.org.au
The Whitsunday Islands were originally formed by volcanic action. However, after the last glacial period (30 to 50 000 years ago) the sea level rose, leaving the higher coastal peaks as islands. |
In 1770, the Cumberland Islands were discovered by Lieutenant James Cook. On the Christian holiday “Whitsunday” Lt. Cook sailed through and named the passage between the northern islands, the Whitsunday Passage. Later, once surveyed, the Cumberland Islands were divided into smaller groups - the Whitsunday Group, the Lindeman Group, the Anchor Islands and the Sir James Smith Group.
During the mid 1800s the Whitsunday Group was the first to attract the attention of the pioneers of the mainland coast. In the 1880s, grazing leases were granted for the islands. It was not until the 1920s that 'dreamers' built galvanised iron huts for guests. Cruise ship passengers rowed ashore for tropical fruits, tea and scones. The first day trippers from the mainland were the Prosperpine residents. They arrived on the island aboard the weekly mail boat.
In 1962, the islands became more accessible when the road from Airlie Beach to Shute Harbour and the jetty were completed.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the richest, most complex and diverse ecosystems in the world. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park begins at the tip of Cape York in Queensland and extends south almost to Bundaberg. The area is larger than Victoria and Tasmania combined and stretches more than 2300km along the north-east coast of Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. It stretches over 2,600 kilometers (an area bigger than the United Kingdom, Holland and Switzerland combined) and comprises of 2,900 individual reefs and 600 islands. Of which the Whitsunday Islands consists of 74 islands. Key Facts about the Great Barrier Reef:
- The Great Barrier Reef has been listed as one of the as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
- It is the world’s biggest living organism and is built by billions of tiny organisms known as coral polyps.
- The Great Barrier Reef is the only living structure that can be seen from outer space.
- Research suggests that the Barrier Reef was formed 600,000 years ago. With the current reef structure starting to grow on the original platform 20,000 years ago, due to sea levels rising the current reef is anywhere from 6000-8000 years old.
- The reef will only grow in diameter from 1 to 3 cm per year and grow vertically anywhere from 1-25cm per year.
- The reef has 1,500 species of fish, 359 types of hard coral, one third of the world's soft corals, 175 bird species, six of the world's seven species of threatened marine turtle and more than 30 species of marine mammals including vulnerable dugongs.
http://www.acn.net.au/articles/greatbarrierreef/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef
http://wwf.org.au/ourwork/oceans/gbr/
History – Captain James Cook sailed through the Whitsunday Passage during his voyage around Australia in 1770. It’s believed he travelled through the area on the ancient British festival of Whit Sunday (the Seventh Sunday after Easter), thus where the name Whitsunday comes from. It was the mid 1800s when people settled in the area. Explorer George Dalrymple passed through the area on his way north in 1859, naming the area Proserpina – the Roman name for the Greek goddess of fertility, Persephone. The early European settlers were mainly timber-getters, pastoralists and sugarcane farmers. The islands were opened up for grazing leases in the 1880s but it was not until the 1920s when tourism developed as another industry to service the area. Airlie Beach was formed in 1936. 74 islands sit in the Whitsunday Passage – most of them remain uninhabited and have been gazetted national parks. Meanwhile, James Morrill was the first European to settle in the Bowen region after he was shipwrecked just north of the area. Bowen is North Queensland’s oldest town and was established in 1861, two years after the former governor of New South Wales, Sir William Denison, posted a reward of one thousand pounds for anyone who found a suitable port north of Rockhampton. Captain Henry Daniel Sinclair was the person to do this in 1859. Captain Sinclair discovered Port Denison whilst sailing up the coast and it was described as second only to Sydney’s Port Jackson. Captain Sinclair led a sea party back to the area in 1861 (this included George Dalrymple) and Bowen was then founded. However, no reward was given to Captain Sinclair because during this time the colony of Queensland was declared and Sir Denison was less keen to hand out the reward. Bowen was named after the first governor of Queensland Sir George Ferguson Bowen. Bowen initially had a significant role as a service port for the vast hinterland but that reduced over time as more towns were opened up in north Queensland. Now it has the largest single coal mining area in Australia.
Cultural
Indigenous tribes – Ngaro and Girudala people
The first settlers of the Whitsunday Islands were an Aboriginal community called the Ngaro; they were also one of the earliest recorded Aboriginal groups in Australia. Their territory in general was the Whitsunday Islands and some of the mainland, because of this they were often described as the Islander People. Archeological evidence suggests that they settled here 8000 years prior to European settlement.
Nara Inlet (Hook Island) is one place where there has been rock art found in caves. Also stone axes and other cutting tools have been found in a stone quarry on South Molle Island. Middens where also found in Nara Inlet. Middens are refuse heaps that contain large amounts of leftover shell (from meals of shell fish), stones, charcoal and bones. Middens identify what type of food was eaten, which areas people inhabited, and how long they inhabited them for. The middens found in Nara inlet date back 2500 years. Other middens found around the Islands date back to 8000 years ago. These middens of the Ngaro tribe consisted of crabs, rock platform species, sea turtles and a small whale. Terrestrial fauna such as marsupials, rodents, reptiles, lizards, snakes and birds were also found as well as many edible plants. The large deposits of sea shells indicate that shellfish were an important part of the diet. The strong, sharp edges of the shell also made an important tool for gutting animals and removing bark from trees.
The first documented sighting of the Ngaro tribe was by Captain James Cook. While exploring the Whitsunday Passage in 1770 Captain Cook sighted two Ngaro people. His description was "On a sandy beach upon one of the islands, we saw two people and a canoe with an outrigger, which appeared to be both larger and differently built to any we have seen upon the coast."
The Ngaro built sturdy three-piece bark canoes that were capable of open sea journeys. In their occupation as maritime hunters and gathers the men became skilled navigators. Accounts have been made of sightings of Aborigine paddling from Double Cone Island to South Molle Island which is a distance of 21km. Also evidence suggests trade links between coastal and hinterland Aboriginal groups of the region.
You can get a lot more detailed information on the traditional owners of The Great Barrier Reef at the websites below.
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation/heritage
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/indigenous_partnerships
http://www.reefed.edu.au/home/explorer/hot_topics/gbr_traditional_owners
Heritage
Heritage is all the things that make up Australia's identity - our spirit and ingenuity, our historic buildings, and our unique, living landscapes. Our heritage is a legacy from our past, a living, integral part of life today, and the stories and places we pass on to future generations.
Australian heritage places are included on different heritage lists. On the webpage link below you can use a map to find places in Australia on the World and National heritage lists.
http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/index.html
Heritage includes places, values, traditions, events and experiences that capture where we've come from, where we are now and gives context to where we are headed as a community.
Our heritage gives us understanding and conveys the stories of our development as a nation, our spirit and ingenuity, and our unique, living landscapes. Heritage is an inheritance that helps define our future.
By identifying, protecting and managing our heritage we are conserving a valuable asset and ensuring that those places will continue to be experienced and enjoyed by future generations.
Our heritage is managed by various levels of government and peak bodies that identify and list places for their heritage values. Significant heritage places are identified and grouped (by type) into lists that guide the protection and management of heritage values.
Australia currently has 17 places included on the world heritage list, which identifies heritage that is of outstanding universal value.
Find out about Australia's national heritage, comprising natural and cultural places of outstanding heritage value to the nation.
Indigenous heritage is an important part of Australian heritage. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a long historical and ongoing link with the land.
Commonwealth Heritage comprises natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places on Commonwealth lands and waters or under Australian Government control.
More than 6500 historic shipwrecks lie beyond Australia's shores. Each has a unique story and an important place in our heritage.
Objects that people create or collect can be an important part of our cultural heritage and must be protected from illegal sale and export.
Have a question about our heritage? The Australian Heritage Council is the Government's independent expert advisory body on heritage matters, and is your first stop to getting an answer. They can also direct you to other sources, their Website is below.
http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/index.html
Environmental Threats
Climate Change is one of the significant threats to the Great Barrier Reef, mass coral bleaching has occurred over the years due to rising ocean temperatures and it is likely that coral bleaching will occur annually. In 2002 the GBR experienced its worse case of Coral Bleaching with 60% of the coral bleached to some degree.
Corals are very sensitive to heat; the main cause of coral bleaching is a reaction to sea temperature change. As the temperature rises it blocks the photosynthesis process poisoning the coral. The coral becomes stressed and bleaches, taking away its unique bright colours and turning into a bleached white. Once bleached the coral can eventually die and break off its structure. If coral dies eventually the sea life around living within the coral will die also.
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation
http://www.science.org.au/nova/076/076key.htm
http://www.carbonneutral.com/pages/climatechange.asp
Other reasons for coral bleaching can include:
- Exposure to ultra violet radiation
- Run off; dirt and sand sediment
- Storm water from heavy rains and flooding
- Exposure to certain diseases and chemicals
Ways of protecting against Coral Bleaching is creating marine parks that are not inhabited by fishing and boating, also reporting coral bleaching, although the GBRMPA monitors coral bleaching through tourist awareness we can help identify coral bleaching across the GBR.
http://wwf.org.au/ourwork/oceans/gbr/
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/what_is_coral_bleaching
http://www.carbonneutral.com/pages/climatechange.asp
The crown of thorns is a predator to the coral reef, over the years there have been reports of an outbreak of this species. It kills the coral by climbing onto the coral polyps and digesting the liquefied tissues of the coral. An individual crown of thorns can wipe out 6sq meters of coral per year.
Healthy reefs can recover from an attack but it can take between 10-20 years to do so.
Pollution and poor water quality run off from land can have a detrimental effect on the GBR. In tropical season rain water can wash into the ocean which is contaminated with farm pesticides and fertilizers. Due to the use of wetlands around the barrier reef being used for housing and other related buildings, it has prevented land filter systems and so now the run off goes directly into the ocean.
Other factors affecting the GBR are Cyclones, Oil spills and shipping accidents. You can find out more at the website below:
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/pollution/index.html
Reef Conservation
Conservation: Preservation is the key in the protection and preservation of the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is classified as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, and is listed as a natural world heritage area. 2 million people visit the Great Barrier Reef each year to experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Raising awareness in conservation will help protect and preserve this area and surrounding area.
The GBR has a huge variety of sea life living within the reef, some of which have been classified as endangered or protected species. The reason these species have been identified is because they are either endangered, at risk of endangerment or have been identified as iconic to the Australian culture.
These species include:
- Some shells - helmet shells, triton shells, tridacnid clams
- Some fish - seahorses, pipefish, sea dragons, potato cod, Queensland grouper, barramundi cod, Maori wrasse, all groupers (Epinephelus) more than 100cm
- Some sharks - whale shark, grey nurse shark, great white shark, freshwater sawfish
- Sea snakes
- Crocodiles
- Marine Turtles
- Birds
- Whales and Dolphins
- Dugongs
- Seals
You Can Do Your Bit!
Each person living or visiting Queensland (or anywhere in the world for that matter) can play their part by avoiding practices which damage habitats, by not polluting the area, by increasing our awareness of species in the areas we use, and by reporting malpractices and the sightings of unusual species etc. The websites below each section can give you help and information. There's even websites for young children, right through to primary and secondary school ( the”ReefHQ” website for children and teenagers is listed below). Our best hope is educating the next generation, whilst doing everything we can now.
http://www.reefhq.com.au/
Become Carbon Neutral
The earth’s atmosphere, like our own bodies, cools or warms until the energy ‘inputs’ (radiation from the sun) are in balance with energy lost through cooling. Certain gases in the atmosphere (called Greenhouse Gases or GHGs) ) act like feathers in a duvet – they trap and hold heat in the atmosphere and influence the temperature at which the global atmosphere is in balance. The more GHGs in the atmosphere, the higher the global temperature (the more feathers in a duvet, the warmer it is). Our first step is to calculate what our “carbon footprint” and is, and then work out the best way trust to reduce or alleviate it. This can be done a number of ways including planting trees, reducing emissions, etc. If you visit some other year websites listed below. You will be other get greater knowledge in this area, and even calculate your personal carbon footprint.
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonfootprint.html
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
http://www.carbonneutral.com/pages/whatiscarbonneutral.asp
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation
Bleach Watch
Bleach watch is a community based project that monitors coral bleaching on the reef. It was set up by the GBRMPA in 2002. It is a massive part of GBRMPA Coral Bleaching Response Plan. By reporting on coral bleaching within the area helps detect early stages of coral bleaching events. It also will help the GBRMPA research the effects of coral bleaching and help improve our understanding of this unique reaction and the effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef.
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/bleach_watch2.html
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/how_do_i_participate.html
The Great Barrier Reef is a colossal eco-system that is so large that it can be seen from space! It is 2500 km long and stretches from Gladstone on the Queensland coast to beyond the northern most tip of Australia. It covers an area of 132,819 square miles, that’s bigger than New Zealand’s North Island. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is made up of three types of reefs; Ribbon Reef, Plate Reef and Fringing Reef. Here in the Whitsundays you can explore all three! Whether you walk in from the beach to explore the exquisite fringing reefs that surround the islands, or dive in from the back of your boat into the crystal clear deep blue waters of Hook, Hardy or Bait Reefs, adventure is sure to be around every turn.
While exploring the reef you can witness many forms of life bustling before your eyes, including the magnificent corals that make up this incredible eco-system. The coral reef is home to seven types of hard corals:
- Boulder or Massive
- Branching
- Plate
- Table
- Vase
- Bushy
- Solitary
In addition to these hard corals there are soft corals and as their name suggests, these corals are soft and seam to float and drift with the surge and current like grass in the breeze. All these corals provide the environments for other aquatic life to live in, on or around.
With thousands of different species of fish and other forms of aquatic life, it is impossible be disappointed with the diversity on display at the reef. The most common fishes, plants and animals are easily recognizable with the aid of your professional crew. So don’t hesitate to ask as the crew who will be happy to show you through the books and identification charts. They are committed to the highest service and they enjoy teaching and educating you on reef systems, fish behaviour and even tell you which fish change sex!
So from the smallest nudibranch to the largest humpback whale your adventure of a lifetime is waiting for you to jump in and explore. What are you waiting for!
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is home to approximately: (of which approximately 80% of the species can only be found here.)
- 1,500 species of fish
- 400 species of corals
- 4,000 species of molluscs
- 500 species of seaweed
- 215 species of birds
- 16 species of sea snake
- 6 species of sea turtle
The magnificent humpback whale visits the Eastern coast of Australia every year during the months of late July through till October on their annual pilgrimage to warmer waters.
On this journey large males or “Bulls” play together giving you the opportunity to see natural whale behaviour up close, whether it be a cheeky glance or fin slap, to an enormous breach in which the whale can soar up to 3 meters into the air and come crashing back down into a plume of water and white spray.
Females accompany their young during this journey or for the very lucky you can witness child, or whale, birth first hand and watch the mother teaching her offspring to swim and take its first breaths. Truly a once in a lifetime experience!
Watch these gentle giants of the oceans from the serenity of your vessel and learn more about their behaviour from our experienced and knowledgeable crew.
Early in the season you can also see pilot whales in vast groups or “pods”. Commonly mistaken for killer whales and giving them the second name “False Killer Whales” these smaller whales delight onlookers as they roam around the Whitsunday Islands feeding and playing with boats
Also Dwarf Minke Whales visit the area during their annual migration, to great interest from researchers, who know very little about these elusive animals.
The two most common dolphins to be seen all year round in the Whitsundays are the spinner dolphin and the easily recognisable bottle nose dolphin. These intelligent animals are playful, family oriented animals that never fail to delight the young and old alike. At night you can even witness feeding as dolphins have a sweet tooth for squid and it’s quite common to see mother and baby feeding around your boat where the food is lit up by the boats lights. Although it is unlikely to see one jump through a hoop while balancing a beach ball on his nose!
Many people say that swimming with dolphins is a lifelong dream and here in the Whitsundays is where that dream may become a reality!
The silent and graceful Manta ray also is a seasonal visitor to the Whitsundays. During the months of July and August these huge rays, sometimes as big as 4 meters across soar around the shallow reefs feeding on microscopic plankton. Their timid nature provides an unforgettable experience for any diver or snorkeler whom they come across.
The Whitsunday Islands are made up of about 90 continental islands that were once an inland mountain range, until approximately 10,000 years ago when in the last ice age, the ice cap melted and the valleys flooded. This isolated the mountain range and turned it into now what we know as the beautiful Whitsunday Islands, with 74 recognized islands, 8 being inhabited.
This wonderfully diverse National Park is home to more than 1100 plant species and over 800 recorded animals. Whilst you are traveling within the Whitsunday National Park, please consider that everything you touch will have consequences on the environment. It is not just under the water that we have the rule, PLEASE Don’t Touch; it is protection for the flora, fauna and marine life, and you too! Many life forms in far north Queensland will aggressively defend their homes, whether it is in a green ants nest amongst the trees or a patch of sand that the damsel fish calls home on the ocean floor. One of Islandive’s favourite sayings is, “Take only photos, leave only bubbles.”
We are always asked, “What will I see?” So here are some of the more readily seen animals that you will see on land. Check out our Marine Life page for ocean going critters!
The Lace Monitor Lizard is one of the most commonly sighted reptiles here, along with the Sand Goanna. They can get up to roughly 1 meter in length and are very curious about humans. This is mostly due to visitors feeding them. As you know is not a good idea, as whatever we are going to feed them is not a part of their natural diet. They are not dangerous but can be aggressive if teased. The lace monitor is great fun to watch and really quite beautiful.
The most famous of the Whitsunday birds are the Beach Stone Curlew, the Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite and the Osprey. The song of the beach stone-curlew can be quite startling when you first hear it. They emit a long wailing sound at night whilst looking for their favourite food, crabs. They are rarely seen flying as all their work is being done on the ground. Look out for their nests just above the high tide mark.
When you are on the beach keep an eye on the crabs scuttling towards their holes to hide from the hungry chestnut and white Brahminy Kite.
Looking up at the ever changing Whitsunday sky, you may be so lucky as to see the white bellied sea eagle and the smaller Osprey hunting over the ocean in search of their next fish dinner. They follow the winds slowly ever watchful for that ripple on the surface which spurs them into action. They plunge towards the sea with surprising speed, less than a second later they are off again with dinner firmly clench in their sharp claws. These raptors have their nests throughout the Whitsunday Islands and are best observed at a respectful distance through binoculars.
The Common Green Tree Frog abundantly populates Far North Queensland, mostly in outdoor structures, pipes, bathrooms and toilets. They are a stunning green on their backs and white underneath. They are harmless and love a moist environment. So next time you’re off to the “loo” (bathroom) check for our friendly green mates.
As you slowly take in the beauty of our National Park you are sure to see a large glittering yellow spider web attached between trees. This is the home of the Golden Orb –weaving spider. Their web is semi permanent and is their home. It is the female who dominates the web and is much larger than the male. If you look closely at the web during mating season, you may see the smaller male on the edge waiting for his chance to mate. However this can be a daring move, as the female, if she is not happy about it, will cannibalise the male.
Amongst the tree foliage you will see the very industrious Green Tree Ant in the hundreds. It is easily recognized by its strikingly green hind section. In the large more mature colonies, there can be over 100,000 workers that have built more than 100 nests. This is no democracy, with only a single queen to co ordinate their efforts.
The green any is most famous for its construction methods when building the nest. Leaves are pulled together by chains of workers, and 'weaved' into place using silk from larvae. Be very careful not to appease your curiosity by touching or hitting the nests, as you will be chased away by hundreds of cranky ants with sharp teeth!
When in any national Park or world heritage listed area there are at a couple of General guidelines should be observed. Rules that helped us have a minimal impact on the areas we are visiting and enjoying.
“The only thing you're allowed to take is pictures and the only thing you are allowed to leave our footprints (or bubbles if you were in the water)” is a good general rule applies to most protected areas. If you are taking foodstuffs into an area make sure you take the wrappers and any remains from the area when you leave. Any cigarette butts must not be left in the area or thrown overboard when at sea; they must be removed and disposed of properly. Please note that it is preferred that you don't smoke in natural areas.
Please stay on the walkways, and avoid making new tracks as this will minimalise the impact on the natural area and wildlife. Also, you may intrude on culturally sensitive areas that you are not allowed to visit. What may seem to be a minor excursion may have significant negative results.
Please listen to your guides as they are trained and familiar with the area, and can be restricted in the areas they are allowed to visit.
Conclusion:
We here at Islandive.com hope this information will make your experience a little bit more enjoyable. Obviously this is only a brief overview of each of the areas, however. There are plenty of websites listed to continue your research. A small amount of effort on our part can make such a big difference to the way we live our lives in the future of our planet, and the best day to start is today. Happy sailing!
