Far-North Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: survey report (Coral Trout and Coral Survey of the Far Northern Section)

Abstract

[Extract] Following a 7 day training trip 42 days were spent surveying selection of reefs throughout the Far-North Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. A total of 31 reefs, grouped in four broad cross-shelf transects were surveyed. The survey team was made up of six workers: four involved in general reconnaissance of coral and crown of thorns stars on each reef using the manta tow technique, and two workers making quantitative counts of-coral trout, crown of thorns, and some other organisms on part of each reef. In addition an attempt was made to ground-truth some satellite imagery of the Princess Charlotte Bay area. Prior to the survey trip Brian classification of the image was conducted in Canberra with the assistance of Dr. D. Jupp at CSIRO Division of Water and Land Resources. The results of this work will be the subject of a separate report. Apart from the formal survey information various other aspects of the Far-Northern reefs were noted during the trip and some of this information is presented here.