Crown-of-thorns culled

More than 60,000 crown-of-thorns starfish have been culled in a project to protect precious coral on the Great Barrier Reef.

Divers from the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators have culled the coral-eating starfish between Lizard Island and Cairns, as well as pockets in the Whitsunday.

The $1.43 million project began in August last year as a response to increased crown-of-thorn starfish sightings.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science published long-term data last year demonstrating coral cover on The Reef has declined by more than 50 per cent over the past 27 years -- with outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish being a major contributor, just behind cyclones. 

Fishing doesn't even rate a mention, yet bans are imminent in the sprawling new Marine Reserves.

To cull crown-of-thorns starfish, divers inject the animal with sodium bisulphate -- a biodegradable chemical considered harmless to other plants and animals on The Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Association is overseeing the program and working closely with the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators to determine which reefs need to be targeted based on information collected by the agency.

Thirteen Reef Guardian Councils from Bundaberg to Cooktown, covering almost 320,000 square kilometres of the Great Barrier Reef coastal catchment, are undertaking more than 920 projects in land, water and waste management, climate change, community education and capacity building, which are helping to improve the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Australian and Queensland governments are also working together to undertake a comprehensive strategic assessment of the entire Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area which will set its direction over the next 25 years and create an agreed long-term plan to deal with the multiple threats facing the Reef.