CORAL REEFS IN CRISIS. Mudjimba Island

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1 CORAL REEFS IN CRISIS Mudjimba Island

2 LOCATION

3 REEF STRUCTURE - NORTH Fringing reef around a continental island, bigger drop off with slabs of rock Average water depth: 4 to 8 metres Higher diversity of coral species (plate coral, boulder coral, soft coral, branching coral) Coral closer to island due to less swell/wave impact Higher diversity of fish species Less algae due to less nutrients from coast and river runoff (WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NOT IDEAL WHEN VISITING THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE ISLAND)

4 SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - FISH Turtles (Logger head, Green Sea etc.) Butterfly Fish Damsel Fish Lion Fish Moray Eels Wrasse Wobbegong Shark Gobies Angel Fish Puffer Fish Surgeon Fish Morwong

5 SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - CORAL Plate Foliaceous Encrusting Soft Digitate

6 ZONING Mudjimba Island has no special zoning surrounding it, meaning people can freely roam, swim, fish and do recreational activities in the area. People can also go onto the land and drive motorised watercraft in the immediate surrounding area. This is detrimental to the marine area as it creates wash, runoff and pollution killing the fish and coral species in the area, causing harm to the reef ecosystem.

7 MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA The main purposes of the management plan are to; - Ensure biodiversity is maintained and the area is kept in its natural state. - Ensure Mudjimba Island remains an important cultural landmark on the Sunshine Coast. - Ensure visitors to the Island are monitored and controlled so that all flora and fauna found in the area are not affected. - Ensure the Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters are protected.

8 THREATS Threats to the Island and surrounding marine area include; - Runoff of sediments and nutrients (Mostly from airport) - Pollution from watercraft (Eg. Oil, Boat Maintenance, Sewage Discharge from boats, Falling cargo, Fishing) - Climate Change

9 BIBLIOGRAPHY Defenders of Wildlife, (2012). Threats to Coral Reefs. [online] Available at: [Accessed 17 Aug. 2015]. EPA, (2015). Managing Nonpoint Source Pollution from Boating and Marinas. [online] Available at: [Accessed 21 Aug. 2015]. EPA, (2015). What YOU can do to prevent NPS pollution. [online] Available at: [Accessed 24 Aug. 2015]. Population and Dwelling Profile. (2012). 1st ed. [ebook] Sunshine Coast: Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Available at: [Accessed 27 Aug. 2015].

10 BIBLIOGRAPHY Queensland, (2015). Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island Dive Site. [online] Available at: Old-Woman-Island-Dive-Site [Accessed 24 Aug. 2015]. WWF Global, (2015). Coral reefs: threats. [online] Available at: coral_threats/ [Accessed 21 Aug. 2015]. WWF Global, (2015). Threats to the Great Barrier Reef. [online] Available at: _marine/priority_ocean_places/great_barrier_reef/threats/ [Accessed 22 Aug. 2015]. Maroochy River Conservation Park. (1999). 1st ed. [ebook] Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Available at: [Accessed 15 Aug. 2015].