Cumberland Charter Yachts Responsible Reef Practices: When enjoying the many different activities and experiences on the Great Barrier Reef, it is important to enjoy them in a responsible and environmentally 'reef friendly' way. This can easily be done by following the Responsible Reef Practices below: Anchoring and mooring The Great Barrier Reef offers visitors stunning vistas both above and below the water, but it contains some very fragile environments. An act as simple as hoisting an anchor overboard may have a significant impact on the world below. It may be years before the damaged area recovers or, in some cases, the coral may never return to its former glory. By taking a little extra care when anchoring and using moorings where available, you will help protect this delicate underwater landscape. When anchoring Examine the area before anchoring to find the best location Anchor in sand or mud away from corals Anchor away from fragile or sensitive areas including bird and turtle nesting areas, Indigenous heritage sites and shipwrecks Anchor your boat a safe distance away from other boats Look out for the safety of people in the water when dropping your anchor Never wrap the anchor rope or chain around bommies or large coral heads If anchoring ashore, carefully place the anchor to minimise shore and coastal damage If anchoring overnight, anchor before nightfall and double check the swing room Carry enough chain and line for the depth you want to anchor in Use the correct anchor for your situation and environment Retrieve the anchor when the line is vertical If the anchor is caught on the reef, free it by hand wherever possible Do not force the anchor free by motoring forward Use only as much chain as you need to hold the vessel, without compromising safety Keep watch to make sure the anchor isn t dragging Motor towards the anchor when hauling it in When mooring Do not attach your vessel to a damaged mooring When picking up a mooring: o Motor into the wind toward the buoy o Avoid running over the pick-up line o Use a boat hook to retrieve the pick-up line o Attach the line to a strong point or bollard on the vessel Use public moorings where available When using a public mooring, read and follow the advice given on an information disc attached to the pick-up line Vacate a public mooring as soon as you can to allow access for others
Good Neighbour Practices Be courteous towards all other reef users (recreational and commercial) that share your location - always act professionally, and in a responsible manner. Make radio contact with other vessels at the site to determine the activities they are doing, and where they are doing them. Try to match your activities to the setting around you and to the activities of others at the site. Be particularly conscious of the amount of noise you are making. Avoid disturbing the activities of others that are already under way. Be aware of safety issues in the area. Let other users know if there are any concerns. Follow local site arrangements and codes of conduct, where applicable. Anchor at the maximum safe and practical distance from other vessels to ensure privacy for all concerned. If divers are in the area, double check their location before moving your vessel. Diving and snorkelling Diving and snorkelling are some of the best ways to take in the spectacular underwater views that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer, and to come face-to-face with its captivating marine life. Although divers and snorkellers have had minimal impact upon the Great Barrier Reef so far, there are times when some divers and snorkellers can get a little too close and may stress the marine life or crush and break corals. Most damage occurs as a result of those who are unable to maintain good control in the water (for example, through fighting a current, or trying to get a closer look, or taking photographs). By having good snorkel and dive practices, you'll be able to preserve this special world for others to experience. Enhance the quality of your dive experience by learning about the environment you'll visit Practice buoyancy control over sand patches before approaching a reef - test buoyancy whenever you're using new equipment such as new wetsuits, buoyancy control devices (BCDs) and cameras Make sure you are properly weighted before diving near a reef Check that all your dive gear is secure before you get into the water so that it doesn't dangle and catch on the reef Move slowly and deliberately in the water, relax and take your time - avoid rapid changes in direction Avoid making sudden or loud noises underwater Avoid leaning on, holding onto or touching any part of the reef - this is particularly important when you are taking underwater photographs Avoid kicking up and disturbing the sand if you're over a sandy area Avoid touching any animals or plants Avoid feeding fish Stay more than one metre away from giant clams Keep clear of free-swimming animals (such as turtles, whales and sea snakes). In particular, do not chase, ride, grab or block the path of these animals Avoid relocating any marine life, particularly when taking photos and filming. Waste (including sewage) and litter. The Great Barrier Reef's crystal clear turquoise water is one of its most alluring qualities and never fails to draw gasps of delight and amazement. How you dispose of waste water and litter can make a big difference to the quality of the water. Waste water may contain high levels of nutrients, and coral reef ecology is extremely sensitive to even a slight decline in water quality. Litter is unsightly and a significant danger to wildlife. There is also a great need for caution in your use of chemicals. By chemicals, we mean all the substances you use in your operation, both the hazardous and the harmless. Please continue to help keep the Reef beautiful and safe by observing these very simple, yet incredibly important practices.
Greywater CCY use biodegradable and environmentally friendly chemicals for cleaning and maintenance When discharging the holding tanks, make sure you're as far as possible from reefs and islands. Litter Do not throw rubbish (such as food scraps, plastic, paper, fishing gear and cigarette butts) overboard - take it back to shore for proper disposal Secure all loose articles, clothing and towels on the deck, to prevent them blowing off or accidentally falling overboard Retrieve everything dropped overboard Retrieve all entangled fishing gear, where possible Collect all litter from the water and the Reef whenever you see it. Collection bags are provided on board. Around turtles The Great Barrier Reef gives visitors some special opportunities to closely observe the life cycle of one of nature's most ancient and fascinating creatures, the marine turtle. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a critical foraging and nesting area to six of the world s seven turtle species. Globally, marine turtle numbers are rapidly declining which makes this Australian nursery even more significant. It s vital that you be particularly careful when boating in areas known to have turtle populations or when you re watching turtle nesting. Report entangled, stranded or dead turtles. Never touch, grab or lean on turtles, hatchlings or eggs Do not try to feed turtles Do not light campfires on turtle nesting beaches. When viewing from boats Be on the look out for surfacing turtles in areas such as shallow reef flats and seagrass beds. Travel slowly in these areas, with no wake If a turtle is close to your vessel, engage neutral and allow the animal to move freely Do not encircle or trap turtles with vessels. Allow an escape route Do not drive your vessel over a turtle Do not pursue turtles if they try to avoid the vessel or flee the area. Around whales and dolphins Few wildlife experiences could compare to the sight of a massive whale majestically rising out of the water and flopping backwards, or a pod of dolphins playfully showing off their acrobatic skills. By following these responsible practices when you re in the vicinity of whales and dolphins, you re not only playing a big part in their conservation but you re also providing a safe environment to watch them. Report sick, injured, stranded or dead whales or dolphins. Also report if your vessel accidentally strikes a whale.
When boating around whales Be alert and watch out for whales at all times, particularly during whale migration season (May to September) Post a look out to keep an eye out for whales if they are suspected in the vicinity Do not approach or disturb mothers and calves never place a boat between them Always move in a parallel direction to the whale or dolphin Do not use engine sound or speed to attempt to influence the behaviour of a whale When you re leaving an area where whales were present, turn the motor on, post a look out, and move off slowly Slow down to minimise the risk of collision where whales have been sighted Report any boat strikes and reassure your passengers that the relevant authorities have been contacted to assist the whale. When boating around dolphins Do not intentionally drive through a pod of dolphins to try to get them to bow-ride some dolphins don t bow ride, and can become disturbed near boats If you do come across dolphins bow riding, maintain a constant speed and direction. When viewing whales and dolphins Never try to overtake whales or dolphins Avoid making sudden noise, speed or direction changes Be quiet when you are near a whale or dolphin Let the whale or dolphin control the situation do not try to round up or herd Move away immediately if the whales or dolphins suddenly change behaviour and appear agitated. Behaviours that indicate that boats should move away include: o Bumping the vessel o Rapid changes in swimming direction or speed o Erratic behaviour o Escape behaviour such as prolonged deep dives o Tail slapping or swishing.
Visiting islands and beaches There are over 74 islands within the Whitsundays. Many easily accessible and offer some of the best settings in the world to relax explore and watch the natural world go by. When you visit an island you are visiting someone's home: these picture perfect locations are refuges for abundant fauna and flora sensitive to human disturbance. It's therefore critical if you pay a visit to any of these fragile sanctuaries that you 'tread lightly' and leave only footprints behind. By following the responsible practices outlined below, you're helping to ensure the environment that attracted you remains exactly as it was before you arrived. Access islands at high tide to minimise the potential damage to coral reef flats Remove all seeds from clothing and shoes before going ashore and before leaving the island Stay on marked trails, do not trample vegetation or break branches from trees and shrubs If nearby wildlife seems agitated, stop your activities and move away Be quiet - loud or sudden noises can disturb and stress wildlife, and annoy fellow visitors Do not disturb nesting seabirds or turtles - avoid making loud noises, using strong lights or making sudden movements near their nests Do not feed animals Do not collect shells, seeds or other natural 'souvenirs' - take only photos and memories back with you Do not disturb cultural sites (for example, shell middens and fish traps) Take all rubbish (such as food scraps, cigarette butts, plastic and paper) back to the mainland and dispose of it properly Collect any litter found on the island and take it with you. Bird watching With an estimated 175 species, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park boasts an incredible collection of birdlife some are year round residents, while thousands of others use the Marine Park as a much needed pit stop during their exhausting annual migration. Many of the Reef s islands are internationally significant breeding and nesting sites and offer an amazing wildlife experience. The birds, however, are particularly vulnerable during nesting and it s vital that special care is taken not to disturb them. Slight disturbances may scare the adult bird off the nest; and it can take only minutes for unattended eggs to be ruined or for chicks to be eaten by predatory birds. Land and launch your boat well away from any seabirds or shorebirds Do not pull your dinghy up the beach into nesting areas Always try to not disturb any birds Stay well clear of nesting and roosting shorebirds and seabirds. Remain low by crouching, keep quiet, move slowly and use existing cover Watch your step to avoid crushing camouflaged eggs and chicks Never try to touch birds, chicks or eggs If seabirds or shorebirds exhibit stressful behaviour (for example, raucous calling, swooping or dive bombing ) back away and leave the area immediately Do not conduct activities that may disturb birds (for example, kite flying, volleyball, beach rugby, beach cricket) Do not take animals (including dogs) to National Parks, islands or cays Do not shine torches or bright lights directly on roosting or nesting seabirds angle the lights to the side, and cover bulbs with red cellophane or filters.
Fishing Fishing is a popular recreational pastime that allows people to spend time on the water with family and friends and to get in touch with the natural world. The Great Barrier Reef offers many exciting and different fishing opportunities. When fishing Take only what you need Do not use pest or non-native fish for bait. Never release introduced species into the water Do not fish where fish feeding takes place, for example as part of a tourist program If you're unsure of the fish identity or size, release the fish immediately Return all undersized and unwanted fish quickly to minimise injury If you're keeping the fish, remove it from the hook or net immediately and kill it humanely Do not litter - clean up all fishing gear (such as discarded tackle and line, and bait bags) and take it back to shore to dispose of it properly. When spearfishing Spear only what you need Do not pursue a fish if you are unsure of its identity or size Do not take big fish merely as trophies because these are important breeding stock Always track down injured fish, do not let them swim off injured. When returning unwanted fish Minimise the length of time a fish is out of the water - keep fish in the water as much as possible and have your equipment close at hand. Very large fish should not be removed from the water Eye on the Reef program Eye on the Reef is a powerful monitoring program that enables anyone who visits the Great Barrier Reef to contribute to its long-term protection. The Eye on the Reef program brings together four assessment and monitoring programs that collect valuable information about reef health, marine animals and incidents. Download the free Eye on the Reef smart phone app from itunes/google play app store or you can use the desktop app to report your Reef sightings.