NERP TE Project 2.3 - Monitoring the health of Torres Strait coral reefs (AIMS)

This project conducted a biodiversity assessment of coral communities on Torres Strait reefs to establish a baseline of coral condition and start a longer-term monitoring program of selected coral reefs in the region. The monitoring looked for changes in the condition of coral reefs and documented factors that might contribute to changes including COTS, disease, bleaching, temperature anomalies etc. As part of this project, an early warning system was established for coral bleaching. This will give the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), Torres Strait communities, industry and other stakeholders, the ability to predict, prepare for and respond to coral bleaching.Key outputs of this project included:-biodiversity survey completed for a baseline monitoring survey (Feb 2013) and a repeat monitoring survey (Feb-March 2014). These surveys resulted in a total of 246 coral species recorded during biodiversity surveys in 2013 and 2014. Lists of scleractinian coral species were made in February 2013 at Poruma Island Reef, Aureed Island Reef, Masig Island Reef, Erub Island Reef and Mer Island Reef- deployment of a real time observing station at Thursday Island and Masig (Yorke) Island from 2012 onwards- temperature logger deployments at 15 sites throughout the Torres Strait region- regular reports of environmental conditions including SST, coral bleaching rish, Chlorophyll-a and ocean currents from 2011-2014Reports and project outputs are available on the eAtlas webpages linked below, and metadata for temperature logger deployments.