Port dredging plan alarms reef experts during coral spawning season
The Port of Townsville will start dredging November 4. This is shortly after coral spawning season.
The Port of Townsville will dredge sediment from shipping channels. The port will dump the sediment at sea 6 kilometres off Magnetic Island starting November 4.
The timing concerns reef scientists because coral spawning is critical for reef recovery. Andrew Baird is a coral expert at James Cook University.
He said "if reefs get disturbed, the main source of recovery will be sexual recruits from the coral spawning". The port delayed dredging to November 4 to avoid the main spawning window.
But experts say sediment can harm reefs for weeks after spawning ends. Diving teacher Chad Bertram lives on Magnetic Island and fears the timing will cause long-term damage.
He says dredge material already muddies local waters and cancels scuba trips. The port says its environmental study predicts no impact on reef habitats.
- November 4
- Dredging start date
- 6 kilometres
- Dumping distance offshore
- Magnetic Island and Florence Bay
- Location
- Andrew Baird, James Cook University
- Reef scientist
Why it mattersCoral spawning is essential for reef health and recovery. Sediment pollution during this window could harm reproduction for months.
AustraliaThreat to Queensland inshore reefs near Townsville, affecting marine biodiversity and local diving and tourism industries.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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