Any activity that occurs under the sea has the potential to generate noise pollution that disrupts marine animals. The most significant sources of damaging noise are seismic surveys, blasting, construction and sonar devices. Animals that are the most sensitive to underwater noise are those that use echolocation or sonar for feeding and navigation. Dolphins appear to be particularly sensitive to high-pitched noises, such as those caused by pile-driving or drilling, and can be affected from distances of up to 1-2 km. Whales tend to be affected by deeper sounds.
Management
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Marine debris consists of discarded or lost unnatural objects that enter coastal and marine environments and persist over time, where they can affect marine life and accumulate on beaches. Debris commonly found in northern Australian marine waters includes plastic bags, bottles, ropes, fishing gear, medical waste, aluminium cans, buoys and thongs. The majority of this debris comes from the land via water runoff or stormwater drains, or has been blown or washed in from coastal areas. The remainder comes from garbage illegally disposed of at sea.
Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation has recently completed a report Kaanju Fire Management 2003, funded by the Cape York Peninsula Development Association (CYPDA) Fire Project through Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation. The report investigates a number of issues including:
Project Number: CY PA 13 - Crab Island
Project Name: Crab Island Flatback Turtles
Organisation: Cape York Peninsula Development Association
Project status: Funded by NHT
Amount provided: $13,800
Date started: April 2008 Date completed: December 2008
MATs from Cape York Peninsula NRM Plan: CB3.2; RA2.1; RA2.3; CB3.3; CB1.4
Summary
Reduction in soil erosion on mitigated sites makes a substantial difference to water quality on the Reef
All sector Directors have retained their roles with Cape York NRM
Welcome to the latest edition of the Healthy Country Newsletter. In this edition we continue to highlight some of the projects being supported by Cape York NRM and our partners and hopefully this provides some positive news in these trying times.
This strategy identifies short term and long term actions that will enhance opportunities for future access to water resources for agriculture, tourism and other industries in a responsible way. The strategy will deliver a water resource plan for Cape York bringing certainty and security to existing water users and supporting future economic development opportunities and the social wellbeing of Cape York communities.