Events 2020

FCA Webinar on the Great Barrier Reef

Words: April Pressler

With Five Expert Marine Scientists – 1 July 2020

The Great Barrier Reef is under very serious threat primarily from global warming, which is causing coral bleaching and affecting coral breeding, acquaculture, water quality and other serious damage. To examine issues facing Reef life and understand the extent of work that is being done to preserve the Reef and help it survive, the FCA arranged a webinar briefing for FCA members on Wednesday 1 July with four leading marine scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), and the Chief Scientist of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. In conjunction with FCA President Hiroki Iijima and FCA Secretary April Pressler, AIMS Head of Communications John Liston coordinated the Q&A segment for the 20 FCA members who attended the FCA’s two-hour Zoom Webinar.  Guest speakers and topics were:

·         Dr Mike Emslie, AIMS. Topic: Health of the Reef in general;

·         Dr Neal Cantin, AIMA. Topic: Coral bleaching;

·         Dr Katharina Fabricius, AIMS. Topics: Water quality;

·         Dr Line Bay, Head of Reef Recovery team, AIMS. Topics: Adaptation;

·         Dr David Wachenfeld, Chief Scientist, GBRMPA. Topic: Management of the Reef.

FCA participants agreed it was a very productive two hours, which provided some deep insights from experts into the current and evolving situation involving the Reef, particularly resulting from the impacts of the pressing threat of global warming and climate change. Research and development of solutions needed commitment and action from governments globally, underpinned by UNCC action to reduce the major cause, global carbon emissions, if the Reef and all life around it are to survive.

Dr David Wachenfeld, Chief Scientist, GBRMPA, talks about the scale and management of the reef.

FCA participants agreed it was a very productive two hours, which provided some deep insights from experts into the current and evolving situation involving the Reef, particularly resulting from the impacts of the pressing threat of global warming and climate change. Research and development of solutions needed commitment and action from governments globally, underpinned by UNCC action to reduce the major cause, global carbon emissions, if the Reef and all life around it are to survive.

Webinar Video

Full video recording of the webinar can be downloaded here.

Webinar Gallery – Screen Shots

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