Coral bleaching across the Great Barrier Reef will be the focus of a Marine Discovery Series event to be held in Forster next week.
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Hunter Local Land Services (LLS) and MidCoast Council will host a talk on climate change and its impacts from 6.30 to 8pm on Thursday, May 4 at Club Forster.
Ocean warming and acidification has the potential to impact the Mid North Coast marine environment and seafood industry.
Maria Byrne is professor of marine and developmental biology at the University of Sydney.
For 12 years she was the director of One Tree Island Research Station, on the Great Barrier Reef and this iconic, fully protected reef system has provided a major platform for Professor Byrne’s research on the biology and ecology of marine invertebrates.
Professor Byrne collaborated on research recently published in the prestigious journal Nature on global warming and mass bleaching of corals.
Professor Byrne will speak on the bleaching that has been occurring on the Great Barrier Reef.
Dr Susan Fitzer is a researcher from the University of Glasgow in Scotland and has been investigating the impact of ocean acidification on shellfish such as mussels and oysters.
Susan will present her research on how mussels and oysters form their shells and how ocean acidification will impact on the aquaculture industry.
Susan and Maria will be conducting research in Wallis Lake during their visit to the area, working with Hunter Local Land Services (LLS) to help the local oyster industry.
“It is fantastic for us to have partnerships with researchers from all over the world,” said Hunter Local Land Services estuary and marine officer Brian Hughes.
“Tapping in to the latest research helps our local fishers and oyster farmers plan for and adapt to our changing ocean environments, making those vital local industries more resilient.”
The free event, presented by Hunter Local Land Services and MidCoast Council, will take place from 6.30-8pm on Thursday, May 4 at Club Forster.
Light refreshments will be provided. Bookings are not required.
The Marine Discovery Series is supported by Hunter Local Land Services and MidCoast Council with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
Visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au/hunter for more details about this and other Hunter LLS events.