AUSTRALASIA GREENPORT

Gladstone Ports wildlife initiative

13 years ago

Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) in Australia has developed its own Biodiversity Offset Strategy (BOS) to provide for the long-term conservation of threatened marine species in the Western Basin area.

GPC has recently installed 34 TAngler bins at various boat ramps and fishing structures throughout central Queensland. They’re designed for the safe disposal of fishing litter such as hooks, line and sinkers.

“Species such as whales, seabirds and turtles are particularly susceptible to impacts from marine debris,” said John Sherriff, GPC safety, environment and risk general manager.

The initiative forms part of the BOS delivered by GPC in association with Oceanwatch Australia, CQUniversity and the Gladstone and Rockhampton regional councils.

And this comes at a good time for the port authority. GPC is under more pressure than ever to demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Its suffered a deluge of criticism recently in light of its dredging activities. The port authority is once again bearing the brunt of the restrictions that come with being located in the vicinity of the World Heritage Site of the Great Barrier Reef.

The federal government has asked the port authority to consider only onshore dumping of dredge spoils from its proposed second sea lane construction project.

This has once again stirred up the conservation debate among those who want dredging banned across the entire World Heritage area.