New Buoys Say Slow Down!

By Rachael Smith

A series of yellow buoys depicting turtles and dugongs are due to be placed in the seagrass meadow near Pigeon Island, just off Cannonvale Beach, in an effort to encourage motorised boats to “Go Slow For Those Below”.

Since 1998 this fragile seagrass meadow has been monitored and groups such as the Whitsunday Conservation Council and the Whitsunday Seagrass Volunteers have been advocating for its protection.

The site is a turtle basking and feeding area, with over 100 turtles and dugong mothers with their calves known to have resided there for some years.

While the turtles remain in the meadow, however, local charter boat operator Dale Tansely who runs Whisper Cruises, has noticed a sharp decline in the number of dugongs in recent months.

“I have just had the longest time without seeing a dugong,” said Dale.

“It’s usually every 10 days to two weeks that I would see a dugong for a few days in a row, and now they’ve just stopped. And it’s been a good couple of months since I’ve seen one.”

Dale has been keeping a faithful log of all his wildlife sightings for the past two years, counting turtles and dugongs daily.

While turtle sightings remain constant, the dugongs which had also been constant, have now suddenly disappeared.

Dale believes that fast motorised boats and jet skis are one of the reasons they have departed, with the noise disruption too much.

Dale’s vessel is electric and travels at just five kilometres an hour, making a quiet hum in the water.

Every day he witnesses fast vessels speed across the water and has noticed how quickly the marine life disappears when they do.

Jacquie Shiels, President of the Whitsunday Conservation Council and Coordinator of the Whitsunday Volunteer Seagrass Group has been working to raise awareness for this fragile ecosystem for many years.

She is now thrilled to see the installation of the new signage and hopes that, while it is only advisory, it will act as an education tool for boat owners.

“This is a significant seagrass meadow that has been there for a long time,” said Jacquie.

“It’s taken us a long time to persuade the authorities to take action and we would like to thank Maritime Safety Queensland, Marine Parks and the Whitsunday Regional Council for helping.

“The buoys will be placed along the edge of the sea grass meadow where the water starts to get deeper.

“The idea is that they form a line along the edge of the shallow water where the animals feed, like no-anchoring markers that protect the fringing reefs around the islands.”

Dale said that he also hopes the signs will make difference, but that an official speed limit is desperately needed.

“I think most places would be trying to protect the area – it’s got more turtles than I’ve seen anywhere else, and it’s not even got a speed limit,” he said.

“I think it definitely needs a speed limit.”

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Dale Tansley from Whisper Cruises has kept a log of turtles and dugongs for the past two years. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

An example of the signs that will be placed on the edge of the seagrass meadow. Graphic supplied

The fragile seagrass meadow near Pigeon Island where vessels are encouraged to slow down. Image supplied

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