New RED alert system for climate change
An innovative new website for mapping the effect of climate change on Tasmanian waters was officially launched yesterday
The Coastal Climate Change Range Extension Database and Mapping Project (REDMAP) was created by the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) with extensive support from many different community and industry groups, as well as local schools.
REDMAP is an interactive website which lets the public report sightings of marine species which might be shifting distributions further south due to warming waters along the State’s coastline, and is the only venture of its kind in Australia.
The project aims to use the extensive knowledge and experience of local fishers and divers to create a network of observers to help track how Tassie waters are changing, in particular the marine species they catch or observe.
TAFI marine biologist and REDMAP designer, Dr Gretta Pecl, created the project specifically to engage and inform the community.
Director of TAFI, Professor Colin Buxton, said recent research and anecdotal evidence has indicated at least 45 marine species are shifting their ranges further south along the Tasmanian coast, with some species being ‘newcomers’ to our waters from Victoria and New South Wales.
“Temperature monitoring over the last 50 years has showed that waters off the east coast of Tasmania are warming at almost four times the global average,” Prof. Buxton said.
“While there may be many reasons for habitat shifts of species, it is suspected that the effects of climate change, in particular rising sea temperatures, are creating the greatest impact.”
Mr Will Mure, of Mures Resturant, is helping to sponsor the REDMAP project.
“Supporting the project is a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the vast amount of knowledge held within the fishing community,” he said.
“Commercial and recreational fishers have often been working in particular areas for years and they accumulate a wealth of valuable information- it’s great to have a project that balances traditional scientific data with the insights and observations of the industry.”
TAFI is a joint venture between UTAS and Department of Primary Industries and Water and was awarded a Tasmanian Community Fund grant to implement the project.
To view the REDMAP website, go to: www.redmap.org.au
