Access to the Montgomery Reef in the Kimberleys had to be restricted to reduce the impact of the visitors behaviour on the coral reef.
DAMBIMANGARI PEOPLE - NATIVE TITLE HOLDERS OF MONTGOMERY REEF
In the North Kimberley Saltwater Country Plan (pages 25 and 51) it refers to the damage caused by reef top trampling and the need to stop [reef top walking]. At a number of Dambimangari meetings to discuss the proposed CSMP they have expressed the need to stop tourists from walking on the reef, and this will be reflected in the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) that the state will enter into when the State and Dambimangari people jointly manage the marine park. The state is reflecting the aspirations and desire of the Native Title holders in pursuing compliance.
(Source: Departement of Environment and Conservation of Western Australia)
Reef Top Walking Issues
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Wilson and Blake (2011) notes on the origins and biogeomorphology of Montgomery Reef
Major findings:
- The geological and biogeomorphic history of Montgomery Reef and its biota have particular importance because its small islands have high cultural significance.
- The vast area (c. 250km2) of shallow, sheltered, sunlit, lagoon and pools of the Montgomery Reef platform represents a very significant extent of Benthic Primary Production Habitat. High primary production in the impounded lagoons may be the explanation of the abundance of herbivorous macrofauna, notably green turtles and dugong, for which this area is renowned.
- Montgomery Reef is not a coral platform reef in the strict sense. It is a coral reef in the ecological sense of having diverse coral growth in the lagoons and pools of the intertidal platform but its geomorphic form is atypical.
Kay and Liddle (1989) investigated the effects of trampling on the coral communities of the outer reef flat and reef crest at Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef.
Major findings:
- Eighteen months of trampling at various intensities increased the percentage cover of unoccupied substrate and the cover of mobile rubble
- All habitats would be changed by reef walking and that the outer reef flat was 16 times more vulnerable than the reef crest
Woodland and Hooper (1977) investigated the effects of human trampling on coral reefs at Heron Island, GBR
Major findings:
- Live coral cover of 41% was reduced to 8% by 18 traverses of reef walkers. A mean live coral detachment of 12kgm-2 was recorded.
- Pictures which document before and after reef walking.
Leujak and Ormond (2008) quantified trampling impact by direct observation, Red Sea
Major findings:
- Of the 127 in-water observations of reef walkers, 12.4% caused coral damage. Tramplers broke 0.1 branches per minute and raised 1.5 sediment clouds, therefore causing more damage than reported from divers.
- Sediment was stirred up on 31.4% of observations.
Neil (1990) investigated the effect of reef walkers on reef flat corals due to sediment resuspension and deposition
Major findings:
- Suspended sediment concentrations due to reef walking up to 1093mg litre-1 were measured and deposition up to 32.8mg cm-2
- If frequently repeated these levels are capable of causing moderate stress to reef flat corals
