Caitlin
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1664462.htm
Study to assess pearling's environmental impact
Western Australia's pearling industry has joined forces with Newcastle University to monitor the marine environment at pearl farms in the Kimberley.
The $1 million research program at three remote farms aims to determine whether there is any environmental impact from the cultivation of pearls.
The four-year project is being funded by the industry and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
Pearl Producers Association spokesman Brett McCallum has welcomed the study, saying it will confirm the industry's strong environmental record.
"Anybody that uses marine areas for their businesses obviously have to go through some sort of environmental reviews, and the pearling industry is not an orphan in that case, and what we are wanting to do is to ensure that the broader community is very clear that the pearling industry is an environmentally friendly industry," he said.
Newcastle University researcher Scott Gifford says the study aims to ensure there is no impact on the sea floor from the farms above.
"We're looking if there's a build up of any material on the sediments below the lease, any changes in the sediment chemistry and any changes in the ecology or the worms or crustaceans, molluscs living below the farm and we'll compare that with several reference sites a kilometre or so from the actual pearl lease," he said.
Study to assess pearling's environmental impact
Western Australia's pearling industry has joined forces with Newcastle University to monitor the marine environment at pearl farms in the Kimberley.
The $1 million research program at three remote farms aims to determine whether there is any environmental impact from the cultivation of pearls.
The four-year project is being funded by the industry and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
Pearl Producers Association spokesman Brett McCallum has welcomed the study, saying it will confirm the industry's strong environmental record.
"Anybody that uses marine areas for their businesses obviously have to go through some sort of environmental reviews, and the pearling industry is not an orphan in that case, and what we are wanting to do is to ensure that the broader community is very clear that the pearling industry is an environmentally friendly industry," he said.
Newcastle University researcher Scott Gifford says the study aims to ensure there is no impact on the sea floor from the farms above.
"We're looking if there's a build up of any material on the sediments below the lease, any changes in the sediment chemistry and any changes in the ecology or the worms or crustaceans, molluscs living below the farm and we'll compare that with several reference sites a kilometre or so from the actual pearl lease," he said.
