Government funds crown of thorns starfish eradication program

Submitted by news on Tue, Aug 7, 2012 - 11:21am
The Federal Government has put $1.5 million towards a program that will tackle the pest of the Great Barrier Reef, the Crown of Thorns starfish.

Dive Queensland is hoping the program will be extended to three years so they can effectively tackle the coral eating starfish problem.

Fifteen divers will head off the coast of Cairns this morning to bring the starfish numbers under control and will spend ten days at time on the reef over the next twelve months.

A spokesman for Dive Queensland Col McKenzie says it will be more effective than a previous State Government program as the divers will be able to spend more time on the reef and execute more dives.