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30/06/2004: "SEA SHELL Triton Trumpet at Murray Island, QLD."
Rare on most of the Great Barrier Reef but plentiful near the border with New Guinea is the triton trumpet shell.
The location is Murray Island in the northern Coral Sea and one of the most beautiful islands in Australian territory.
Birthplace of the late Eddie Mabo; final resting place of the Albie Mangles yatch Greta Marie (destroyed in a leaking-gas cylinder explosion and resulting fire) and the home of this young man when he's not at boarding school in Townsville.
We were making a TV documentary with Ben Cropp at this location. The theme: "Locals diving for both lobster and turtles for their food". The triton shell find was interesting for me as they are so rare elsewhere.
My friend the late Dr Robert Endean studied the association between the popular collection of triton shells and the increased incidence of crown of thorns starfish, the live-coral predator which exploded in plagues decades ago, (and remain a serious periodic concern as Bob predicted). But over-shadowed by coral bleaching as a serious concern. Does this mean things are getting worse, faster?
At Port Douglas a 90 minute (at 16 knots or more) boat ride, each way, is required to reach the closest acceptable reef. The trip is worthwhile as the boats are first class. But what happens in the future? A three hour boat ride each way? Does Cooktown become the new Port Douglas?
