North West Island
Encyclopedia
North West Island is a coral
cay
in the southern Great Barrier Reef
, located 75 kilometres northeast of Gladstone
, Queensland
. North West Island forms part of Capricornia Cays National Park
and with an area of 1.05 km², the island is the second largest coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef. It is part of the Capricornia Cays Important Bird Area
.
was mined on North West Island during the 1890s. Turtle soup
canneries
operated on the island from 1904 to 1914 and 1924 to 1926. The environmental importance of North West Island was recognised when it was included as part of Capricornia Cays National Park in 1994.
In September 2009, Jacob Lollback died while spearfishing
off North West Island.
In mid April 2010, it was suspected that the 2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill
had reached North West Island. Small globules of oil were found along a 1 km long section of a beach. Clean-up crews were removing the oil by 14 April. A Maritime Safety Queensland
spokesperson doubted the oil could have arrived on the island from the MV Shen Neng 1
so quickly, claiming the oil was from an earlier spill.
2010 -Gladstone State High School developed ways of managing the environment better, and in a more sustainable way, by submitting proposals to The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
forest. North West Island is an important nesting ground for seabirds and turtles. As many as 500,000 seabirds habitat the island at any one time. Seventy per cent of the total breeding population of Wedge-tailed Shearwater
s on Australia's east coast nest on the island. The Capricorn Silvereye
, a small bird endemic to the southern Great Barrier Reef, is found on the island.
The Green Sea Turtle
and the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle
nest on the island between November and February. Because of these important rookeries the size of nesting populations is monitored on an annual basis.
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
cay
Cay
A cay , also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island formed on the surface of coral reefs. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans , where they provide habitable and agricultural land for hundreds of thousands of people...
in the southern Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
, located 75 kilometres northeast of Gladstone
Gladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. North West Island forms part of Capricornia Cays National Park
Capricornia Cays National Park
Capricornia Cays is both a national park and a scientific national park in Queensland , located 486 km and 472 km north of the state capital Brisbane respectively. Collectively they comprise 241 ha of coral cays....
and with an area of 1.05 km², the island is the second largest coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef. It is part of the Capricornia Cays Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
.
History
GuanoGuano
Guano is the excrement of seabirds, cave dwelling bats, and seals. Guano manure is an effective fertilizer due to its high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen and also its lack of odor. It was an important source of nitrates for gunpowder...
was mined on North West Island during the 1890s. Turtle soup
Turtle soup
Turtle soup is soup or stews made from the flesh of the turtle. The dish exists in many cultures and is viewed as a luxury or delicacy.The green turtle was commonly used for turtle soup in the United States and United Kingdom. Soup made from the snapping turtle was found mainly in the United States...
canneries
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
operated on the island from 1904 to 1914 and 1924 to 1926. The environmental importance of North West Island was recognised when it was included as part of Capricornia Cays National Park in 1994.
In September 2009, Jacob Lollback died while spearfishing
Spearfishing
Spearfishing is an ancient method of fishing that has been used throughout the world for millennia. Early civilizations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks....
off North West Island.
In mid April 2010, it was suspected that the 2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill
2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill
The 2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill occurred on 3 April 2010, when the Chinese bulk coal carrier, ran aground east of Rockhampton in Central Queensland, Australia. The vessel is owned by Shenzhen Energy Transport Co. Ltd....
had reached North West Island. Small globules of oil were found along a 1 km long section of a beach. Clean-up crews were removing the oil by 14 April. A Maritime Safety Queensland
Maritime Safety Queensland
Maritime Safety Queensland is a Queensland government agency of the Department of Transport and Main Roads. The agency is responsible for the safety of all water vessels in Queensland waterways. It deals with marine pollution and provides pilotage for Queensland ports...
spokesperson doubted the oil could have arrived on the island from the MV Shen Neng 1
MV Shen Neng 1
MV Shen Neng 1 is a Chinese bulk carrier which was built in 1993 as Bestore. She was sold in 2007 and renamed Shen Neng 1. In 2010, she ran aground off Great Keppel Island, Australia spilling oil into Great Barrier Reef waters....
so quickly, claiming the oil was from an earlier spill.
2010 -Gladstone State High School developed ways of managing the environment better, and in a more sustainable way, by submitting proposals to The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Flora and fauna
The vegetation of the island is dominated by dense PisoniaPisonia
Pisonia is a genus of flowering plants in the four o'clock flower family, Nyctaginaceae. It was named for Dutch physician and naturalist Willem Piso . Certain species in this genus are known as Catchbirdtrees because their sticky seeds reportedly trap small birds...
forest. North West Island is an important nesting ground for seabirds and turtles. As many as 500,000 seabirds habitat the island at any one time. Seventy per cent of the total breeding population of Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
The Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus pacificus is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It is one of the shearwater species that is sometimes referred to as a Muttonbird, like the Sooty Shearwater of New Zealand and the Short-tailed Shearwater of Australia...
s on Australia's east coast nest on the island. The Capricorn Silvereye
Capricorn Silvereye
The Capricorn Silvereye , also known as the Capricorn White-eye or Green-headed White-eye, is a small greenish bird in the Zosteropidae or White-eye family...
, a small bird endemic to the southern Great Barrier Reef, is found on the island.
The Green Sea Turtle
Green Sea Turtle
The Green sea turtle or green turtle is a large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
and the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
The loggerhead sea turtle , or loggerhead, is an oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around long when fully grown, although larger specimens of up to have been discovered...
nest on the island between November and February. Because of these important rookeries the size of nesting populations is monitored on an annual basis.