Christmas Islands’ red crabs prepare to make their annual journey onshore once again but this year, they must run the gauntlet of oil, diesel and phosphate which has spilled from the MC Tycoon onto the Island’s coral reefs at Flying Fish Cove, the most ecologically valuable marine habitat on Christmas Island. The following article was sourced from The Conversation:
“Christmas Island has been once again in the headlines: not because of incidents involving asylum-seekers, but because of the recent sinking and breaking up of the Panamanian phosphate carrier MC Tycoon. This accident highlights Australia’s poor record in protecting its rich marine environment from shipping disasters.
Christmas Island deserves a prominent place in the news. It has unique biodiversity and has often been described as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. This uniqueness extends into the marine environment, where Australia’s most pristine coral reefs teem with an amazing array of animals.
Christmas Island’s Red Crabs on the move. Photo credit: Wild Discovery Guides
During the summer months the island comes alive. The onset of the wet season signals the annual spawning. This includes millions of red crabs whose spawning migration has been described by Sir David Attenborough as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth.”
Read the full article at The Conversation
