Belgian Scientific Expedition

Belgian Scientific Expedition was a scientific survey of the Great Barrier Reef, conducted in 1967-1968.

The Belgian Scientific Expedition to the Great Barrier Reef was a seven month expedition beginning in 1967, sponsored by the University of Liege, Belgium, the Belgium Ministry of Education and the National Foundation for Scientific Research.[1][2] It indirectly honoured the Great Barrier Reef Expedition of 1928-1929, which was led by Maurice Yonge and a large group of researchers from Europe. This earlier expedition had studied the northern Great Barrier Reef primarily around Low Isles Reef.

The 1967 expedition, led by Professor Albert Disteche[3] took place between Lady Musgrave Island and Lizard Island off the coast of Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef. Seventy-five ship’s crew, many researchers and guests were involved in the expedition. Its primary objective was to make scientific marine biology films.[4] Ron Taylor, who would become famous for his films and diving work with sharks was one of the cinematographers hired to undertake the underwater filming using a 35mm motion picture camera.[5]

The former British warship, the De Moor was utilised for the study by the Belgian Navy. Captain Wally Muller was contracted to guide the De Moor through the Swain Reefs and remain with the expedition, on his charter vessel, the Careelah.[6]

Coral reef scientists participated in the study as time permitted. The ship would return to shore every 10 days. Among these scientists were David Barnes from the Townsville area and Robert Endean from the University of Queensland. Sir Maurice Yonge would also visit during this expedition, in recognition of his earlier work in 1928.[3]

Later studies of the Reef would be conducted and published as part of Project Stellaroid, which surveyed coral reefs in the North Pacific Ocean and their damage by the Crown of Thorns starfish.

References
  1. Monty, C.L.V. (May 1979). "SCIENTIFIC REPORTS OF THE BELGIAN EXPEDITION ON THE AUSTRALIAN GREAT BARRIER REEFS, 1967. SEDIMENTOLOGY : 2 r . MONOSPECIFIC STROMATOLITES FROM THE GREAT BARRIER REEF TRACT AND THEIR PALEONTOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE". Annales de la Société Géologique de Belgique. T101-1978: 163–171 – via http://popups.ulg.ac.be/0037-9395/index.php?id=5368&file=1&pid=5366.
  2. "Accueil - Océanologie". labos.ulg.ac.be (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  3. Harding, John H. (6 July 2012). "The Coral Sea (Australia): No.10 THE BELGIAN EXPEDITION (1967)". The Coral Sea (Australia). Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  4. "La grande barrière de corail : Filmer à Tout Prix". www.gsara.tv. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  5. "Ron Taylor - NOGI". 74.220.29.245. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  6. "BELGIAN EXPEDITION – (GREAT BARRIER REEF 1967), WALLY MULLER, CROWN of THORNS". John Harding. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
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