A COMMERCIAL fishing trawler has damaged the Great Barrier Reef and spilled diesel

A commercial fishing trawler has damaged the Great Barrier Reef and spilled diesel fuel after running aground off central Queensland.

The incident happened about 3.30am on Thursday near Lady Elliot Island off Gladstone which is within the World Heritage Area.

The hull of the ship was damaged but no injuries were reported.

A small amount of diesel began seeping from the boat before crew managed to stop the leak, a Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) spokeswoman said.

"Diesel that did leak has dispersed and no mopping up is needed," she said.

The extent of the damage to the reef is not yet known but will be assessed before the vessel is salvaged on Thursday night.

An investigation will be carried out.

It is not known whether the crew is still on board.

Environmental groups say the grounding is an example of what could happen more often if ports along the Queensland coast are developed, increasing the number of ships which cross the reef.

Felicity Wishart, from the Australian Marine Conservation Society, says the incident serves as a reminder of the impact ships crossing the reef can have on the area.

"Just one ship crash on the reef threatens human life and can cause huge damage," she said.

Greens environment spokeswoman Senator Larissa Waters says the reef is being treated like a highway for coal and gas.

"With projections of one coal ship every hour and a half if port expansions proceed, the Great Barrier Reef will face more shipping accidents, risking more oil spills and damage to this world heritage icon."

                                                    

salvage attempt:

THE Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority (GBRMA) last night made attempts to salvage a fishing trawler that ran aground on Lady Elliot Island.GBRMA worked closely with the Maritime Safety Queensland, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the vessel owner to coordinate the salvage of the trawler that ran aground on Thursday morning.Yesterday afternoon additional salvage expertise and a tug boat were on standby at Lady Elliot Island in preparation for the event.A GBRMA spokeswoman said its main focus was ensuring minimal damage to the reef."High tide provides the best opportunity of getting the vessel off the reef flat - as the high water level will assist in floating the trawler," she said.The vessel was carrying 36,000 litres of diesel which was contained in its fuel tanks. There was an initial but minor fuel spill when the vessel ran aground, but that did not affect the reef or Lady Elliot Island.