Traditional Owners and Indigenous Rangers are key partners in many ongoing TropWATER projects. Our collaborations include mapping seagrass and coral reefs on Sea Country, conducting Traditional Owner-led dugong surveys, monitoring mangrove shorelines, performing eDNA monitoring of invasive species, and participating in wetland protection initiatives.
Many of our seagrass projects are community-led, built on a foundation of cultural and environmental stewardship and two-way knowledge sharing.
Establishing a seagrass nursery at Mourilyan Harbour
A new partnership with Mandubarra Rangers, Goondoi Rangers, and Ports North will see the establishment of the first Indigenous-led seagrass nursery at Mourilyan Harbour.
Dr Paul York joined Mandubarra and Goondoi Rangers in Innisfail earlier this month for the announcement of the project as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations.
The nursery will be run by the local Rangers and will support local restoration projects by providing planting stock for harvesting seagrass seeds and cuttings. Our researchers will provide scientific support to the nursery, including culturing seagrass plants and experimental trials of different planting techniques.
The nursery will support new and ongoing seagrass restoration projects such as our current restoration work with Traditional Owners in Cairns and Mourilyan.
Establishment of the nursery is funded by a grant from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Restoring seagrass in Cairns and Mourilyan
Our seagrass restoration project in Cairns and Mourilyan is a partnership with Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Mandubarra, Goondoi, and Yirrganydji Traditional Owner groups.
The project, now entering its second year, is doing critical work restoring seagrasses that were lost in the region between 2007 and 2011. Together, we will plant tens of thousands of seagrass fragments and seeds over four years.
Traditional Owners and Rangers are integral in collecting seagrass fragments, processing and planting fragments, and monitoring the growth of replenished meadows after planting.
This project not only aims to restore seagrass but also the valuable ecosystem services that seagrass meadows provide, such as fisheries and carbon sequestration.
The project is also a collaboration with local community groups and OzFish Unlimited, with funding from BHP’s Blue Carbon Grants program.
Monitoring seagrass habitats in Torres Strait
We have been working with the Torres Strait Regional Authority, Rangers, and Traditional Owners to map and monitor seagrass habitats in Torres Strait since 2008. Extensive and diverse seagrass meadows are present across the Torres Strait, and understanding their health is crucial for understanding overall marine health in the region.
For this long-term project, Rangers lead surveys to assess seagrass abundance, distribution and species distribution, with guidance from our scientists. These surveys are conducted on foot, by boat, and using underwater cameras, and they provide valuable data on seagrass condition.
By continuing these vital partnerships with Traditional Owners and Rangers, we ensure impactful, community-led research that fosters cultural stewardship, empowers Indigenous communities, and promotes the health of our marine ecosystems.
