Nearly half the coral trout caught on the Great Barrier Reef originally come from no-take marine reserves. Image credit: Dr David Williamson A new study has found that nearly half the coral trout caught on the Great Barrier Reef come from marine reserves – where protected fish grow larger and produce far more offspring.   The research was led by Professor Michael Bode from QUT, co-authored by JCU TropWATER researchers Dr Maya Srinivasan and Dr Severine Choukroun and JCU’s Professor Geoffrey Jones.   Dr Srinivasan said the Great Barrier Reef is protected by a network of marine reserves designed to conserve its biodiversity.   “These reserves protect critical habitats for many species, including the coral grouper – also known as the coral trout - the reef's most valuable commercial fish.   “Marine reserves make up less than a third of the reef area, but they account for 55% of coral trout reproduction and 47% of the catch,” said Dr Srinivasan.   Professor Bode said the marine reserve network on the Great Barrier Reef is not just a tool for conservation, it’s a vital contributor to the sustainability of local fisheries and local jobs.   “By protecting fish populations within these no-take zones, we not only safeguard biodiversity but also guarantee that there will be a new generation of fish on the reefs that are open to fishing.   “This is a clear example of how protected areas can also benefit local communities and the economy, as well as the reef’s unique biodiversity,” said Professor Bode. The study was conducted by a team including researchers from James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.   It combined decades of fish surveys, genetic parentage analysis of coral trout populations, advanced oceanographic models, and high-resolution reef mapping to estimate coral trout reproductive output in the protected areas and their contribution to areas open to fishing.   Dr Srinivasan contributed to the collection of genetic parentage data, while Dr Choukroun developed the statistical model for coral trout biomass.   “Importantly, the findings show that despite marine reserves reducing the area available for commercial fishing, the network has a positive, amplifying effect on fishery yields.   “On many reefs, the density of fish in reserves is two to three times higher than on fished reefs, resulting in a higher reproductive output and a more sustainable fishery,” said Dr Srinivasan.   She said the study also highlights how all the reefs in the system benefit from the marine reserves, through higher larval supply.   “Across the Great Barrier Reef nearly 95 per cent of reefs receive at least 30 per cent of their larvae from reserves, and 93 per cent of fished reefs benefit from at least 30 per cent of their catch originating from protected areas,” said Dr Srinivasan.   Professor Bode said the study reinforces the idea that well-managed marine reserves can be a win-win for both conservation and the fishing industry.   “The results provide clear guidance for future marine management efforts, showing that these reserves contribute significantly to sustainable fishery yields, as well as to the resilience of coral reef ecosystems,” said Professor Bode.   The full study is available in Science Advances   here .

To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), we’re highlighting some of the many women doing amazing work with TropWATER across freshwater and marine sciences. Read on to learn more about the work of Hayley Brien , Dr Maya Srinivasan , Dr Sarah McDonald , Dr Catherine Collier , Dr Caitlin Smith , Dr Mélanie Hamel , and Dr Samantha Tol . Hayley Brien Hayley Brien monitors the health of seagrass along the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (MMP) and Seagrass Watch programs. She spends her time walking around seagrass meadows at low tide, dropping cameras off the side of boats to find seagrass at high tide, and being amazed by what she sees. What led you to a career in science? Nerdy answer is: I like learning new things. Science is such a MASSIVE field, and one in which you are always learning! I ask a lot of questions; more often than not I'm asking the 'Who, What, When, Where, Why's and the 'What if's. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) led me to a career in marine science. My first visit to the Reef inspired me to pursue a career as a marine scientist. "There is always something to see on the Reef, and thus always questions to ask!" What’s the best part of your job? The places I go and the people I meet! I consider myself extremely lucky to have seen as much of the GBR that I have. I get to collaborate with fellow passionate people. A real highlight is engaging with First Nations peoples of the GBR and northern Australia.  What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? Although I LOVE field work – particularly to remote places – travelling can take a toll on your health and being away from loved ones, particularly on birthdays, anniversaries etc., is hard. My calendar is organised chaos! I also found out early that it wasn't necessarily what I knew, but who I knew. I moved interstate to study and I didn't know anyone, let alone female scientists who could act as role models to help navigate challenges. At any chance I get, I be that person to the new generation of women in science. My best tip for aspiring women in science is never to give up! Passion and enthusiasm go a long way. My grandad gave me the best advice. He said: 'do what you love, and call it work'. So far, I haven't worked that much. Dr Maya Srinivasan   Dr Maya Srinivasan is a coral reef ecologist who spends a lot of time underwater counting, observing or catching fish. She describes the rest of her time as being spent organising trips, analysing data from those trips, and writing reports and papers. What led you to a career in science? I have loved animals and nature since I was a child. When I was in high school, I decided to do either zoology or marine biology at Uni. "Then I did my first dive on a coral reef… I was in absolute awe and decided I had to do marine biology!" What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my job is getting paid to do what I love and contributing to coral reef management and conservation. What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? My career took a hit when I had children as being pregnant and having young children isn’t compatible with diving-based field research. I didn’t go the traditional route of PhD to post-doc as I had my daughter during my PhD – but I did finish my PhD and thanks to my husband doing his fair share of the parenting, and my parents’ help, I have managed to continue working in science. I think in general it’s a lot easier for women in science now than 10-20 years ago, workplaces are a lot more supportive, but there is still room for improvement. Dr Sarah McDonald Dr Sarah McDonald is a trained ecotoxicologist but describes herself as an all-rounder ecologist who works in both freshwater and terrestrial environments. The key theme of her job is enabling end-users to measure and manage their ecological impacts, mostly in the mining and agricultural sectors. What led you to a career in science? "The first woman in science I knew was my mother, who worked as a microbiologist and encouraged me greatly to pursue science." Throughout my childhood I spent a lot of time outside on my parent’s bush block in western Victoria, taking photos of birds and looking at bugs I collected from the dam under my mother’s microscope. At school and university, I focused on biology and chemistry, originally applying to undertake veterinary medicine at Melbourne University. After my first few years I realised I much preferred being outside and getting my hands covered in dirt, so I switched to zoology and botany and eventually pursued an Honours year and PhD with my incredible supervisor Kath Hassell. What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my job is the fieldwork I get to undertake, and the beautifully remote places I am lucky enough to explore and immerse myself in. I am also very lucky to work under the supervision of Shelley Templeman who is incredibly inspiring and supportive. I am still looking at bugs that I collect from dams under a microscope, but now in a more informed way! What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? The biggest challenge for me is the lack of women, or diversity in general, at higher management levels within the wider university sector, as well as other sectors I work in. It was really encouraging to see Prof Emma Johnston appointed as VC of Melbourne University as of this year, who is a keen advocate for science and increasing the participation of women in research. Dr Catherine Collier Dr Catherine Collier describes her work as being all about “identifying key gaps in information and finding ways to fill them”. She maps and monitors seagrass and investigates what makes seagrass ecosystems resilient. This can help us better understand the overall health of our coastal ecosystems and how we can protect them. What led you to a career in science? "The natural world has always fascinated me, and that combined with a deep passion for the sea meant that it was inevitable that I’d have a career in marine science." What’s the best part of your job? I’ll be cheeky and say three things: First, being out in the field is like a never-ending adventure—always surprising and awe-inspiring. Second, the people I work with are dedicated and talented and a joy to be around, and finally, solving problems—there’s just something incredibly satisfying about it especially when those solutions have real-world impact. What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? The most significant challenge I’ve faced has been striking a balance between family life and work—something that many women can relate to. My job often requires me to be away from home for extended periods and managing that separation while maintaining my responsibilities at home is not always easy. Dr Caitlin Smith Dr Caitlin Smith researches human-induced impacts on marine ecosystems, focusing on how contaminants affect sea turtles and tracking changes in seagrass meadows. Her work ranges from conducting helicopter surveys and sea turtle health assessments to monitoring nesting sites. What led you to a career in science? It’s a funny story—I panicked when it came time to choose a major for my undergraduate degree. I picked marine science, and it turned out to be the best snap decision I’ve ever made, because I've loved every minute of it and I can't imagine doing anything else. What’s the best part of your job? "I love how no two days are the same." My role combines analysing data and writing papers with fieldwork, like hands-on interactions with incredible animals, and engaging with other experts to tackle challenges in the field. What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? I’m fortunate to be part of an incredibly supportive and diverse team at TropWATER, with many amazing opportunities. However, in broader contexts, I sometimes feel my voice isn’t as valued, which can leave me questioning my performance and contributions. Dr Mélanie Hamel Dr Mélanie Hamel supports researchers working in conservation science by applying her expertise in ecology, spatial and data analysis, conservation planning, and science communication to tackle diverse challenges. She thrives on collaborating across disciplines and with a range of stakeholders to make a tangible impact on conservation and management efforts. What led you to a career in science? I've always been fascinated by the natural world. As a child, I spent hours exploring ponds and rock pools with my family, identifying creatures and observing their life cycles in home aquariums. My curiosity was paired with a Cartesian mind, always seeking structure, logic, and cause-and-effect relationships in nature. This led me to study Ecology at university in France and pursue hands-on experiences, including research internships and volunteering on freshwater and marine turtles—my first ‘love.’ What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my job is the diversity of topics I work on and the continuous learning it demands. Whether it’s analysing dugong aerial survey data, contributing to conservation policy, or bridging Scientific and Indigenous Knowledges, no two days are ever the same! What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? The biggest challenge is balancing family and work duties. My husband, also a dedicated scientist and hands-on dad, plays a key role, but as he’s further along in his career, the juggle isn’t always straightforward. Supportive colleagues, flexible arrangements, and prioritising ‘me-time’ have been essential in helping me maintain this balance. Dr Samantha Tol Dr Samantha Tol’s role involves a combination of monitoring and experimental science in marine habitats and marine ecology, to inform management and improve conservation outcomes. What led you to a career in science? I have loved the ocean and the animals within it since I was a little girl.  My earliest memory that sparked my interest was when a seal kissed me at the now ‘Sea Life Aquarium’ at age 6.  It ignited something in me, that made me what to help conserve the ocean.  This passion showed true when shortly after my mum lost me in the shopping centre and found me trying to sign-up to be a World Wildlife volunteer, where the young lady there explained that marine scientists were working from Antarctica to the equator to help the ocean.  Ever since then, I have worked towards becoming a marine biologist and couldn’t be happier with my chosen career. What’s the best part of your job? "Knowing that my work is actively making a difference for the better is the best part of my job." My personal career highlight to date was when I found out that the primer I developed to determine if faeces was from either a dugong or green sea turtle was used to confirm that dugongs were still present in the island of Ryukyu in the southern waters of Japan, after the IUCN had declared the population in this region as extinct. What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? Working while raising a young family has been my hardest challenge.  I feel that other women greatly understand the complexities of juggling parenthood with part-time and full-time work, while it has come across that many men don’t fully understand the extent of these setbacks and struggles.  This has led to, in some instances, being treated as if you are not putting in enough effort to get work done by deadlines outside of work times, and not being chosen to work on some projects. However, I do feel that this area is being highlighted and worked on, as many grant opportunities for ECRs do allow for time to be taken into account for paternity leave, and even part-time work when calculating time left as an ECR.  Although, more could be done with assisting women to access grants covering child minding arrangements.

It’s been one year since Tropical Cyclone Jasper tore through Far North Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef – and James Cook University scientists say the sediment-laden floods that followed have caused extreme damage to inshore habitats that will take years to recover. Recent JCU TropWATER surveys reveal that mud still smothers inshore coral reefs, while mangrove forests have suffered some of the worst flood damage ever recorded, with century-old trees uprooted and others dying with roots covered in mud. On 13 December 2023, Cyclone Jasper made landfall as a Category 2 and travelled across two World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland. The slow-moving nature of the cyclone and record-breaking rainfall has made it one of the most sediment-laden floods in the region's history. JCU TropWATER scientists surveyed over 250km of coastline – about 40km south of Cairns to Cooktown – assessing damage and identifying restoration sites for mangrove forests, inshore coral reefs, and seagrass habitats. Corals smothered in mud JCU marine ecologist Dr Abbi Scott said the damage to coral reefs was devastating. “All of the intertidal fringing coral reefs we observed were smothered under mud. These reefs won’t be able to recover and recruit more coral until that mud moves off, and we don’t know how long this will take,” she said. “But there are signs of resilience in other habitats. We observed some seagrass in the region – it was patchy but is a positive indication of the potential for recovery as we have seen in other areas after floods.” The team surveyed over 600 inshore sites by helicopter to assess fringing coral reefs and seagrass meadows, exposed during recent low tides. Deeper coral reefs and seagrass meadows will continue to be surveyed in 2025 with local Traditional Owner groups. “We could see some mud on the deeper reefs too, and it will stay in the system for some time. Waves and tides will keep stirring up the mud, which leads to murky water with less light, making it harder for coral reefs and seagrass meadows to recover,” she said. Mangrove devastation: century-old trees uprooted Professor Norm Duke, a senior mangrove ecologist at JCU, who led the aerial and field mangrove surveys, said the Bloomfield River estuary was the worst hit. “Established mangrove forests were extensively damaged, flattened and uprooted, along with standing trees dying by root burial from layers of deposited sediment,” he said. “This is the worst flood damage of mangroves I’ve ever seen. It was truly shocking and catastrophic. “Entire estuary sections of mangroves were eroded, with trees uprooted and swept away by the floods. “Nearby estuaries like the Daintree River were also severely impacted, with sediment build-up suffocating inner stands of mangrove trees – some more than 300 years old.” Professor Duke said that over the next five to six years, soil-binding roots of dying mangrove trees will degrade, releasing their hold on tons of muddy sediments, likely to harm downstream ecosystems for decades to come. “This sediment release will worsen water quality and disrupt recovery of nearby marine habitats like seagrass meadows and coral reefs, putting even more pressure on the natural balance of interconnected coastal marine ecosystems,” he said. Restoration and recovery strategies Future monitoring efforts will use satellite mapping, aerial surveys, and field monitoring to continue to assess recovery and guide potential restoration strategies. Results from this project will help governments prioritise recovery efforts, focusing on reducing short and long term impacts on coastal ecosystems. Dr Scott said the scale of environmental impacts begins with understanding what has been lost and what can be recovered before the region faces another disturbance. “By tracking recovery over time, our data can help guide management decisions to support these vital coastal habitats for the future,” she said. “While the results are disheartening, empowering local Traditional Owners to survey their Sea Country and shape future monitoring efforts brings deeper purpose to the project through the relationships we develop.” Scientists will continue to work closely with the Traditional Owner groups that participated in the intertidal surveys (Jabalbina Yalanji, Dawul Wuru, Gunggandji PBC, and Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji PPBC Aboriginal Corporations) and others from the impacted areas as they shift to boat-based surveys. This project is part of the Queensland and Australian Government initiative under the National Environmental Science Program and Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

TropWATER supports postgraduate students to work with us on ongoing research projects, gaining hands-on experience and key skills for their career development. Below are highlights from past interns, reflecting on their experiences with TropWATER. Ellie Pierce Research area: Terrestrial landscapes and environmental monitoring Field locations: Gilbert River Internship duration:  4 months Technical skills: Soil sampling, remote fieldwork skills, database development, drone imagery processing What project did you work on during your internship? "I worked across a couple of projects at different stages, each offering unique experiences! My primary focus was the Gilbert 1.3 project, which included a week-long trip to a remote field site west of Townsville, past Georgetown. I also assisted in work with the 2019 Flinders Flood and Recovery Project, NQ Water Quality monitoring project, and Gully Erosion Monitoring at SPYGLASS." What experience from your internship stands out to you? "The time out in the Gilbert Catchment was definitely a stand-out! Being in the field and out in nature amongst the elements was such a beaut experience. After first becoming interested in the ecology and biodiversity of Australian landscapes when travelling around Australia with my family when I was 10, it was truly a full-circle moment for me!" Did you gain any skills or knowledge that surprised you? "Yes! I gained significant experience in 4WD driving, which boosted my confidence as I navigated the team and trailer through challenging terrain. I also developed skills in curating a database to support the Gilbert 1.3 project. Jack and I adapted our approach when lab results were delayed, focusing on creating a valuable resource by researching and organising relevant articles. This deepened my understanding of data organisation and its importance in long-term research." "Another highlight was processing drone imagery in Agisoft Metashape. I built orthomosaics and digital elevation models (DEMs), enhancing my technical skills and showing the value of advanced technology in environmental monitoring. These experiences reinforced key skills in Environmental Science, Marine Biology, and Conservation & Management—my chosen career pathway." "This experience has provided valuable insight into the daily responsibilities of a Research Officer and deepened my knowledge of the field." Natasha Chik Research area:  Seagrass Field locations:  Cairns, Mourilyan, Gladstone Internship duration: 3 months Technical skills:  Helicopter surveys, seagrass monitoring, seagrass restoration What project did you work on during your internship? "I worked on multiple projects during my internship, from seagrass restoration to monitoring seagrass reproduction in Cairns and surveying seagrass meadows in Gladstone. I also helped with the projects of Master's and PhD students in the lab." What experience from your internship stands out to you? "Doing helicopter surveys in Gladstone is a time that stands out from my internship. I was able to experience a whole new method of doing seagrass surveys with helicopters and could see how massive the seagrass meadows in Gladstone are." Did you gain any skills or knowledge that surprised you? "I gained a better understanding of seagrass species located in Queensland and experience in how seagrass restoration is done." "My internship experience not only helped me gain learning experiences in the field I'm interested in, but also broadened my connections and development of my career pathway." Jacqueline Hintz Research area:  Freshwater habitats Field locations:  Babinda Internship duration:  4 months Technical skills:  Laboratory-based experimental trials, eelgrass restoration, stable isotope analysis What project did you work on during your internship? "I was privileged to lead some research projects such as restoring eelgrass ( Vallisneria nana ), stable isotopes, and conducting a bivalve filtration experiment." What experience from your internship stands out to you? "Meeting the Wanjuru-Yidinji people, the Traditional Custodians of the lower Russell River catchment, was an absolute honour. Seeing their unique connection to waterways, including the stories passed through generations connecting the land, water, and the Wanjuru-Yidinji people made it even more inspirational to help restore their waterways." Did you gain any skills or knowledge that surprised you? "During this internship, I gained the vital skill of adaptability along with project management skills, helping me manage tasks from start to finish. Not only did this internship broaden my knowledge of vital wetland ecosystems, but it also expanded my career pathways by meeting people and making connections in Babinda, such as the Jaragun Rangers and government staff working in wetlands." "As a student without any workforce experience, my internship was a great foot in the door of what to expect and learning opportunities. Thank you to everyone at TropWATER who helped me grow as a scientist."

Drones could fast-track how scientists collect data on one of the most elusive marine mammals in the Great Barrier Reef. Dr. Chris Cleguer is trialling the technology to search for dugongs in a known hotspot just off Townsville at Cleveland Bay, recording more than 55 kilometers of dugong habitats rich with seagrass meadows. The trials tested the feasibility of conducting a vessel-based drone survey in the inshore waters of Cleveland Bay with the ultimate goal of gaining a better understanding of the dugongs’ dynamic habitat use in the area. “We know Cleveland Bay is one of the most important dugong hotspots in the Great Barrier Reef, but these animals are notoriously difficult to study, and we know little about how dugongs use the Bay,” he said. “New technologies such as drones and aerial imagery have the potential to be a complete game-changer in how we try to safely and cost-effectively unveil how dugongs use the area.” Cleguer is also teaming up with Dr. Fredrik Christiansen from Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (Denmark) to develop a method to use drone imagery to assess the body condition of dugongs. This research is looking at how to enhance the capacity to assess the condition of dugong populations.

To mark World Oceans Day, Cotton On Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Cotton On Group, has committed $2 million to co-launch a world-first conservation project, ‘The Reef Cooperative’. The new initiative, coordinated by Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, brings together Traditional Owners Yirrganydji Land and Sea Rangers, James Cook University reef scientists, reef restoration experts Mars Sustainable Solutions and leading tourism operator GBR Biology. Through the collaborative partnership, conservation efforts will be scaled up on the Great Barrier Reef, with Hastings Reef on Yirrganydji Sea Country, near Cairns, chosen as the first restoration site. Seed and grow – JCU leads coral larvae project Under The Reef Cooperative, James Cook University TropWATER Centre will lead the Coral Larval Delivery Program to help degraded reefs recover and replenish by seeding and growing new corals. The project will see the delivery of 30 million coral larvae over three years on Hastings Reef, and other reefs, during the annual Great Barrier Reef mass coral spawning event. Project lead JCU TropWATER’s Dr. Katie Chartrand said the project would help to spur coral growth and boost local reef recovery. “Climate change has resulted in more frequent marine heatwaves and cyclone damage combined with other impacts like crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks – these repeated events are making it harder for damaged reefs to recover,” she said. “This coral larval project is all about giving struggling reefs a better chance at recovering by boosting the number of available coral larvae for natural settlement.” The project involves collecting coral spawn during the Reef’s annual spawning event and relocating the larvae to damaged reefs. “The Reef Cooperative is an example of science, traditional owners, and industry partners delivering groundbreaking programs that could make a big difference to the recovery and resilience at key sites on the Great Barrier Reef,” Dr. Chartrand said. “This conservation model is designed to build resilience in damaged areas using a scientific approach while enabling greater capacity for traditional owners and tourism partners to share their perspectives and knowledge.” The Reef Cooperative – projects for the next three years The three-year funding commitment will see the launch of The Reef Cooperative to deliver a major conservation program at degraded reefs with multiple projects interwoven to have a greater collective impact. In addition to JCU’s coral larvae project, 700 MARRS reef stars will be installed to aid in reef recovery, starting with the 250 at Hastings Reef. These stars are a groundbreaking restoration technology that will provide a stable base for coral fragments to grow on damaged sections of the reef. Hastings Reef and other subsequent sites chosen as part of The Reef Cooperative will be maintained by Yirrganydji Sea Rangers or other Traditional Owners of their Sea Country. The rangers and Traditional Owners will engage tourists in reef conservation and protection with weekly tourism visits through Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel. The Great Reef Census – a Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef initiative – will also be scaled up to survey the far reaches of the 2,300km Great Barrier Reef, both in-water and recruiting citizen scientists worldwide to help analyze the tens of thousands of Census images. Andy Ridley, CEO of Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, said the scale of the $2 million investment from Cotton On Foundation for The Reef Cooperative allows for a rapid delivery of tangible conservation actions. “With collaboration at its heart, The Reef Cooperative is designed to deliver highly scalable practical conservation outcomes on reefs across the 2,300km Great Barrier Reef and beyond.” Tim Diamond, GM of Cotton On Foundation, said the commitment, supported by a unique fundraising model in partnership with customers, will support an incredible collective of minds and organizations working directly on the Great Barrier Reef to address the issue of coral reef loss in the face of climate change and severe weather events. “The conservation model is unique and through its focus on community, innovation, and knowledge sharing, it has proven to transform one of the great environmental challenges in our own backyard. At Cotton On Foundation, we are proud to support Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef and this game-changing initiative.”

Graziers and scientists are working together to understand how, when, and where sediment moves from the land into the Bowen, Broken, and Bogie catchments – building a more accurate understanding of the local water quality. Over the past four wet seasons, JCU TropWATER scientists Zoe Bainbridge and Steve Lewis have worked with local graziers and NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change project team to run the LDC Community Water Quality Monitoring Group, collecting and analyzing water samples across nine river and creek sites during high rainfall events. The program is helping improve scientists’ and landholders’ understanding of the loss of soil and the nutrients attached to this soil that travel from the land into waterways during high rainfall. “The aim is to help identify the main source areas of sediment within the catchment and work with landholders to prevent fine sediment flowing out to the Great Barrier Reef,” researcher Zoe Bainbridge said. Latest results: The 2021–22 wet season Despite limited rainfall in the Collinsville region this wet season, more than 50 water samples were collected by graziers during local streamflow events and delivered to TropWATER to be analyzed for phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment content. Early results show the Bowen River sub-catchment is an area highly susceptible to soil loss, most likely due to soil types prone to erosion. The full report will be available later this year. Big picture: How the data will be used The water quality data collected from this project is paired with historical water quality and sediment source tracing data, giving an improved understanding of the sediment sources and transport processes within these catchments. These valuable datasets are being used by the Paddock to Reef Program’s catchment modelers to improve the spatial model representation of water quality across the Bowen Broken and Bogie catchments, including how this relates to land management changes within the catchment. LDC Community Water Quality Monitoring Project is a collaborative effort between NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change and JCU TropWATER Centre, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and the Office of the Great Barrier Reef.

Two outstanding James Cook University (JCU) marine science students have been awarded Bachelor of Science scholarships – equipping them with unique real-world experience on the Great Barrier Reef under the guidance of leading marine researchers. Jordan Wells and Indus Fisher will receive financial support throughout each year of their degree, in addition to the chance to work alongside researchers and port industry managers, thanks to a partnership between JCU and North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP). JCU’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) Principal Researcher Dr. Nathan Waltham said the scholarship would be invaluable for the budding marine scientists. “Every year Jordan and Indus will have financial support, plus get hands-on experience in understanding how environmental science can tackle real marine industry issues,” he said. “Marine science can be a very competitive field and this scholarship gives these promising students valuable real-world experiences, beyond just the classroom.” Indus Fisher, who relocated to Townsville from Mackay, said he had grown up in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and loved the marine environment from a young age. “With a hope to help protect this beautiful ecosystem, I couldn’t think of a better place to learn the knowledge and skills to do so than at the world’s leading university in marine science,” he said. “Thanks to the generosity of North Queensland Bulk Ports and JCU TropWATER, this financial burden has been greatly reduced, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies and achieve the very best possible results I can." “The real opportunity lies in the industry connections, placement possibilities, and real-world experience this fantastic partnership makes available to us.” The two students will join last year’s scholarship recipient, Amy Cantrill, and intern students who will complete placement in the environmental team at NQBP. Together, the student programs are building the next generation of marine scientists to be job-ready. NQBP CEO Nicolas Fertin said the port authority is proud to provide university students real-world experience in port environmental management. “With JCU, we have created one of Australia’s most comprehensive port marine ambient monitoring programs while training the next generation of industry and job-ready science graduates,” Mr. Fertin said. “The marine environment is central in our everyday planning and port operations. Informed environmental management ensures trade keeps flowing to service the Queensland economy.” JCU offers the world’s best marine and freshwater biology degrees, and NQBP is the only port authority in the world with three priority ports, of Hay Point, Mackay, and Abbot Point, located on the shores of a World Heritage Area. The scholarship program is part of NQBP’s broader five-year partnership with JCU, where researchers monitor the local marine environment surrounding four ports.

The Women Warriors of the Torres Strait – an all-female crew of Traditional Owners, rangers, and scientists led by the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Sea Team and James Cook University – have set sail as part of the Great Reef Census to survey the northernmost section in the Torres Strait, northern Australia. The five-day voyage to Mer (Murray Island) by the Women Warriors of the Torres Strait is the first time the Great Reef Census – led by Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef – has ventured beyond Cape York. TSRA Senior Natural Resource Management Officer and Marine Biologist Madeina David, 24, said the trip served as ‘ethical science’ in the Torres Strait, with researchers and Traditional Owners working together to monitor the Great Barrier Reef, collect data, and share findings with island communities to support local decision-making. “Our voyage sets a new course for science to value, respect, and incorporate the traditional ecological knowledge of custodians who have cared for land and sea for centuries,” Ms. David said. “We will connect ancient knowledge and modern science to assess the condition of the northern Great Barrier Reef, including water temperatures, coral conditions, and even explore the potential for a future turtle sanctuary.”

Restricting spearfishing in some 'yellow zones' in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park has doubled the abundance of coral trout, according to new research led by James Cook University scientists. The study published in Biological Conservation focused on reefs around the Capricorn Bunkers, offshore from Gladstone, looking at the abundance of targeted fish species in partially protected Marine Park Zones known as 'yellow zones'. Researchers compared yellow zones that allow spearfishing to ‘special management area’ yellow zones that prohibit spearfishing. JCU’s TropWATER scientist Dr. April Hall said while spearfishing can be an ecologically sustainable activity with minimal bycatch, restricting the activity via designated spearing-free management zones can have conservation benefits at a regional scale. “What we found was in yellow zones that excluded spearfishing, the numbers of target species such as coral trout were significantly higher compared to fishing zones that allow spearfishing,” she said. “These restricted yellow zones also rivaled the abundance in nearby protected no-take green zones. “Regardless of the effects of spearfishing, both kinds of yellow zones still support a greater abundance of coral trout compared to nearby blue zones, where fishing is less restricted.” Dr. Hall said while this study showed the conservation benefits of prohibiting spearfishing, it’s not necessarily the case across the entire Great Barrier Reef. “We’ve compared other yellow zones in different parts of the Great Barrier Reef and the outcome varies, most likely due to differences in the popularity of spearfishing.” JCU’s Professor Mike Kingsford said no-take marine reserves were one of the most effective conservation measures to restore the abundance of fish. “Fully protected green zones in the area support the most significant number of large coral trout,” he said. “This is a really important protection measure because large coral trout change sex from female to male, and this helps to maintain healthy breeding populations.” Co-author, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Director Darren Cameron said the research demonstrated that yellow zones were an important marine park management tool providing a balance between conservation and sustainable fishing activities. “Healthy fish populations in both yellow zones and protected no-take green zones produce baby fish, many of which grow up and are subsequently caught throughout fished areas. These zones improve fishing, with more fish also importantly contributing to the health and resilience of the entire Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

As yellow crazy ants invade habitats across Queensland, James Cook University researchers have developed a world-first environmental DNA (eDNA) method that can detect infestations of the highly invasive species. The breakthrough research is the first time scientists have successfully isolated the genetic material of terrestrial invertebrates in waterways. Lead author, JCU’s Dr. Cecilia Villacorta-Rath, said devising a method to detect yellow crazy ants using eDNA was a challenging puzzle. “eDNA methods work by detecting a species’ genetic material that’s left behind in the environment – but extracting genetic material for non-aquatic species is difficult because you can’t reliably detect the species in the soil,” she said. “We knew the invasive ant often colonizes creek banks, and we knew high amounts of genetic material surrounded these nests, like decomposing ants and larvae. What we didn’t know was how much of their genetic material would make it into waterways. “This led us to not only develop eDNA methods capable of detecting the ants’ genetic material in the water but also to detect their presence even when the infestation was 300 meters away from the creek edge”. Dr. Villacorta-Rath said the technology could give management authorities another tool to pinpoint locations of infestations before they become uncontrollable. “Water samples can potentially tell us whether the ants are present in an entire small stream catchment, meaning we can effectively survey large areas for their presence.” Yellow crazy ants are considered one of the world’s most invasive species, with outbreaks found in Queensland, and more broadly in Australia and the Indo-Pacific. Left untreated, the acid-spraying ants can increase in density to resemble a moving carpet consisting of millions of workers. Co-author and Associate Professor Lori Lach said the eDNA technology could help with early detection or tracking the progress of eradication programs. The big problem with controlling invasive species, like yellow crazy ants, is finding them before they settle into new areas,” she said. “Detecting infestations early on will reduce threats to native ants, lizards, birds, and other fauna. Human health and agriculture can also be affected if infestations are not detected and treated early.” JCU’s TropWATER Centre Director and co-author, Professor Damien Burrows, said eDNA analysis was known for monitoring aquatic systems, but terrestrial monitoring was less explored. “Our research is critical on several fronts. Not only have we found a method to target one of the most invasive species, but we’re also paving the way to fast-track detection of other land-based species,” he said. “Australia has some of the most biodiverse habitats in the world, which makes biosecurity measures incredibly important in protecting our environment. “The developments our team is making in eDNA technology have significant benefits for invasive species eradication and detection programs.” eDNA detection provides another method to detect invasive yellow crazy ants alongside existing methods including luring, trapping, detection dogs, or sightings. This project is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program through the Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub and the Established Pest Animals and Weeds Management Pipeline Program – Advancing Pest Animal and Weed Control Solutions. The Australian Government is committed to the fight against Yellow Crazy Ants and has pledged $24.8 million to address the highly invasive species across Queensland. This funding is supporting the Queensland Government through the Wet Tropics Management Authority’s Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program, as well as through direct funding for eradication efforts in the Townsville Region. Invasive terrestrial invertebrate detection in water and soil using a targeted eDNA approach was published in the journal NeoBiota and is freely available here.

From coral trout and snapper to wrasses, butterflyfish, and damselfish – the inshore reef habitats of Great Barrier Reef islands are known for their complex and rich fish communities. This month, our scientists are conducting visual surveys of reef fishes and benthic habitats of eight inshore island groups in the Great Barrier Reef, building on a 20-year long-term monitoring program at four of the island groups and four new monitoring sites. The island reefs surveyed are high-value and high-use for tourism and recreational fishing, with areas monitored in no-take marine reserves and zones open to fishing – making the data highly valuable in understanding how fish communities change over time and how they benefit from marine reserves. Lead researcher Dr. Maya Srinivasan said while some reefs were degraded due to past impacts such as cyclones and coral bleaching, many reefs were in great condition with a variety of live coral and fish species. The inshore fringing reef monitoring seeks to uncover important insights into fish communities in a range of different habitats, including nursery habitats such as mangroves and seagrasses, island fringing reefs, and deeper areas between reefs. The program is part of the IMR Reef Fish Monitoring Project, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. This is a joint program managed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, with support from TropWATER, University of the Sunshine Coast, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and Queensland Agriculture.

The common melaleuca ‘paper-bark’ tree could be a powerhouse not only in storing carbon but also in filtering farm runoff – and farmers and scientists are teaming up to understand how big of an impact these native trees have. James Cook University’s (JCU) TropWATER Centre’s Dr. Adam Canning is working with Ingham farmer John Cardillo and Greening Australia in a project that has converted 15 acres of flood-prone cane farm into melaleuca plantations. The project investigates the amount of carbon stored by these plantations compared to non-restored areas, and their role in capturing nutrients from farm runoff mobilised during high rainfall. Lead researcher Dr. Adam Canning said the research looks at how restoration can fit in with the agricultural landscape, where there are benefits for both farmers and the environment. “Planting melaleuca plantations on flood-prone farms has dual benefits – they are powerful carbon sinks and can help improve water quality,” he said. “But if agricultural land is restored, it could result in a production loss for farmers, so we need to think about how restoration can have co-benefits for farmers. “This project is finding the best way to use these flood-prone paddocks to support the long-term success of the agricultural economy by leveraging emerging ecosystem service markets.” The research involved burying resin bags in the soil for 12 months to measure nitrate leaching to aquatic ecosystems, as well as assessing soil carbon and microbiome levels. Canefarmer John Cardillo, who has been involved in various revegetation projects, said the low-lying paddocks were wasted on cane because they were flood-prone. “Revegetating these paddocks is a good way to use this land,” he said. “These paddocks are so close to the coast – the planted trees are great for holding sediment and it helps with erosion during floods. “It might seem like a drop in the ocean, but this all adds up.” Greening Australia’s Sean Hoobin said, “Land which isn’t good for cane can be converted to carbon farming both from vegetation and blue carbon methods – bringing additional income to landholders.” “Greening Australia’s work with JCU to measure the water quality benefit of melaleuca wetlands means that farmers may also be able to receive a Reef Credit payment to increase the overall value of restoration.” Canning said there are likely many flood-prone cane paddocks in Queensland that can be converted to melaleuca wetlands, and the results from this project could play a big role in future restoration initiatives in the agricultural landscape. “We have also been scoping the potential for planting over 120 other water-tolerant native tree species in locations across the Great Barrier Reef catchment to support carbon sequestration, nutrient runoff treatment, and biodiversity.”

Indigenous rangers and scientists team up to drive coral growth on the Great Barrier Reef during spawning season and beyond. A team of scientists, First Nations Rangers, tourism operators, and conservationists have collected millions of coral sperm and egg bundles at Moore Reef on Gunggandji Sea Country, 50 kilometers offshore from Cairns. After a week of incubating in custom-designed pools, the coral babies have been settled out at nearby Hastings Reef, on Yirrganydji Sea Country, in the hope of repairing patches of degraded reef. The larval delivery project is part of the newly launched reef conservation collective called ‘The Reef Cooperative’, a partnership between Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation, James Cook University (JCU), Reef Recruits, Mars Sustainable Solutions, GBR Biology, and funded by Cotton On Foundation. The coral larvae project is led by JCU TropWATER and Reef Recruits, who bring years of experience with raising and settling coral larvae and managing complex marine field operations. JCU’s Dr. Katie Chartrand says climate-related disturbances are increasing and the windows for reefs to recover are getting shorter and shorter. “By using the Great Barrier Reef’s most reproductive time of year – the annual synchronized spawning – we have the potential to significantly boost reef recovery at targeted reef sites,” she said. “Key to this project is that it’s being delivered with traditional custodians who hold a wealth of knowledge about their local reefs while the research team provides the scientific tools to train those involved. “This project has been an opportunity to work hand in hand with two local Traditional Owner groups. Sharing our knowledge on spawning and larval rearing is building local capacity to drive conservation outcomes for First Nations peoples across the Great Barrier Reef in the future.” The team will release 30 million larvae in the project over the next 3 years and build capacity within the community and The Reef Cooperative. “The transfer of coral larvae from Gunggandji Sea Country to Yirrganydji Sea Country for settling on Hastings Reef is an important opportunity to engage Traditional Owner groups and tell our story about the Great Barrier Reef. Through The Reef Cooperative, we can focus on the Aboriginal cultural heritage dimensions of the Great Barrier Reef, which have not historically been known or told across Australia and the world,” Gavin Singleton, Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation. These larvae will increase coral coverage over more than 200 square meters of strategically selected degraded reef. The baby corals will have lots of natural predators, but at least 15,000 of them should survive to maturity. ”It’s a privilege to work on this project in collaboration with Traditional Owners. It’s also exciting to be trialling new methods to increase the coverage of high-density larval delivery,” said Dr. Kerry Cameron, Reef Recruits. This project spans two different sea countries, which is only possible thanks to the support and collaboration of the Gunggandji and Yirrganydji people. Gunggandji Elders say Moore Reef has long been known to them as a source reef and they have a strong spiritual connection with it. “The fusion of Traditional Owner Ecological Knowledge with modern science for the whole world to see and be part of is what the mutually beneficial partnership of the Reef Cooperative is all about, and provides hope for the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef for generations to come,” said Eric Fisher, GBR Biology. Tim Diamond, GM of Cotton On Foundation says, “Through our partnership with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, we are proud to be the founding funders of The Reef Cooperative and supporting the important cultural and conservation milestones for Hastings Reef on Yirrganydji Sea Country. The Reef Cooperative is a unique conservation model in action, driven by innovation and knowledge sharing between Traditional Owners, scientists, and conservationists that can help protect and conserve the Great Barrier Reef. We’re looking forward to mobilising our customers and supporters in reef conservation over the next three years of The Reef Cooperative journey.” Yirrganydji rangers have supported the fieldwork to prepare the delivery site at Hastings Reef, and rangers from both groups will help with the collection of coral spawn and raising of the larvae.

New research suggests that the effectiveness of water quality catchment models – used to identify sediment hotspots in Great Barrier Reef catchments – can be enhanced by incorporating river sediment tracing and independent water samples. Led by James Cook University TropWATER, in collaboration with CSIRO, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, and Griffith University, the research highlights how multiple lines of evidence are critical in improving confidence in model outputs for both policymakers and managers. Lead author TropWATER’s Dr. Zoe Bainbridge said that while the spatial model has been continually refined over the past two decades, local field data from the catchment helps to validate the model and accurately identify sediment hotspots. Using this integrated approach, the four-year study identified the Little Bowen River, Rosella, and Pelican Creeks as the largest sources of sediment in the Bowen River catchment. The finding contradicted early estimates of the model, highlighting the importance of using multiple lines of evidence when identifying sediment hotspots. “There are significant investment opportunities to target remediation at eroding gully and riverbank sites to reduce sediment run-off,” Dr. Bainbridge said. “By adopting this multiple lines of evidence approach, landholders and managers can have confidence that remediation sites chosen are going to result in the best investment outcomes and improved water quality for downstream wetlands, seagrass, and coral reefs.” The landholder monitoring, a collaboration between North Queensland Dry Tropics, landholders, and TropWATER scientists, will continue this wet season. These additional samples, capturing catchment runoff during different size flow events, will provide further confidence in the field data. The research was carried out in the Bowen-Broken-Bogie tributaries of the Burdekin River catchment, which has been identified as a major contributor of fine sediments to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. The study is part of the Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project managed by the NQ Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management body, funded through the Queensland Government (Major Integrated Project) and the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and Great Barrier Reef Foundation. This research was published in Science of The Total Environment under a CSIRO-JCU Catchment Water Quality Science Partnership and an Advance Queensland Research Fellowship.

The 2024 Australasian Coastal Restoration Network (ACRN) symposium was recently held at the University of Sydney, bringing together key professionals working in coastal, estuarine, and marine restoration. The ACRN is one of several programs hosted by James Cook University’s TropWATER that support conservation and management of tropical coastal and marine ecosystems. TropWATER’s Associate Prof Nathan Waltham, Professor Jim Wallace, and Dr Amrit Mishra presented at the symposium, discussing their work on coastal wetland restoration - specifically on tidal wetland blue carbon, hydrology, and connectivity and biodiversity - to more than 100 attendees. Associate Prof Waltham, ACRN Network Leader, said the annual symposium was a key activity for the network. "Nature repair is critical to restoring and retaining coastal habitats, which are degrading at an alarming rate across Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea,” he said. “This conference provided an important platform for scientists and professional to connect, share knowledge and explore ideas within coastal, estuarine, and marine ecological restoration sectors.” The symposium had seven unifying themes spanning case studies and experiments, lessons learned, longer term studies, methodologies, restoration challenges and solutions, and socioecological integration and impact. The second day included a half-day workshop on marine and coastal nature repair, led by the Australian Government and CSIRO including Dr Megan Saunders (co-Leader of the ACRN), consolidating information needed to plan investment programs for nature repair in Australian marine and coastal habitats. The ACRN supports professional networking and information sharing and aims to increase awareness and educate the public on the value of conserving and restoring coastal habitats. It also acts as a resource for members to find current funding opportunities, projects, workshops, conferences, and other useful information. The network has over 500 members across Australia and New Zealand, representing government, universities, non-government organisations, community, natural resource management, industry and consultancy institutes. For more information, contact ACRN co-Lead Associate Prof Nathan Waltham.

Our scientists lead seagrass and inshore water quality monitoring across large areas of the inshore Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, contributing critical data to the recently released 2022-23 Marine Monitoring Program Annual Report. ( see summary here ). For nearly 20 years we've contributed to the Marine Monitoring Program, assessing water quality and seagrass meadows to understand the impacts of land-based runoff on the Reef, cyclones, floods, and rising ocean temperatures. The report: what do the results reveal? The 2022-23 report reveals seagrass conditions have an overall ‘moderate’ condition score. Yet, regions vary considerably, ranging from ‘very poor’ to ‘good’. While water quality has seen years of deteriorating trends, the latest results show encouraging overall improvements across all monitored regions. JCU TropWATER’s Jane Waterhouse said despite this, some key indicators do not meet water quality guideline values. Substantial improvements will need to be made for guideline values to be met.  “Further work is needed to determine whether the positive trends in inshore water quality conditions can be linked to improvements in land management. We need to understand if the changes are widespread and sustained over time, especially in the context of other major drivers such as climate,” she said.  The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Marine Monitoring Program is a partnership between JCU TropWATER, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), and the Cape York Water Partnership. The Program also includes inshore coral reef monitoring, undertaken by AIMS. Water quality: how do we monitor conditions? Good water quality is essential for the health of marine and freshwater ecosystems. When water quality improves, the resilience of these ecosystems strengthens. Our scientists partner with the Cape York Water Partnership and the Australian Institute of Marine Science to collect and analyse water quality data from several sources. This data provides important insights into the concentrations and transport of land-sourced pollutants in the inshore Great Barrier Reef. Our team conducts year-round water quality sampling across inshore areas in Cape York, Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Mackay Whitsunday, and Fitzroy regions. Sampling frequency increases during the wet season and flood events. Using this ground-based data, we leverage our in-house expertise in remote sensing technologies. By integrating satellite imagery, we can map and monitor water quality conditions across vast areas of the Reef. Seagrass: how do we monitor conditions? Seagrasses are powerful carbon sinks. They are vital food sources for dugongs and green turtles and serve as essential nurseries for prawns and fish. Our scientists monitor inshore seagrass meadows across the Reef in various habitats. We assess their resilience and abundance through percentage cover, species composition, and reproductive status (presence of flowers, fruits, and seeds). Monitoring occurs in the late-dry and late-wet seasons. To understand seagrass conditions, we also record factors like seawater temperature, light availability, sediment characteristics, and the presence of macroalgae and epiphytes. This data gives us a comprehensive assessment of seagrass conditions in each region.   Summary 2022-23 monitoring results Water quality and seagrass monitoring were undertaken at each region, which includes subregion assessments. Cape York Water quality in the Cape York region scored 'good'. River discharge ranged from 1.5 to 1.9 times the long-term median, except for the Normanby River, which was 3.1 times higher. The Normanby flood plume extended across Princess Charlotte Bay, reaching up to 100 km east, beyond the outer reefs. Most indicators met guideline values at most sites, but inorganic nitrogen and water clarity did not. Seagrass scored ‘moderate’. Seagrass abundance increased, but resilience declined from 'moderate' to 'poor'. Reproductive structures were rarely observed for the third consecutive year, impacting seed bank replenishment and recovery capacity. Wet Tropics Water quality in the Wet Tropics region was rated 'moderate'. Over the past two to five years, water quality has shown an improving trend in most parts of the Wet Tropics. Some nutrient levels and water clarity did not meet guidelines in all sub-regions, while other indicators did. For example, Particulate nitrogen met guidelines in two sub-regions but showed deterioration in the Tully sub-region. Seagrass  condition is assessed in two separate sub-regions, with an overall 'moderate'. Seagrass condition improved in the northern meadows driven by more resilient meadows, while the south saw declines in both abundance and resilience for the second consecutive year. Extreme weather events in 2011 continue to hamper recovery in the southern region. Burdekin Water quality in the Burdekin region scored 'moderate'. River discharge was 2.2 times the long-term median, after two years of near-median levels. Some nutrient levels and water clarity did not meet guidelines. After declines from 2010-2018, water quality has stabilised and shown improvements, driven by lower nutrient levels and better water clarity. Seagrass meadows have deteriorated overall but remained 'moderate'. Seagrass abundance marginally decreased compared to the previous period and remains lower than historical records. Seagrass resilience also slightly decreased despite abundant seed banks. Mackay-Whitsunday Water quality in the Mackay-Whitsunday region was 'moderate'. River discharge was 1.7 times the long-term median after three years of below-average levels. Most water quality indicators, such as nutrient levels and water clarity, did not meet guidelines. A positive trend has seen a reverse in the decline from 2007-2018, sparking optimism for the region's water quality. Seagrass  in this region was 'moderate'. Seagrass condition has fluctuated between 'poor' and 'moderate' since 2011-12 due to various environmental pressures. In 2022-23, the seagrass abundance score increased, driven by estuarine intertidal and coastal and reef subtidal habitats. Resilience also improved to its highest level in six years, indicating potential recovery from past disturbances. Fitzroy Water quality in the Fitzroy region was ‘good’ and is conducted by AIMS. River discharge was around the long-term median. Some nutrient levels and water clarity did not meet guidelines. It is difficult to assess trends in the region due to a gap in the sampling from 2015 to 2020. Seagrass condition slightly deteriorated and remained 'poor', continuing a three-year decline. While the seagrass abundance score marginally improved, this was driven by only one estuarine intertidal site, keeping the overall score 'poor'. Resilience decreased to the second lowest level recorded., also remaining 'poor'. Burnett Mary Seagrass meadows declined further in 2022-23, reaching a 'very poor' grade for the first time in 16 years. The seagrass abundance score remained very poor for the second consecutive year, continuing a downward trend since 2015-16. Despite this, persistent seed banks give meadows some recovery potential, though reduced replenishment ability makes them vulnerable to future disturbances.

A James Cook University report has found evidence that sea level rise is visibly impacting mangroves across approximately 80% of the coastline from Cairns to Gladstone, with significant erosion visible along the sea edges, scouring of saltmarshes and landward movement of mangroves. The study also identifies 52 potential restoration hotspots covering 17,255 hectares.   This is the first comprehensive helicopter survey conducted along the 1,000-kilometre coastline.   The Great Barrier Reef Mangrove and Saltmarsh Condition Survey  report used 80,000 high-resolution geo-referenced photographs from helicopter surveys, revealing the profound impacts of sea level rises, cyclone damage, and pollutants on mangrove habitats. The research was funded through Greening Australia’s Reef Aid  program, as part of the Blue Carbon Initiative.   JCU TropWATER researcher Professor Norm Duke said mangroves along the Great Barrier Reef coastline had not been surveyed to this extent before and results show vast damage.   “Our observations provide clear, unequivocal, and quantifiable evidence of changes to this increasingly dynamic shoreline,” he said.   “You can see how sea level rises are eating at the mangrove shoreline, where mangroves are simply collapsing into the sea edge.   “The impact of severe tropical cyclones has battered the region over the past four decades, particularly Yasi in 2011 and Debbie in 2017. We can also see extensive shoreline tree loss from erosion, coupled with scouring erosion of salt pans, and retreat of terrestrial shorelines.   “This is widespread evidence of rising sea levels.”   Professor Duke said the aerial observations align with local records of sea level rise over the past half-century, which indicate an increase of at least 4mm per year.   Mangroves are nature’s blue carbon powerhouses – capable of capturing and storing significant amounts of carbon, making them a vital tool in mitigating the climate crisis. They are also biodiversity hotspots that provide essential breeding grounds for native fish, while stabilising coastline ecosystems and reducing erosion.   The team also identified 17,255 hectares of coastal land for restoration across 52 potential sites. The findings offer opportunities and insight into challenges for localised recovery and carbon sequestration, potentially funded by carbon markets. This is a critical step in preparing for coastline retreat and allowing mangroves to move landward as sea levels rise.   TropWATER’s Dr Adam Canning stated while maintaining the health of existing mangroves along the Great Barrier Reef coastline was critical, identifying potential restoration sites was also an essential step in the climate crisis for sequestering carbon and manage coastal retreat.   “Until now, beyond very limited desktop exercises, nobody knew if and where lost forests could be restored in the Great Barrier Reef, and what their capacity for carbon sequestration might be,” he said.   “We used a combination of complementary methods to find the best spots for restoration, their potential for carbon storage and the specific restoration challenges one might face.   “We coupled our field surveys with detail digital elevation models, essentially 3D images of the landscape, tidal ingress mapping, long-term satellite tracking of mangrove health, land tenure and regulatory triggers.   “We also identified likely risks for each potential project and the main factors driving changes, like pollution, access tracks, feral pigs, sediment deposition, shoreline erosion, and storm damage.   Greening Australia is already using the findings from this report to assess the potential for blue carbon ecosystem restoration for two projects in the Mulgrave and Mackay regions .   Greening Australia’s Director of Reef Aid, Dr Lynise Wearne, said the research contributes important data to the field of blue carbon restoration and highlights the need and urgency for scaling investment into coastal restoration activities.   “The report highlights challenges involved in restoring blue carbon ecosystems, but there is also research showing that these systems can respond quickly to interventions such as active revegetation and tidal inundation and achieve carbon storage.   “These coastal ecosystems are vitally important for climate resilience and biodiversity, as well as being of deep cultural significance for First Nations communities. Greening Australia are committed to driving investment and working alongside First Nations communities to restore threatened coastal ecosystems.”

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.

James Cook University TropWATER scientists are major contributors to the most comprehensive and rigorous review of water quality and the Great Barrier Reef – confirming that elevated levels of fine sediments, nutrients and pesticides continue to have detrimental impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, especially inshore ecosystems. Scientists say hitting water quality targets in the next decade is imperative. To succeed we need to work closely with regional communities, like growers and graziers. The 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement is led by C2O Consulting and funded by the Australian and Queensland governments. It addresses 30 questions by 78 expert authors, with policy or management to make decisions based on consideration of the full synthesis of the evidence. Eighteen James Cook University (JCU) experts contributed to the report, with eight lead authors including Associate Professor Nathan Waltham, Dr Stephen Lewis, Dr Shelley Templeman, Dr Aaron Davis, Dr Len McKenzie, Dr Catherine Collier, Dr Maxine Newlands and Dr Ciemon Caballes. Scientists provided expertise on land-use, wetlands, pesticides, sediments and nutrients and ecosystem health and connectivity. Lead author of two chapters, Dr Stephen Lewis, said evidence shows extensive land use changes is documented from 1860 to 2019 with associated sediment erosion and nutrient loads increasing. Recent modelling also indicates that sediment loads have more than tripled in some regions since European settlement. “The increase of sediment and particulate nutrients is largely due to land modifications for livestock grazing, cropping, urban development, and mining, along with climate variability causing larger river discharge events,” he said. “The evidence of changes in pollutant exposure is most pronounced in the estuarine and nearshore environments just offshore from river mouths but can be seen as far out as 100 km alongshore from the source river. “Excess sediments are a major threat to the health of the Great Barrier Reef, especially those closest to the coast. The most damaging sediments cause prolonged reductions in water clarity during river floods. “Our research has contributed to identifying the hot spot areas within the Great Barrier Reef catchment that contribute the highest amount of sediments. We work with local communities and Natural Resource Management bodies to help guide catchment remediation in these catchment sediment hot spots.” Lead author of two chapters, Dr Aaron Davis, said the Great Barrier Reef’s health is closely linked to what happens on land, and effective protection of the reef requires managing both land and sea together. “The highest water quality risks from land use occur close to exposure from pesticides, nutrients, and sediment—such as freshwater areas, estuaries, and nearshore marine environments,” he said. “While the mid and outer reef are less affected by these land-use issues, the reef is a highly connected system where water, matter, and organisms move between catchments, floodplains, and the outer reef.” Dr Davis, who also led a chapter on pesticides, said it was important to remember growers need pesticides in most farming systems, to keep away pests like grubs and weeds. “While pesticides are needed to maintain a viable crop, extensive monitoring has shown that certain pesticides are often found in freshwater waterways, sometimes at levels that exceed ecosystem protection guidelines,” he said. “Our monitoring programs are seeing growers adopting innovative methods to reduce off-paddock pesticide losses through careful product selection and application techniques. “The good news is we now have recent results showing decrease in some pesticides, which is likely a testament to growers adopting improved farming practices.” Associate Professor Nathan Waltham led two chapters on wetlands. He said natural and near natural wetlands need healthy water quality conditions, but these systems are understudied in the Great Barrier Reef. “There are few studies from the Great Barrier Reef wetlands that measure or model the efficacy or cost of wetlands maintenance and protection, particularly in terms of water quality improvement,” he said. “Most research on the services that wetlands provide in terms of improving water quality have been conducted overseas, with limited studies in Australia, and only a few focused on the Great Barrier Reef catchment.” Associate Professor Waltham said TropWATER was undertaking research and working with communities, Traditional Ranger groups, industries and governments to better understand the roles different types of wetlands play, as part of a broader whole-of-ecosystem based approach. “Different types of wetlands will have different abilities to process nutrients and protect important biodiversity,” he said. “We must determine which types perform best for future protection and management opportunities for Great Barrier Reef wetlands.” Director of JCU TropWATER Professor Damien Burrows said good water quality starts on the land. By improving runoff from catchments, the Great Barrier Reef can build its resilience to better handle threats like coral bleaching, cyclones and diseases. “Providing evidence on land-use impacts is a crucial step toward driving meaningful changes for water quality improvement,” he said. “TropWATER has a unique role, we combine scientific expertise in water quality with on-ground engagement. Not only do we conduct critical research on water quality but we also work directly with farmers, Traditional Owners, industry, and government. “Our focus is on delivering science-based solutions to water quality challenges and actively apply these solutions within communities, including growers.”