A new report from James Cook University’s TropWATER reveals a thriving dugong population in far northern Queensland, stretching from Cape York to Mission Beach – a stark contrast to concerning dugong numbers in southern Queensland. The survey results show the far northern area is home to about 7,000 dugongs, almost double the number reported in central and southern Queensland. Released this week, the 2023 Dugong Aerial Survey: Mission Beach to Cape York report completes the Queensland coastal surveys, with the Mission Beach to Moreton Bay report released last year which highlighted concerns about dugong populations in the southern regions. The aerial surveys have been conducted every five years over the past 30 years, monitoring dugong populations along Queensland's coast and providing insights into areas where they were more or less abundant. Over 17 years, the dugong population in the far northern Queensland area has grown at approximately 2% per year, indicating that the dugongs in this region are in good condition. Lead dugong researcher, TropWATER’s Dr Chris Cleguer said it was encouraging to see dugong numbers and their calves stable in the far north. “Our results show dugong populations in the far north are thriving overall. This is great news, and we hope this trend will continue in future monitoring surveys,” he said. “This trend is notably different from what we observed in our last surveys in central Queensland and the southern section of the Great Barrier Reef – especially the concerning numbers from the Whitsundays to Bundaberg.” In the far north, dugong abundance hotspots remains consistent north of Cape Flattery and Cape Melville, and in sheltered bays like Lloyd Bay, Temple Bay, and Shelburne Bay. Dr Cleguer said that while scientists know the main human-induced threats to dugongs, there is a lack of location-specific data to understand local declines. “We know healthy seagrass meadows are essential for dugong survival. It is their main food source with these sea cows eating around 40 kilograms of seagrass daily, depending on their body size,” he said. “So, we need to know more about seagrass health across Queensland and how this affects dugongs. This includes offshore seagrass, which we know so little about. “This would help us understand and even predict when dugong population could change – giving managers the best opportunities to conserve this iconic species.” Our team is tracking dugong movements and behaviour, assessing their health through drone-based body condition surveys, and taking blood samples of captured and tagged animals. “We also use population genomics to identify dugong populations and their connectivity across northern Australia, and we are equipping Indigenous rangers with drone survey skills for fine-scale monitoring,” he said. “These projects are critical in giving us the right data to help manage these marine mammals.” This project is jointly funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and the Australian Government under the National Environmental Science Program. Great Barrier Reef Foundation Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Director Charlie Morgan said the Great Barrier Reef supports one of the world’s largest dugong populations. "This landmark dugong census has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of dugong populations across the entire Great Barrier Reef. “The data collected from this project and our other comprehensive monitoring programs for reef fish, sea cucumbers, inshore dolphins and seabirds will inform critical conservation efforts and management decisions to help protect these iconic species from the growing impacts of climate change.”

JCU TropWATER scientists featured their research to the critical minerals sector at last week’s Regional Trailblazer Showcase and Stakeholder Forum in Townsville – emphasising the need to tailor water quality objectives for freshwater ecosystems near mines. Most creeks and rivers in northern Australian mining environments are highly ephemeral – meaning they only flow for very brief periods of the year – and current tools for managing water quality are not suited to these changeable environments. Our research is working towards developing adaptive water quality targets that will help end users assess how mining activities are influencing water quality, and what measures they can take to protect the overall health of these environments. JCU TropWATER’s Dr Sarah McDonald said this work will provide locally relevant targets for water quality, creating tangible benefits for industry. “Our work will build on National Water Quality Guidelines to develop a tool that can define objectives for water quality tailored to different mine sites,” Dr McDonald said. “Ultimately, the tool will provide ‘fit-for-purpose’ water quality targets for these valuable temporary aquatic environments, improving environmental protection strategies at mine sites.” The showcase and forum brought together researchers, government, and industry leaders from the resources technology and critical minerals sector. The TropWATER team, led by Dr Shelley Templeman, have spent the past decade working with partner organisations to address water quality and regulatory compliance needs for the mining industry. The team aims to expand this work in the future to strengthen existing partnerships with industry, develop improved water quality frameworks for the Dry Tropics, and upskill industry professionals through environmental monitoring short courses. The showcase and forum are part of the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer program, a collaboration between JCU, the University of Queensland, Curtin University and 33 industry partners.

James Cook University TropWATER scientists are unlocking vital clues about the diets of globally endangered dugongs by studying the DNA found in an unusual source – dugong poo.   Seagrass is the main food source for dugongs, but as these meadows come under increasing threat, this research could be key to uncovering what other foods these sea cows consume when seagrass is scarce.   The JCU research team will collect around 20 dugong poo samples for DNA analysis across 350 square kilometres of seagrass meadows in the Townsville region, which is home to a thriving dugong population.   JCU TropWATER’s Dr Samantha Tol said it's unclear if dugongs seek out or avoid certain animals – like sea cucumbers, sea squirts and sponges – within seagrass meadows.   “Dugong poo comes in different shapes, sizes, and consistencies – so we know they are eating more than just seagrass, but we don’t know what they are eating,” she said.   “By analysing the DNA of marine species found in dugong poo, we’re solving a puzzle of their diet.”   It’s estimated that dugongs eat around 40 kilograms of seagrass each day, but Dr Tol said this research will determine if other marine animals are important to their diet.   “If a seagrass meadow dies back, it may impact the small animals living there, like sea cucumbers and sea squirts,” she said.     “Looking at what dugongs eat in seagrass meadows, like those in Townsville, could improve our understanding of what makes seagrass habitat most beneficial to this iconic megafauna.”   Analysing the DNA inside poo is a novel and largely unexplored approach. The findings will draw on TropWATER’s 18 year seagrass monitoring program, with both projects funded by the Port of Townsville.   TropWATER seagrass expert Skye McKenna said their team surveys over 350 square kilometres of seagrass meadows.   “The Townsville region has a high diversity of seagrass, with up to 10 seagrass species,” she said.   “During these surveys, we monitor seagrass health, identify seagrass species, and record other marine life like sponges, coral, and algae. This gives us an idea of what bottom dwelling species live in these habitats.   “We'll compare the species found in dugong poo with those recorded in our surveys to understand if dugongs prefer or avoid certain marine species.” Dr Tol said the research uses non-intrusive methods to study the dugong diet – without disturbing these shy, endangered marine mammals.   “This is a new way of exploring their diet and seagrass habitats,” Dr Tol said.   “While our sample size is small, with more support, we could expand this research and gain a clearer picture of dugong diets across a wider area and answer key questions about what makes seagrass habitat most beneficial to dugongs.”   This research will also help understand how dugongs adapt to changes in seagrass availability, guiding efforts to protect both the dugongs and their seagrass habitats.   This research is funded by the Port of Townsville’s 2024 Community Fund.   JCU TropWATER conducts extensive research on seagrass and dugongs across Northern Australia, using innovative technologies like drones, environmental DNA and dugong tagging. The team works with Indigenous communities, industries, and governments to develop science-based solutions for managing these vital ecosystems and marine species. For media interviews, contact Science Communications Manager Molly McShane 0448015278

A study has found concerning new evidence of long-term declines in coral reef fish around highly visited inshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The research is part of a reef monitoring program now led by JCU TropWATER, around popular inshore islands, which are important for recreational fishing, tourism and local communities. Scientists surveyed reefs at 100 sites around the Palm Islands, Magnetic Island, Whitsunday Islands, and Keppel Islands over a 14 year period, revealing fish communities are struggling to cope with increasingly frequent disturbances including coral bleaching, floods and cyclones. Lead author, Dr Daniela Ceccarelli, previously of James Cook University and now an Australian Institute of Marine Science marine ecologist, said these fringing reefs around inshore islands suffer from intense human pressure due to their proximity to the coast. “Reefs further from the coast have generally shown fish to be quite stable in the face of environmental disturbances, but it’s a different story for the inshore fish communities,” she said. “These inshore fish habitats have endured greater cumulative and intense local-scale pressures, with too little time to recover between stress events. “It’s possible that we are witnessing a step change in coral and reef fish community dynamics in the face of increasingly frequent disturbances.” The study found fish populations across these islands dropped by 33%-72%, and the numbers of fish species fell by 41%-75%, depending on the location. Dr Maya Srinivasan, a coral reef ecologist at JCU and co-author of the study, said these were substantial and concerning declines in fish abundance and diversity at these sites. “In the Keppel Islands we observed a dramatic drop after major flood events in 2011 and 2013, with fish abundance falling to nearly one-tenth of its previous levels – and although many sites recovered, the worst hit sites didn’t and are now covered in algae with very little coral,” she said. In the Whitsunday Islands, Cyclone Debbie in 2017 caused a steep drop in fish abundance. “Cyclone Debbie’s intense impact on coral cover and physical damage to reef structures reduced available habitat, especially for coral-dependent species. This loss has made it challenging for fish populations to maintain stability in these areas.” Dr Srinivasan said marine park zones where fishing is banned improved the picture to some degree, providing a buffer for the species that are usually targeted by fishers. “However, we found that No-Take Marine Reserves are unlikely to mitigate the impacts of an increasingly chaotic climate for all fish species in the long term,” she said. Most types of fish in the study showed a decline in population density, except for species like herbivorous damselfish and parrotfish. “These species increased in numbers because they feed on algae, which is more abundant on degraded reefs. We get winners and losers in this age of human impact, but there tends to be more species at the losing end of the scale,” Dr Srinivasan said. Dr Ceccarelli said ecological communities are naturally subject to cycles of disturbances such as cyclones, heatwaves and floods, followed by periods of recovery. “These disturbances play a major role in maintaining complex seascapes and promoting species diversity. But in the present-day period, known as the Anthropocene, the nature of these disturbances is changing because of human activities such as habitat destruction and increasingly chaotic fluctuations in the weather caused by climate change,” said Dr Ceccarelli. “This adds to the mounting evidence that without global action on reducing emissions, protected areas and fisheries management alone are not sufficient to safeguard coral reef fish.” The long-term monitoring project is currently led by JCU’s TropWATER and now spans eight key locations from the far north to the southern Great Barrier Reef with 21 new islands added to the program in the last two years. The 25-year program has been supported over the past two years through a collaboration with AIMS under the Integrated Monitoring and Reporting program, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Link to paper here .

For six wet seasons at nine properties across the Bowen-Bogie-Broken catchments, graziers have collected 300 water samples from their local waterways – helping to track how sediments flow from the land into the Great Barrier Reef. Through the Landholders Driving Change program, JCU TropWATER scientists train landholders to collect water samples from their local waterway while communicating the challenges with sediment loss in the region. Since 2018, the water quality data collected by landholders has significantly contributed to filling critical gaps in water quality science, helping to identify sediment hotspots to prioritise remediation efforts across the catchment. This program is strengthening trust between landholders and water quality scientists and is a partnership between NQ Dry Tropics and JCU TropWATER. Local-scale monitoring targets hotspots and improves understanding of sediment sources The Landholders Driving Change program connects scientists with graziers to collect water samples during the wet season high flow flood events, to better identify sediment 'hot spots' in the Bowen-Bogie-Broken catchments. Dr Zoe Bainbridge said spatial catchment modelling tools provide an overview of sediment and nutrient concentrations across the Great Barrier Reef catchments. But the addition of local data provides multiple-lines-of evidence to improve our confidence in tracking the sources, movement, storage, and transport of sediment within a catchment, and to refine catchment models. “This is where community monitoring fits in. The data collected by landholders helps pinpoint these areas, improving how sediment movements are tracked,” she said.  “Training graziers to collect water samples over river flow events at otherwise inaccessible locations has proven invaluable. Through this, we have refined catchment sediment budgets with higher confidence – leading to better more targeted management decisions.” This local water quality monitoring data was part of a scientific journal  article, showcasing the robust study design and the dedication of the sampling network. The research highlights the value of the samples, with extensive analysis including suspended sediment concentration, grain size, and geochemical tracing of the sediment sources. “Identifying these areas that produce the highest sediment flux is challenging – we would not have been able to trace the sediment sources without the data collected from landholders,” she said. Understanding sediment loss across grazing lands and impacts on marine environment Over the past 200 years, the landscape in the Great Barrier Reef catchment has changed significantly with the introduction of livestock, extensive land clearing, mining, and infrastructure development. These changes have increased soil erosion within the catchment, leading to large amounts of sediment being exported from rivers into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Dr Stephen Lewis said much of this sediment is fine-grained and organic-rich and is the most detrimental form to the Great Barrier Reef. “This sediment can remain suspended in the water column for extended periods and can travel long distances across inshore and mid-shelf areas of the reef,” he said.  “It can be easily resuspended by waves and currents, causing persistent turbidity. This reduces water clarity and limits light availability, which is critical for photosynthesis in seagrass meadows and inshore coral reefs. “Over time, this can significantly impact the growth and health of these inshore marine ecosystems. Maintaining good water quality is essential to provide these ecosystems with the best chance for resilience and recovery.” Dr Stephen Lewis said catchment monitoring and modelling have shown the Burdekin River average annual sediment load is about five time greater since the arrival of Europeans. “The Bowen catchment has been identified as one of the major contributors of fine sediment draining into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon – producing the largest area-specific fine sediment contribution of all Reef catchments,” he said. “Prioritising remediation within sub-catchments for maximum impact is essential, especially across large areas like this.” Significant investment from the Federal and State governments has targeted the Bowen-Bogie-Broken catchments to reduce sediment erosion from gullies, riverbanks and the broader landscape. This overall whole-of-system approach is to encourage and incentivise landholders to adopt improved land management practices that retains soil on the land, as well as identifying targeted areas for large-scale gully and streambank remediation projects to tackle hot-spot erosion sources. The data also feeds into catchment modelling for the Queensland Government's Paddock to Reef program. This program provides vital data across the Great Barrier Reef catchment, tracking sediment and nutrients across the landscape. This project is part of the Landholders Driving Change program managed by NQ Dry Tropics and funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

TropWATER’s Dr Cecilia Villacorta-Rath has been awarded a Queensland Smithsonian Fellowship to train in environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to assess habitat health on the Great Barrier Reef.   Dr Villacorta-Rath will spend 10 weeks at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Symbiosis & Resilience Lab in Panama, gaining hands-on training in molecular analysis and data interpretation with the lab team. The Symbiosis & Resilience Lab are leaders in DNA metabarcoding and marine microbiome research, making them the ideal host for her Fellowship.   Metabarcoding involves extracting and sequencing DNA to identify a range of species within a single sample. Dr Villacorta-Rath will gain skills with this technique, focused on microbiomes by identifying microbial eDNA associated with coral reefs and other marine organisms. By assessing the composition and diversity of a microbial community, she will be able to investigate environmental health including responses to pollutants and other types of stress.   Rather than focusing on a specific project, Dr Villacorta-Rath says the Fellowship will provide a chance to build key skills in advanced eDNA techniques applied to marine environments – skills that will then boost the capabilities of the TropWATER eDNA laboratory.   “This will create a new avenue of research for our lab,” Dr Villacorta-Rath said, “allowing us to expand our projects to include both freshwater and marine applications of eDNA techniques.”   Dr Villacorta-Rath is the first female researcher from TropWATER to be awarded the Fellowship, and the first to undertake the Fellowship at a laboratory in the tropics – and forging connections across the tropics is a key aspect of Dr Villacorta-Rath’s work.   “This Fellowship will establish valuable new links between TropWATER and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute that will open up opportunities for collaborative projects in the future,” Dr Villacorta-Rath said.

James Cook University scientists are studying a previously unknown manta ray aggregation at Holbourne Island – capturing photographs of the mantas’ distinct markings and deploying satellite and acoustic tracking tags. It’s the first satellite and acoustic tag to be deployed on a manta ray in the central area of the Great Barrier Reef, uncovering valuable insights on how mantas travel and connect with neighboring habitats. Funded by North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP), the JCU team will continue to work with Dr. Adam Barnett and Ingo Miller from Biopixel Oceans Foundation (BOF) to uncover critical information about these elusive creatures. The data from the tracking tags will feed into BioTracker and into a broader national research program ‘Project Manta’, which seeks to uncover manta behavior, movement patterns, and population dynamics in Australia. The manta aggregation discovery was first made by Tony and Avril Ayling, experienced reef monitors and JCU alumni. Researching the elusive gentle giants Manta rays, known as the world’s largest rays, boast impressive wingspans of up to 7 meters and are often referred to as the gentle giants of the ocean. Each manta ray has distinct markings on their underbelly, similar to a fingerprint. By capturing images of mantas’ underbelly, researchers can track individual mantas using these unique identifiers. Lead scientist of the JCU-NQBP coral monitoring program, JCU’s Dr. Katie Chartrand, said with limited data on manta populations within the central Great Barrier Reef, the newly identified site offers a valuable opportunity to capture images of mantas and track population movements in the region. “We know this manta aggregation at Holbourne Island is attributed to a cleaning station. This is where smaller fish species diligently remove dead skin, bacteria, and parasites from manta rays and other larger marine animals,” she said. “These cleaning stations are fixed to where the cleaning fish set up shop, meaning we will be able to reliably document animals visiting over a long period of time.” It’s the first satellite and acoustic tag to be deployed on a manta ray in the region, and will provide invaluable insights on how mantas travel and connect with neighboring habitats. Research support research programs ‘Project Manta’ and ‘BioTracker’ Project Manta has over 1500 individuals recorded in the east coast database, with over 9000 photo-ID sightings. Through its comprehensive photo-ID sightings database and satellite and acoustic tracking tags, Project Manta will be able to fill key knowledge gaps about mantas in Australia. BioTracker follows sharks and rays using satellite transmitters to learn more about movement and migration patterns, which helps to identify habitats key to their survival, their relationship with other marine animals, population dynamics, and their vulnerability to threats. A network of acoustic underwater receivers provides additional information on finer-scale megafauna movements. The Holbourne Island discovery, supported by the long-standing partnership between NQ Bulk Ports and JCU, enhances the research efforts of Project Manta and BioTracker. NQBP has a long-standing marine monitoring partnership with JCU, with scientists undertaking extensive ambient marine environmental monitoring of water quality, coral, and seagrass for more than two decades.

A new report from James Cook University (JCU) TropWATER reveals a long-term decline in dugong populations along the Great Barrier Reef, spanning from Mission Beach to Bundaberg, and Hervey Bay in the Great Sandy Strait. Aerial surveys conducted in 2022 confirm that this declining trend has persisted for almost two decades, despite Australia's renowned global status as the host of the world's largest population of these  marine mammals. Released this week, the 2022 Dugong Aerial Survey: Mission Beach to Moreton Bay report is part of a series of aerial surveys conducted every five years to monitor the distribution and abundance of dugongs along Queensland's coast. The 2022 survey focused on the Mission Beach to Moreton Bay region, with surveys from Cape York to Cairns set to commence next week. Lead dugong researcher, JCU TropWATER’s Dr Chris Cleguer said the report shows a clear declining trend since 2005, with an estimated annual population decline of 2.3% from Mission Beach to Bundaberg. “We observed a decline in overall dugong numbers, with the area of most concern being the southern section of the Great Barrier Reef from the Whitsundays to Bundaberg,” he said. “Alarmingly, we observed very few calves in this region, and only two mother-calf pairs spotted in the Gladstone area. “Our report reinforces the urgency in addressing threats to dugongs.” While the overall population is declining, the 2022 aerial survey confirmed areas of high dugong numbers in specific regions, including Hinchinbrook, the Townsville area, and Shoalwater Bay. The dugong aerial surveys in the Great Barrier Reef are one of the most critical Reef monitoring projects funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The surveys in Queensland’s southern bays, Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay, are funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). The initiative is supported by the National Environmental Science Program. Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek MP said the Government is committed to putting a stop to biodiversity decline. “This research, sadly, draws a clear picture of what we already know - that more needs to be done to address species decline in Australia, including on the Great Barrier Reef,” she said. “I want to see this majestic creature on a path to recovery.” “That’s why we’re restoring important blue carbon ecosystems like sea grass which dugongs call home, and investing $1.2 billion to protect the Great Barrier Reef. “We’re also supporting the Queensland Government to phase out gill nets in the Great Barrier Reef, which are a key threat to dugong populations.” Great Barrier Reef Foundation Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Director Charlie Morgan said the Great Barrier Reef supports one of the world’s largest dugong populations. “The condition and behaviour of individual marine species such as dugongs can tell us a lot about ecosystem health as a whole so the news that this iconic marine animals’ numbers are declining is another sign that the Reef needs our help to protect it from the growing impacts of climate change,” Ms Morgan said. Hervey Bay, located south of the Great Barrier Reef, showed the most significant estimated rate of population decline at 5.7% per year between 2005 and 2022. These findings are linked to back-to-back flood events in early 2022, resulting in extensive seagrass loss and depriving dugongs of their primary food source. “Seagrass habitats are very sensitive to extreme weather events like cyclones and flooding, and often healthy meadows can deteriorate within a matter of weeks or months following an event,” Dr Cleguer said. “It’s highly likely that some dugongs would have died from starvation, while others would have moved away to habitats near Gladstone in search of food. “We found the dugongs that did stay found refuge right in the heart of Hervey Bay, where pockets of deeper seagrass were still holding out. "The case of Hervey Bay serves as a warning of what may continue to occur under future climate conditions, it underscores the urgency in preserving and understanding seagrass habitats, particularly the deeper water ones." Following the results from Cleguer et al.’s report, DCCEEW have provided funding to re-survey Hervey Bay to assess the recovery of dugongs in this area. JCU TropWATER researchers consulted with Traditional Owners along the Queensland coast. The report discusses how new technologies and communities could be used by Indigenous rangers in sea country management. “This consultation confirmed that Traditional Owners are very keen to be informed on the results of the surveys as well as opportunities to be actively involved in future monitoring,” Dr Cleguer said. “By training up Traditional Owners on sea country we could have more regular and finer scale monitoring. This could help to detect changes in population size to allow managers to intervene quicker.” Director of JCU TropWATER, and leader of the National Environment Science Program Marine and Coastal Hub, Professor Damien Burrows, highlighted TropWATER's renowned expertise in seagrass and dugong research, with a strong commitment to preserving these vital ecosystems and megafauna. “We have over four decades of extensive research covering both dugongs and seagrass habitats, spanning from southern Queensland to Shark Bay in Western Australia,” he said. “Our researchers are exploring innovative technologies such as drones, AI, body condition assessments, e-DNA and genomics approaches to enhance our monitoring and advance our research of dugongs and seagrass, including their interconnections. “We are also actively collaborating with Traditional Owners on sea country, providing communities with the necessary tools to monitor both dugongs and seagrass effectively."

Back-to-back cyclones have exposed the Great Barrier Reef to extensive and persistent flood plumes from Ingham up to Cape York Peninsula, with terrestrial runoff lathering coral reef and seagrass ecosystems for weeks. Scientists from James Cook University’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) have reported freshwater coral bleaching and seagrass damage, with flood plumes stretching more than 700km along the Great Barrier Reef coastline, and reaching some areas of the mid and outer reefs. TropWATER water quality scientist Jane Waterhouse said we mustn’t underestimate the impacts of terrestrial runoff on marine ecosystems. “Coastal and marine ecosystems do not like freshwater, let alone the sediments, nutrients and pesticides that are carried along with it,” she said. “Seagrass meadows are highly vulnerable in these extreme events from both physical wave damage and the effects of low light from murky waters. Coral reefs can experience high stress resulting in isolated freshwater bleaching, and there is also a risk of macroalgae blooms out-competing coral reefs in the longer term,” she said. Inshore ecosystems are critical for dugongs and turtles while also providing nursery habitat for key fish species, and high value recreational and tourist areas in the Great Barrier Reef. Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed north of Cairns in December, discharging in the order of 20,000 GL of freshwater – the equivalent of around 40 Sydney Harbours – into the northern Great Barrier Reef. Cyclone Kirrily, which crossed Townsville on 25 January, resulted in less rain. TropWATER scientists have been tracing and assessing the damage of flood plumes on marine ecosystems, sampling flood plume waters, analysing flood satellite imagery and surveying damage to seagrass meadows, as part of the Marine Monitoring Program. TropWATER’s Dr Stephen Lewis said following Tropical Cyclone Jasper the team sampled flood waters from the Barron, Russell Mulgrave and Tully rivers, with preliminary observations suggesting elevated levels of nutrients and sediments in inshore coral and seagrass areas. “A flood of this magnitude early in the wet season coincides with the end of cane crushing season, when fertilisers and pesticides have typically been applied to paddocks. This means there is a greater risk of runoff from paddocks,” he said. “Many landholders are making extraordinary efforts to ensure they are minimising their off-farm losses of fertilisers and pesticides, while also undertaking local paddock scale water quality monitoring programs to understand runoff from their catchments. “We need to support the farmers to continue these programs coupled with more water quality monitoring, especially when these events could become more frequent.” Dr Lewis said a greater understanding of how sediments and nutrients travel from the land to the outer reefs is required to document exposure further offshore. “Past monitoring on outer reefs indicates the presence of elevated nutrients linked to terrestrial runoff, which is supported by our satellite observations,” he said. “But the current flood monitoring only samples waters in inshore areas, it doesn’t sample the outer reefs, and this is critical for understanding the impacts of terrestrial runoff on reefs further offshore. “There needs to be more targeted monitoring to understand the connection between the catchments to the middle and outer reefs to fully understand the extent and impact of land-based runoff.” Jane Waterhouse said understanding water quality is paramount for the long-term protection of marine ecosystems. “It seems there’s no relief for the reef. This could be a new pattern emerging under climate change with relatively dry periods of mass coral bleaching events interwoven with periods of extensive flood events, with little to no time for marine ecosystems to recover in between disturbances.” Marine heatwaves, cyclones, and flood plumes are weather events expected to escalate with the intensification of climate change. “These pressures compound, hindering the recovery of ecosystems already grappling with prior disturbances, such as coral bleaching. Good water quality is essential for the recovery of reefs,” she said. “The cumulative impact is unprecedented and deeply concerning. The true extent of the long-term impact remains largely unknown.” Water quality and seagrass monitoring is part of Marine Monitoring Program, coordinated by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, in partnership with JCU TropWATER, Cape York Water Monitoring Partnership, Australian Institute of Marine Science and the University of Queensland. Link to images here.

As ocean temperatures continue to warm over the Great Barrier Reef this summer, James Cook University scientists have reported areas of moderate to severe coral bleaching around the Keppel Islands, offshore from Rockhampton. The bleaching was observed during routine surveys, as part of a 25-year program tracking changes in fish communities and coral reef habitats at 42 Great Barrier Reef islands. These islands are highly valued and frequented by tourists, recreational fishers, and local communities. James Cook University’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) scientist Dr. Maya Srinivasan said the water temperatures at the Keppel Islands were well above the summer average, reaching 29°C in the water during multiple days of surveys. “I have been working on these reefs for nearly 20 years and I have never felt the water as warm as this,” she said. “Once we were in the water, we could instantly see parts of the reef that were completely white from severe bleaching. Some corals were already dying.” Heat stress is the primary cause of coral bleaching. While severely bleached corals will likely die if the water temperature remains higher than normal for too long, they can also recover if ocean temperatures stabilise. The team surveyed 27 sites at the Keppel Islands, with most sites showing signs of bleaching, and only deeper areas of reefs relatively unimpacted by heat stress. “Although some corals were already dying, many of the corals could recover if the water cools in the coming weeks, and we did see the temperatures begin to drop towards the end of the trip.” The Keppel Islands is a highly visited island group in the Great Barrier Reef, used by tourists, locals, and recreational fishers. Decades of monitoring have shown coral reefs and fish communities at some reefs are resilient and have recovered from past bleaching events. “We have seen fish abundance decline as coral cover declines in this region following past impacts like this. But we have also seen the recovery of coral and fish communities on many areas of reef – there just needs to be enough time between impacts to allow this recovery to occur.” Dr. Srinivasan said that heat stress typically peaks in the summer months over the Great Barrier Reef. Should high temperatures persist, the likelihood of more widespread bleaching across other parts of the reef increases. “Island reefs also face heightened vulnerability due to their inshore location, making them more susceptible to impacts like water quality issues, coral bleaching, and overfishing,” she said. “Given the high vulnerability of island reef habitats matched with their high use, it’s important to have an understanding of the nuances of impacts and recovery – this will help managers adjust their management strategies.” The team will now survey reefs in the far northern Great Barrier Reef, following extensive floods in January. Magnetic Island, near Townsville, and the Cumberland Islands, offshore from Mackay, will also be surveyed in the coming weeks. The monitoring program includes more than 42 islands in eight key island locations from the far north to the southern Great Barrier Reef. The program also tracks the effectiveness of marine park zoning with survey sites in both no-take areas and areas open to fishing. “Through rigorous monitoring, we aim to uncover insights into why certain reefs may exhibit slower recovery rates, and why some fish populations might thrive on some reefs and not others.” “All this provides vital information for targeted intervention and management strategies.” The program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s #ReefTrust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. This project is part of a joint program managed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, in partnership with JCU TropWATER, University of the Sunshine Coast, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and Queensland Agriculture.

A TropWATER-led water quality monitoring project has won the Agriculture and Regional Development award at the 34th Banksia National Sustainability Awards. Under the project, scientists work with growers in the Russell-Mulgrave catchment to monitor water quality and detect runoff ‘hotspots’ at local catchment scales. The project sees scientists working with growers to understand local water quality processes and find water quality solutions that are relevant to their farms. Developed through the National Environmental Science Program’s Tropical Water Quality Hub and administered through the Cairns-based Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC), TropWATER’s Project 25 outstanding success has led to significant further investment and works in the catchment.

A revolutionary new DNA detection method has helped rediscover an iconic species of turtle last seen more than 25 years ago in a northern Queensland river. Water samples taken from the lower Burdekin River by a James Cook University-led team of researchers and analyzed for environmental DNA (eDNA) confirmed the presence of the Irwin’s turtle at many sites along the river, which has not been formally recorded in the area for more than 25 years. The turtle, first discovered in the Burdekin catchment by the late Steve Irwin and his father Bob in the early 1990s, is among a number of freshwater species that use its cloaca (equivalent to its bum) to breathe while underwater, thus able to stay submerged underwater for longer. Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) Director Professor Damien Burrows and Research Officers Dr. Cecilia Villacorta-Rath and Jason Schaffer teamed up with a State Government agency, a consultancy firm, and Traditional Owners to survey the Burdekin, Bowen, and Broken rivers for the elusive turtle. “Until this rediscovery, we didn’t have any formal records to prove that the Irwin’s turtle was still living in the lower Burdekin River, and that river has changed a lot since the construction of the Burdekin Falls Dam,” Prof. Burrows said. “It’s reassuring to know they are still living there.” The survey findings, co-authored by the JCU team and the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing, and Water’s Thomas Espinoza and Bernie Cockayne, were published this week in BMC Ecology and Evolution journal following two years of research comprising three separate survey periods over 2020 and 2021. Funded by the National Environmental Science Program, 37 sites were investigated across the three river catchments, some of which involved the use of helicopters to get in and out. Prof. Burrows said eDNA technology was vital to the rediscovery of the turtle in the lower Burdekin River and had the potential to revolutionise how researchers track and locate both aquatic and land-based animals. “Previously, it has been very difficult to sample for the Irwin’s turtle because they only live in places where there are crocodiles, or in upland tributaries which are very hard to access,” he said. “They also don’t come into traps easily and the water they are living in in the Burdekin isn’t clear so you can’t put in underwater cameras to see them.” “But now with eDNA, all we had to do was take a water sample and analyze for their DNA.” With the new process, DNA itself can be extracted and amplified directly from environmental samples such as soil, sediment, and water without having to catch the target organism. Dr. Villacorta-Rath said while the eDNA samples taken by the team could not determine the age of the turtles found in the lower Burdekin and other rivers surveyed, the results were potentially game-changing. “With the original site samples that we took in 2020, we had the beginnings of the story, but we needed to investigate further and go closer to the dam and see where the uppermost distribution of the species was,” she said. “We don’t know anything about the demographics of this population, but the fact we have found their eDNA now, despite the dam being built in the 1980s, could point to adult Irwin’s turtles being able to survive in these more turbid water conditions.” “This rediscovery has now challenged the previous hypothesis that the species could not survive in these conditions.” The information gathered will also help the State Government as it evaluates a proposal to build a dam in the upper reaches of Broken River at Urannah Station.

Growing native bushfoods could reverse environmental degradation and offer better food security. But how do we get bushfoods in the agricultural sector in a market saturated by modern crops? New research from James Cook University’s TropWATER has mapped Australia’s entire landscape to uncover the best places to grow more than 170 bushfoods. The study found the Great Barrier Reef catchment area to be a hotspot for a wide range of bushfoods, including those most in-demand commercially, such as lemon myrtle, native plums, and bush tomatoes. Author Dr. Adam Canning said identifying what native crops can grow where was an important first step in scoping potential native food industries to support farmers. “Native foods in Australia have a rich history, and there is a growing demand to get bushfoods in the supermarket, yet the commercial production of native foods remains small,” he said. “This research maps Australia’s entire landscape to identify exactly what bushfoods can be grown where – and that’s a big step toward boosting Australia’s native food industry.” Dr. Canning said transitioning the agricultural landscape to include a diversity of native bushfoods would help reverse environmental degradation. “Modern non-native crops such as sugarcane and wheat need intensive cultivation, irrigation, herbicides, and pesticides, and are grown as monocultures,” he said. “This comes at a cost to the environment, and we’ve seen this happen along the Great Barrier Reef catchment.” “Diversifying modern agricultural systems to include native plants would help restore balance in coastal ecosystems through reducing runoff, improving soil health, and supporting biodiversity.” Coastal areas of Queensland’s wet tropics, south-east Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria were predicted to support the greatest diversity of native food and forage species. “These areas are the most agriculturally intensive areas with degraded environments, but they also have the greatest potential for regenerative agricultural practices,” he said. “Farmers could start small by trialling intercropping and slowly expand as knowledge and industries grow.” To further incentivise these practices, more financial benefit schemes need to be developed to reward farmers for providing ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and reduced pollution. The research also indicates a significant opportunity for Indigenous-led business models within the emerging bush foods sector. However, steps would need to be taken to ensure Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property are protected. The research paper Rediscovering wild food to diversify production across Australia’s agricultural landscapes was published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.

James Cook University scientists are in the air conducting a critical Queensland-wide dugong population survey – counting dugongs along 2000 kilometers of coastline in under two months. Like a census, the surveys are conducted over an intense period every five years to get a snapshot of dugongs and calves’ populations, from Cape York to Moreton Bay. JCU TropWATER’s Dr. Chris Cleguer said Australia is home to the largest dugong population in the world, and the surveys are critical for monitoring trends in abundance and distribution. “These aerial surveys have been conducted for more than 30 years and are essential in not only estimating the current dugong population size but also mapping where dugongs are more or less abundant,” he said. “There are concerns about the decline in dugongs across the urban coast of the Great Barrier Reef – this year’s surveys will give us the opportunity to understand the extent of this.”Hervey Bay to the south of the Great Barrier Reef, a known hotspot for dugongs, is an area of concern following a major loss of seagrass habitat earlier this year. The seagrass loss resulted from two flood events, which smothered the seagrass and destroyed the dugongs’ main food source. “The surveys will help us determine how many dugongs currently are in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait as well as understanding their large-scale movements,” he said. “It is possible the dugongs have moved in search of seagrass to other nearby key habitats such as Gladstone to the north or Moreton Bay to the south.” Dr. Cleguer said, for the first time in Queensland, the aerial surveys will also use cameras attached to one of the legs of the aircraft to capture thousands of images of the water surface. “These large-scale aerial surveys usually rely solely on highly trained observers to count dugongs from the sky,” Dr. Cleguer said. “But our collaborative research group is transitioning to using imagery survey and artificial intelligence to track and monitor dugongs in the future – saving time, money, and providing enhanced data.” The Great Barrier Reef dugong population aerial surveys are one of the critical Reef monitoring projects funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (Cape York to Bundaberg). The surveys in Queensland’s southern bays, Hervey Bay, and Moreton Bay, are also funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said incorporating new technologies like AI is key to accelerating impact in tracking the health of the Reef and its animals. “Dugongs are not only a vulnerable marine species we must protect, they’re also a priority indicator species for climate change and ecosystem health, with dugongs’ in-shore seagrass nurseries and feeding grounds highly susceptible to climate change impacts,” Ms. Marsden said. “By using new technologies and supporting efforts to accelerate and advance the aerial dugong surveys with our research partners from JCU, we will be able to give Reef managers and researchers access to the best possible information to proactively manage and protect the Reef and its marine life.” The research team will survey from the Cairns region south to Moreton Bay over the next two months, and further surveys are planned for Cooktown to Cape York in 2023.

James Cook University scientists will lead seagrass restoration research spanning tropical Australia’s two oceans. Researchers from JCU’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) will investigate restoration techniques for key tropical seagrass species, from Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef across to the north of Western Australia. Their aim is to develop a blueprint for coastal managers to rapidly restore seagrass meadows in high-priority regions. TropWATER’s Associate Professor Michael Rasheed said future-proofing highly diverse seagrass meadows is crucial to reversing the global downward trend in tropical seagrasses. “Seagrasses are critical ecosystems,” he said. “They provide habitat for fish, they power coastal marine productivity, and they sequester carbon to help combat climate change – but they’re under increasing pressure from extreme weather events, coastal development, and declining water quality.” Associate Professor Rasheed said climate models predict that future conditions will see more frequent seagrass loss in tropical Australia, making it essential to have tools at hand for effective intervention and restoration. “We’re investigating the most effective ways to restore different seagrass species, and developing the tools needed for rapid restoration on local and regional levels,” he said. Professor Rasheed said the project would focus on tropical seagrasses, as most previous seagrass restoration projects have occurred in temperate regions. “Tropical seagrasses can be very different from temperate seagrasses. They have different growth strategies, and they have the potential for much faster recovery once established. “Some restoration methods applied in temperate systems may not be applicable or transferable to tropical seagrass meadows, which makes our work all the more valuable. “We’ll investigate methods such as using seeds and cuttings, and new ways they can be used in the field, much the same as many land plants and nurseries operate.” “We’re going to develop new techniques for tropical seagrass restoration, a blueprint for seagrass-friendly marine infrastructure, and restoration decision tools that can be applied at local and regional scales.” The project builds on a long-term collaboration with industry partners Ports North and North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP). “We are proud to support this ground-breaking research that aims to provide practical solutions to safeguard seagrasses and the Reef,” said Simona Trimarchi, NQBP’s Senior Manager of Sustainability and Environment. The research is a significant next step in TropWATER’s long-term partnership with industry and will benefit from the decades of data already gathered. “We take our environmental responsibilities seriously,” said Paul Doyle, Ports North’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability. “Together with JCU’s TropWATER Centre, we’ve supported seagrass monitoring and research for almost three decades across the ports of tropical Queensland.” The project is funded by a more than $450,000 Linkage grant from the Federal Government’s Australian Research Council.

TropWATER is working with OzFish and the Townsville City Council to use environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to improve waterway monitoring in the Australian tropics. The project aims to understand which invasive and native species are in key waterways, to help monitor the health of our aquatic systems and improve management. Lead researcher Dr. Cecilia Villacorta-Rath said eDNA was an innovative and cost-effective technique to identify key species without the need for sighting them. “eDNA analysis can capture the ‘DNA footprint’ that is left in the water – we don’t need to see the species to detect its presence,” she said. “By collecting water samples and running an analysis in our lab, we can determine what fish species live in the creeks.” “Long-term eDNA data will give insight into the fish communities inhabiting these sampled creeks and how these fish communities change over time.” Citizen science-led programs like OzFish and Creekwatch have monitored the health of local creeks in Townsville using methods such as traps and nets in the past, which are labor-intensive and selective, and not able to capture the whole fish biodiversity present in a waterbody. Dr. Villacorta-Rath said eDNA was a valuable tool for these community programs to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the fish species found in these waterways. “We have run multiple workshops in Townsville to train community groups on how to take water samples for eDNA analysis.” “Anyone can take water samples for analysis, and it’s great to see so many members of the public get involved.” More field trips are planned for the Townsville, Herbert, and Burdekin regions. To participate in the next OzFish eDNA sampling event (being held in the Burdekin), please visit: https://ozfish.org.au/event/edna-sample-collection-ws-burdekin-qld-march-2023/ This project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is being delivered in partnership with OzFish Unlimited, James Cook University (TropWATER), and Townsville City Council.

PhD opportunity, James Cook University Assessing the body size and body condition of dugongs using drone-based photogrammetry Assessments of individual animal health and condition can signal early signs of population-level effects in wildlife from environmental and anthropogenic factors. Animal health assessments relying on wild animal captures can be challenging, hindering our understanding of the well-being of populations. In marine mammals, photogrammetry techniques have been applied broadly for measuring body size and estimating body condition of several taxa, including manatees. These methods produce reliable body length and nutritional health estimates and can be used to investigate trends in growth and survival, and to identify regional differences in morphometric patterns. This project will test and validate photogrammetry methods using small aerial drones for accurate morphometric measurements of dugongs’ body size and condition. The student will also utilise this tool in the field to answer different ecological questions relating to nutritional health in dugongs. The student and their supervisory team will work with multiple partners including academics, NGOs, and Traditional Owners and indigenous and non-indigenous land & sea rangers to collect dugong imagery data to identify regional differences in morphometrics of dugongs in places of high dugong conservation value. In return, partners may be trained to conduct drone-based body condition assessment themselves. The student will be based at James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, under the supervision of Dr. Christophe Cleguer (JCU) and Associate Professor Fredrik Christiansen (Aarhus University). Travel to Europe (Denmark) may be necessary during the course of the PhD. Requirements The successful applicant will have a First Class Honours (or equivalent) in biological science or a related field and will pick up extra points in the scoring system if they have a first-authored paper. Preference will be given to those applicants with previous experience in marine mammals’ biology/bioenergetics and evidence of strong bio-statistical and programming skills. Proven experience in working with Indigenous communities is preferred. Journal publications in these fields are desirable but not essential. Applicants must apply by 25th April 2023. Applicants will need to be familiar with the JCU Higher Degree by Research Requirements. Funding A 3.5-year stipend scholarship co-funded by JCU and the National Environment Science Program (NESP) is provided ($29,900 pa for 3.5 years, tax-exempt). Funds are available to support equipment purchase and initial field implementation. Contact Interested applicants should send their 1) CV, 2) academic transcript, and 3) a short (max. 1 page) letter outlining their suitability and interest in the project to Dr. Christophe Cleguer at Christophe.cleguer@jcu.edu.au.

Hinchinbrook Island historically boasts extensive seagrass meadows and a thriving dugong population, but the region is still recovering from the devastating impacts of Cyclone Yasi more than a decade ago. In a new program, Girringun Traditional Owners are leading a new high-tech seagrass and dugong monitoring program around Hinchinbrook Island – focusing on fine-scale monitoring to map the elusive dugongs in connection to their seagrass habitats. The program has TropWATER scientists equipping Indigenous rangers with the skills to utilise small drones for dugong surveys, while undertaking helicopter and boat-based surveys to generate “digital maps” of seagrass habitats. Funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s Healing Country Grant, the initiative is driving strong Sea Country management while enriching scientific knowledge. The program is in partnership with JCU, Charles Darwin University, and the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation. Empowering Indigenous-led sea country management Girringun Aboriginal Corporation represents the interests of nine tribal groups and six saltwater Traditional Owner groups in the Cardwell and Hinchinbrook region, in North Queensland, with groups holding profound cultural ties and a wealth of ancestral wisdom that spans their respective traditional areas. Girringun has worked closely with TropWATER scientists for decades in connecting western science and Indigenous knowledge to better manage and protect these habitats. Jade Pryor, coordinator of Girringun Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA), said there had been a growing focus on gathering data on the dugongs and seagrass habitats in the region. “This program has provided a new generation of Indigenous rangers and Traditional Owners with an opportunity to connect and look after their Sea Country, while actively contributing to building the scientific data required for managing dugong and seagrass,” she said. Jade said the program has allowed for the continuing growth of employment opportunities for Traditional Owners and given elders the opportunity to connect with Country and share knowledge with younger generations. “This has immense value in supporting our People spiritually and emotionally,” she said. “Our vision is for our People to be self-sufficient in sea country monitoring.” Hinchinbrook: An important dugong hotspot in the Great Barrier Reef Dugongs’ main food source is seagrass – making the health of the seagrass meadows crucial for the survival of the local dugong population. While seagrass surveys have shown large meadows in the northern Hinchinbrook region, these habitats are vulnerable to the impacts of cyclones and floods and are still recovering from seagrass loss caused by Cyclone Yasi in 2011. TropWATER’s seagrass ecologist Dr. Alex Carter said despite Hinchinbrook’s reputation as a dugong hotspot, there was limited data on seagrass in the area. “We hope this ranger-led monitoring program can track the condition of key meadows over time, especially in the face of growing climate-related pressures.” Alex said the Indigenous-led monitoring was also zooming in to understand the important relationship between seagrass and dugong health in the region. “That’s the exciting part of this project. We’re gaining a unique insight into how and when dugongs use seagrass habitats, and that’s never been done in this region before.” To allow the recovery of seagrass habitats and dugongs, Girringun has also banned traditional hunting of dugongs, with regular patrols undertaken by Girringun Rangers in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Compliance Team and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Drones, AI, and genetics: The emerging technologies Drones, genetic analysis, artificial intelligence, and animal-borne tracking tags are emerging technologies that can drive robust community monitoring programs – and enable fast collection of scientific data. TropWATER dugong expert Dr. Chris Cleguer said the high-tech program gives Traditional Owners the opportunity to monitor both ecologically and culturally important habitats. “Girringun's monitoring program has set an incredible benchmark for future Indigenous-led monitoring programs,” he said. “We finally have tools that enable rangers and members of the wider community to be a lot more involved and lead their monitoring programs with remote support from scientists." “We’re seeing new generations reconnect and care for the country, while providing unique data and information that scientists just can’t collect on a frequent basis like sea rangers can.” The team hopes to expand the seagrass and dugong project across northern Australia.

The first meadow-scale seagrass restoration project in Tropical Australia is set to breathe new life into two vital seagrass areas of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Led by James Cook University’s TropWATER Centre, the project will restore crucial seagrass habitats within the Wet Tropics region that suffered substantial losses due to repeated flood events leading up to 2011. The meadows have not recovered since these floods. Project lead Associate Professor Michael Rasheed said the project would establish targeted seagrass restoration techniques and assess the impacts to seagrass Blue Carbon and the resurgence of fisheries functions in the restored seagrass. “This project builds on three years of local trials that have developed effective restoration techniques ready to be rolled out on a large scale,” he said. “We are really excited to partner with four Traditional Owner groups on whose sea country the work will take place as well as recreational fishing volunteers and world-leading science teams from three universities, conservation NGOs, and industry to deliver this project,” he shared. “Results of the project will provide critical information toward developing a seagrass restoration methodology for Blue Carbon application in future seagrass restoration programs throughout tropical Australia and importantly leave a legacy of empowered Traditional Owners and Community for long-term stewardship of the restored seagrass areas.” The project is funded under BHP’s Blue Carbon grant program, which aims to provide funding and support to emerging blue carbon projects.

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’re also biodiversity hotspots that provide essential breeding grounds for native fish, while stabilising coastline ecosystems and reducing erosion. But the state of mangrove habitats along the Great Barrier Reef coastline is a growing concern, and until now, knowing if and where we can restore lost forests has remained unanswered. Funded through Greening Australia’s Reef Aid program, as part of the Blue Carbon Initiative, a team of James Cook University TropWATER scientists have taken to the skies, conducting helicopter shoreline surveys from Cairns to Gladstone. With a bird’s-eye view, the team assessed the health of these vital shoreline ecosystems, including both forest loss and gain and their continued threats. At the same time, they identified potential sites for restoration and registration as Carbon Projects under the Clean Energy Regulator’s recently released Tidal Restoration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems method. Shoreline transformation: the condition of mangrove forests along the Great Barrier Reef coastline Over 80,000 high-resolution geo-referenced photographs were captured during the surveys, providing a crucial baseline of the Great Barrier Reef shoreline condition and a profound insight into what’s being lost. Lead JCU researcher Professor Norm Duke said the stretch of coastline, with its distinctive blend of wet and dry tropic climatic areas, had not been surveyed to this extent before and early results show vast damage. “Our observations provide clear, unequivocal and quantifiable evidence of changes to this increasingly dynamic shoreline,” he said. “We can see the impact of severe tropical cyclones that have battered the region over the past four decades. We can also see extensive shoreline tree loss from erosion, coupled with scouring erosion of salt pans, and retreat of terrestrial shorelines. “These are thought to be widespread evidence of rising sea levels.” Dr. Duke said observations were consistent with local records of sea level rise over the last half-century of at least 4mm per year. “We believe these changes must be monitored on a regular basis so that we can both manage the impacts, improve the resilience of shoreline marine ecosystems, and guide effective adaptation to the inevitable altered coastal areas.” Can we restore mangrove habitats along the Great Barrier Reef Coastline? While it’s possible to restore some parts of coastal shorelines, Dr. Duke says it’s not the complete answer to the climate crisis for shorelines. “This project is allowing us to identify locations for restoration of tidal wetland habitats and their capacity to sequester and store carbon – which could help reduce one of the key drivers of global climate change,” he said. “But our assessments reveal forces at play are far more widespread and active, and simply planting mangroves is not the answer to the climate crisis.” Dr. Duke said there needs to be greater effort into building greater resilience into shorelines, including the repair of damaged areas, and targeted planning for coastal zones to adapt and retreat. “The complexity of such a response cannot be underestimated, but if we don’t anticipate the inevitable and predictable changes coming our way, then we will be faced with one damaging shoreline disaster after another.” “As a smart society, if we move quickly, we can be climate change entrepreneurs instead of its ignorant victims.” Dr. Duke said building resilience allows mangroves to migrate upland to survive. This includes providing supratidal buffer zones for the upland migration of mangrove seedlings by controlling things like fires along shoreline edges, removal of smothering weeds, eradication of routing feral pigs, combined with targeted mitigation like the removal of non-essential constructed bund barriers. Greening Australia’s Director of Reef Aid, Dr. Lynise Wearne, said the project is an exciting opportunity to understand the priorities and opportunities for coastal restoration across the Reef Catchments as Greening Australia pioneers innovative nature-based solutions that benefit communities, economies, and the environment. The shoreline surveys were conducted in May 2023, and scientists will produce a detailed report later this year.