We're facilitating transparent knowledge exchange and enhancing rapport and relationships between science and Traditional Owner groups across the Great Barrier Reef. Great Barrier Reef Location Traditional Owners have a deep connection to the Great Barrier Reef, with dugongs holding strong cultural significance for many people. This program provides a platform for a two-way knowledge exchange including providing a safe space to listen to Traditional Owners sharing knowledge about dugongs, and for scientists to share their findings on dugong health and populations. The goal is to build healthy foundations for future respectful collaborations to fill key dugong knowledge gaps. Key points Dugong Connections BACK Dugongs hold strong cultural significance Dugongs hold deep cultural significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living along the Great Barrier Reef. Their long-held knowledge of dugong habitats and behaviours is vital for effective management. Since the 2000s, dugong monitoring projects in the Great Barrier Reef have primarily relied on aerial surveys and imagery to track population numbers and distribution. While this provided robust science, it offered limited opportunities for engagement with Traditional Owners and for communities to share their knowledge about dugongs. Building strong collaborations with Traditional Owners is key to reshaping the way we approach dugong research, monitoring, and management. Their insights, involvement, and leadership are essential for a more holistic and effective management strategy that respects both cultural and ecological sustainability. Strengthening connections between scientists and Traditional Owners This project brings together Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef and dugong experts from TropWATER to share knowledge on dugong ecology, population health, threats, cultural significance, and sustainable management. Activities focus on building respectful, long-term partnerships that combine Indigenous and Western Knowledge systems to support dugong conservation across the Great Barrier Reef. Step 1: Regional connections Between May and July 2025, workshops in Gimuy (Cairns), Gurrambilbarra (Townsville), and Yipun (Yeppoon) brought together 24 Traditional Owner groups with TropWATER scientists. Co-developed with attendees and an independent facilitator, each workshop created a safe and respectful space to share knowledge and identify priorities for dugong research and management. These workshops set the foundation for ongoing collaboration. Step 2: One-on-one connections Following the workshops, TropWATER scientists are holding follow-up discussions with each Traditional Owner group. These conversations, online, in Gurrumbilbarra (Townsville), or on Country, are shaped by each group’s priorities and protocols. The aim is to co-develop engagement activities that are flexible, tailored, and responsive to community needs. Step 3: Delivery on Country Based on these priorities, TropWATER scientists are collaborating with Traditional Owners to deliver engagement activities on Country. Each activity’s format and delivery are guided by the needs and input of each group. To date, these activities have included: Updates on dugong science (regional or Country-specific), with the possibility of including turtle and seagrass knowledge. Education and outreach programs for school students and communities. Dialogues to co-design future research and capacity-building on dugong ecology, health, and behaviour, drawing on both Indigenous and Western Knowledge systems. Some groups are building on established long-term partnerships with TropWATER, while for others this is the first step towards future collaboration. Project details This project is led by Dr Christophe Cleguer, with support from Dr Melanie Hamel, Dr Emily Webster, and Luisa Schramm. The Dugong Connections Project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. 'Dugong Connection' artwork by Robert Paul. Emily Webster Research Officer emily.webster1@jcu.edu.au Luisa Schramm Research Worker luisa.schramm@jcu.edu.au Mélanie Hamel Research Officer melanie.hamel@jcu.edu.au Research support Christophe Cleguer Principal Research Officer – Marine Megafauna Group Leader christophe.cleguer@jcu.edu.au Research leads

By consolidating historical water quality data, we aim to uncover the spatial and temporal scope of existing monitoring efforts, enabling analysis of water quality trends across broader scales. Great Barrier Reef Location Compile a rigorous historical water quality database for the Great Barrier Reef catchments, pulling together data collected by twenty different organisations over the last 40 years. Provide a valuable bank of water quality data accessible to water quality practitioners, researchers, modelers and management agencies. Ensure the long-term legacy of the water quality monitoring undertaken across the Great Barrier Reef catchments spanning decades. Key points Historical water quality database for the Great Barrier Reef BACK Lost, buried and unused water quality data The Great Barrier Reef catchment has experienced significant land use changes, including mining, agriculture, and urban development, leading to impacts on water quality conditions. Over the past four decades, organisations throughout the Great Barrier Reef catchments have meticulously documented these changes through various water quality monitoring programs, amassing more than 25,000 records including nutrient status, sediment, metals, and pesticide concentrations. However, much of this invaluable data has been lost, scattered, or left unused. It lacks centralisation, with pieces dispersed across fragmented and unmaintained online databases, buried in appendices of hard copy grey-literature reports, or stored on individual computer hard drives. While some of the water quality data reside in well-utilised databases, the absence of a unified platform hampers its accessibility. Collating more than 25000 records of water quality data This project involves collecting historical data and collating it in a way that is accessible to water quality practitioners, management agencies, governments, academics, stakeholders and landholders. Our goal is to have the data available in an online open-access portal, administered by the Queensland Government. Throughout the project, we have: Gathered and organised historical water quality data on nutrients, sediments, metals, and pesticides from Great Barrier Reef catchments. Identified potential datasets by reviewing available literature. Standardised the collected data to ensure consistency and reliability. Developed metadata statements for each dataset, detailing project information, funding sources, key references, and technical specifications. Maximising the use of historical water quality data By consolidating this data, we aim to uncover the spatial and temporal scope of existing monitoring efforts, enabling analysis of water quality trends across broader scales. This will inform future monitoring activities and maximise the use of this invaluable data to enhance water quality science and management of the Great Barrier Reef catchments. The compiled data will be stored on an online open-access portal developed by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation’s Water Quality and Investigations team. This portal aims to provide open access to the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program data, ensuring accessibility and transparency. This is a collaborative project with Andrew Moss (QLD Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation) and the QDETSI Water Quality & Investigations team (Dr Reinier Mann). Funding: Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Research support Cassandra James Senior Research Scientist cassandra.james@jcu.edu.au Zoe Bainbridge Senior Research Fellow Zoe.brainbridge@jcu.edu.au Stephen Lewis Principal Research Officer stephen.lewis@jcu.edu.au Research leads

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. TropWATER Coral reef fish running out of time to recover at Great Barrier Reef Islands 3 December 2024 TropWATER BACK 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 . Photo right: Degraded reefs at Keppel Islands (Maya Srinivasan, JCU TropWATER). Next Previous

Scientists at James Cook University TropWATER are expanding their long-standing water quality monitoring and community engagement through a major new initiative – the Catchment Water Quality Alliance. TropWATER TropWATER joins new alliance to strengthen water quality science across Queensland 25 May 2025 TropWATER BACK The new Catchment Water Quality Alliance brings together researchers from JCU TropWATER, the University of Queensland’s Reef Catchment Science Partnership and the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. The Alliance will improve water quality monitoring, enhance innovative data sharing platforms and engage regional stakeholders to assist communities and organisations to better care for Queensland waterways. TropWATER will support monitoring program across North Queensland while broadening the communication of results through existing local-scale water quality projects and extension networks. JCU TropWATER Director, Professor Damien Burrows, said TropWATER brings over three decades of experience working with growers, graziers and governments to monitor and improve water quality in the Great Barrier Reef. “Being based in North Queensland, close to reef catchments, gives us a unique ability to respond quickly to local weather events to capture critical data that feeds directly into government datasets – building a clearer, more regionally informed picture of water quality issues,” he said. “Our strength is not just in monitoring and research, but how we work with communities. We focus on communicating the science clearly and directly to growers and regional groups, allowing the data to be understood and used where it matters most. “With Alliance staff based in Townsville, we’re well positioned to connect local insights, water quality science and decision-making. This partnership will enhance how data, communication and collaboration can drive water quality solutions." The water quality monitoring data will be used for a range of purposes including reporting on the health of the waterways, rivers and reef and guiding best practice for improving catchment management initiatives across Queensland. The collaboration will also allow for a deeper exploration of data that has been collected over the past 20 years. The efforts of the Alliance will build on work already underway such as the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program (GBRCLMP) and the South East Queensland (SEQ) Catchments Water Quality Monitoring Program. GBRCLMP involves First Nations, industry and Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups as well as landholders to undergo comprehensive training, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to track long-term trends in catchment health, while fostering a deep understanding of local waterways. Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Kerrie Wilson said this collaborative initiative will play a vital role in protecting Queensland’s iconic ecosystems and ensure the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef and SEQ catchments for generations to come. “By harnessing scientific expertise from both government and academia, and using innovative approaches in Reef and SEQ catchment areas, it will help us to stay at the forefront of water quality assessment,” Professor Wilson said. “The Alliance will help to provide the science and real-world data to inform environmental decision-makers.” University of Queensland Head of the School of Environment, Professor Steve Chenoweth said UQ is excited to be joining the Alliance. “It’s a new model for how universities can work more effectively with government,” he said. “Not only is it an opportunity to focus our world-leading scientific capability on delivering what’s needed for Queensland’s outstanding catchments and reefs, the Alliance also offers unique training opportunities for Queensland’s future environmental scientists who will be better equipped to understand how they can deliver real-world impacts.” Photo: Representatives of organisations in the Catchment Water Quality Alliance. Credit: Michael Madlo. Next Previous

Each year, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February) to acknowledge the contributions of the many women monitoring, researching, restoring, and protecting tropical ecosystems. TropWATER Highlighting the experiences of women in science 11 February 2026 TropWATER BACK We spoke with seven TropWATER scientists – with expertise spanning water quality, seagrass ecology, and marine megafauna – about their experiences, careers, and challenges they have faced as women working in science. Read on to learn more about Dr Shelley Templeman , Carissa Reason , Dr Emily Webster , Jane Waterhouse , Professor Helene Marsh , Dr Jane Mellors , and Megan Proctor . Dr Shelley Templeman Dr Shelley Templeman’s work focuses on monitoring and understanding how ecosystem drivers influence aquatic ecology. This includes assessing water, sediment, macroinvertebrates, and vegetation along with climate and land use information, and running regular training courses for industry, government, NRM groups, Indigenous Rangers, schools, and community groups. “Throughout my career I have worked with some amazing people (within the scientific and local communities) and their knowledge sharing has helped me become the scientist I am today.” What led you to a career in science? Curiosity – I spent my childhood asking my parents “but why?” When my parents couldn’t answer the questions, I went to books (this pre-dated the internet). When they couldn’t help, I tried working it out for myself and kept going until I am where I am today (and still asking “why?”). What’s the best part of your job? The unpredictability of my career is the best part and because of that, I have had the opportunity to work in so many incredibly beautiful locations that very few people have ever seen. I have worked from the equator (West Papua) to Antarctica, and remote locations across northern Australia. What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? Science has made many improvements during my career but there are still some significant unconscious biases that exist. Sometimes this comes from community stakeholders who look behind you for a man as the project leader when you start a new program. Sometimes it is the perception that female scientists need more help to apply for new opportunities and are therefore expected to jump through more hoops to apply for these opportunities. Carissa Reason Carissa Reason manages statewide seagrass monitoring programs and researches seagrass ecology, biology, and physiology. Her work focuses on assessing ecological health, the impacts of human activities, and the effectiveness of restoration and mitigation efforts. What led you to a career in science? I grew up on a cattle/farming property in central Queensland and knew I would always need to have animals and nature as part of my workplace. A Zoology degree at JCU in Cairns cemented that pathway and led me firstly into monitoring fisheries resources for the Queensland Government and then into seagrass monitoring for TropWATER. What’s the best part of your job? What I love most about my job is the mix of adventure and analysis. I get to visit stunning, remote places to assess seagrass, spending long days on boats out on the water and in helicopters doing aerial assessments and having unforgettable wildlife encounters. Then I come back to the office to process and report on the data and recharge before heading out on the next adventure. What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? One of the biggest challenges for me has been balancing being a mum with the travel and workload that come with a career in science. Taking time away for parental leave creates gaps in professional development and missed opportunities, and catching up can feel daunting. "Having a supportive team has made a huge difference, helping me stay connected and continue moving forward." Dr Emily Webster Dr Emily Webster’s research is focused on the spatial ecology of threatened marine megafauna, particularly sea turtles. She works closely with government and Traditional Owners and wants to know how future climate change may affect the habitats that turtles rely on so we can allocate resources for effective habitat protection. What led you to a career in science? When I started my undergraduate degree I experimented with the arts – music, philosophy, and languages – but I found my first-year biology lectures were the most compelling, challenging my worldview and my understanding of ethics, human behaviour and our relationship with nature. I was also captivated by fieldtrips to amazing places that most people will never have the opportunity to visit, and close encounters with wildlife. Now, I am deeply concerned about climate change and the trajectory of our planet and want to contribute to positive environmental change. What’s the best part of your job? Through my work I’m connected with people who are passionate, driven, conscientious, and deeply connected to nature. "I love that my job is to be inquisitive and learn as much as I can." What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? I have found it challenging to develop the confidence to speak out in a room of more qualified people or do things differently in an established system. Self-promotion and self-advocacy don’t come naturally to me either. I’m curious about how other women navigate career interruptions and keep up competitive grant and publication profiles while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Jane Waterhouse Jane Waterhouse translates science for water quality management, from the catchment to the reef. Since 1998, she has been involved in many projects requiring a synthesis of the latest science to help managers make decisions. Jane has led the inshore water quality monitoring component of the Marine Monitoring Program since 2016. What led you to a career in science? "I am passionate about marine environments – I have always loved spending days at the beach or out on the water and have always wanted to be a part of the protection and maintenance of the incredible values of these areas." I especially love the coastal and inshore areas which are so diverse, accessible, and beautiful, and enjoy learning more about their processes and management solutions as part of my job; I feel very fortunate. What’s the best part of your job? I have had the benefit of working with many incredibly clever, kind, and generous people who are genuinely making a difference to the way the Great Barrier Reef and water quality specifically is understood and is managed, and how improvements can be delivered. That keeps me going. For me, maintaining working relationships and networks has been critical to having an interesting and successful career, as well as having a mix of tasks – there is never a dull moment! What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? I have been fortunate to have a very positive working environment. I made the decision to maintain a casual role early on to ensure I had flexible work hours to enable me to support my young family and choose projects that are of most interest to me; that has made a big difference. It was a potential risk to having an ongoing career in science – and realise it’s not an option that everyone can choose, so I am grateful that it’s worked out. Professor Helene Marsh Professor Helene Marsh is officially retired but remains very busy as a research leader and dugong expert. She currently leads the Threatened and Migratory Species and Threatened Ecological Communities initiative in the National Environmental Science Program, and continues to supervise students, deliver specialist lectures, and advise international agencies on dugong research. What led you to a career in science? I started my science degree at the University of Queensland with the intention of becoming a neuroscientist. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to undertake an independent psychology research project in my first year. I spent far too much time on this project, even though it wasn’t worth many marks. By the end of first year, I knew I didn’t want to be a neuroscientist, but I had discovered that I absolutely loved doing independent research. From then on, I was hooked and took every possible opportunity to do research projects as part of my degree. I am now a strong advocate for giving undergraduate students the opportunity to undertake research. What’s the best part of working in science? Making a difference. Discovering new knowledge, advising policymakers (I have provided advice to 14 countries), supporting research students (I have supervised more than 60 PhD candidates to completion), meeting inspiring people, and travelling to fascinating places – often countries within the dugong’s range. What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? "My biggest early challenge was bias against women in science." I still have a copy of a letter I received when I applied for my first job as a fisheries officer, stating that it was not government policy to employ women because fisheries officers had to drive boats, camp with fishermen, and carry heavy gear. I had my first child before finishing my PhD (not a great idea, despite having a very supportive partner) and worked part-time for several years while I had major child-rearing responsibilities. The greatest challenge then was being taken seriously as a scientist. Once I had a permanent position and my children were older, being a woman was no longer perceived as a problem. Nonetheless, there were many times when I was told I only obtained positions because I was a woman. Fortunately, such prejudices are now far less common. Dr Jane Mellors Dr Jane Mellors coordinates the field operations of a small team, collecting water samples during routine monitoring and from plumes during flood events between Gladstone and Cairns. Each trip involves boating, sample filtering in a field lab, submitting samples for analysis, downloading from instrumentation, and entering data. What led you to a career in science? As a child I was always poking around in rock pools, then in grade 10 I had this amazing biology teacher Dr Stren who was a marine biologist on sabbatical from the University of Palau. She was inspirational and most of our studies that year were on marine invertebrates – I was hooked. What’s the best part of your job? "The best part is the diversity of locations/Sea Country I get to experience during the course of collecting the water samples, and the variety of activities involved getting all the samples to their end point." What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? I have faced many challenges throughout my 42-year career in science. Early in my career, I encountered discriminatory attitudes toward women in the field. As my career progressed, balancing the demands of scientific work with family life – particularly when my child was young – required constant negotiation and resilience. Throughout, I also navigated the increasing competitiveness for research funding and the persistent pressure of the “publish or perish” culture. Megan Proctor Megan Proctor plans remote research trips and assists large-scale marine habitat mapping for coastal ecosystems across northern Australia. Some days, she’s flying around in a helicopter or dropping a camera off a boat, while many other days she is analysing images, creating flyers to share findings with local communities, and writing reports. What led you to a career in science? I grew up on the east coast in the US, spending summers at the beach and exploring tidal flats. I had a constant curiosity about the natural world and a special love of the ocean. As I got older, I was interested in the interaction between people and their environment and how science is communicated – I was convinced that if more people knew how amazing and important our ocean ecosystems are, then more people would take action to protect them. My first trip to Australia and diving on the Great Barrier Reef cemented my path and I’ve had the privilege of working across many different areas of marine science including science communication, tourism, and research. What’s the best part of your job? "The best part of my job is being surrounded by incredibly passionate and intelligent people doing meaningful work, constantly learning new things and exploring remote regions of Australia." I have the great privilege of working with many Indigenous Rangers and Traditional Owners; being invited onto their Land and Sea Country and trusted with their knowledge and stories is a unique opportunity I will never take for granted. It is interesting, inspiring, and very fulfilling work! What are some of the challenges as a woman working in science? My early experiences showed me that higher levels of science were often dominated by men and characterised by competition, ego, and a work-work-work mentality. That environment didn’t appeal to me and at times I doubted if there was space for me to thrive in this field. Fortunately, I have had wonderful women mentors along my journey, and their example and encouragement led me to persevere and carve a path that suited me without compromising my values. I am grateful for the collaborative and supportive culture of my team at TropWATER that allows for personal and professional development, high-quality work, and a more manageable work-life balance. Next Previous

We conduct large-scale shoreline surveys and monitoring of mangrove ecosystems to assess the impacts of sea level rise, extreme climate events, and human activities. These surveys provide crucial information to inform effective protection and restoration efforts for these habitats. Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait, Great Barrier Reef coastline Location Our team are undertaking aerial shoreline surveys around northern Australia to produce regional-scale health assessments of mangroves. Recent surveys across the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait are providing crucial data for effective management of these valuable coastal ecosystems. Mangroves are under increasing pressure, particularly from rising sea levels. Regional-scale monitoring is filling critical gaps of knowledge to inform successful protection and restoration efforts. Key points Regional-scale aerial surveys of mangroves across northern Australia BACK Mangroves under stress Mangroves provide vital ecosystem services that protect coastal communities and contribute to environmental resilience. But these environments face a range of human- and climate-driven stressors that threaten to reduce habitat quality, biodiversity, and the ability of mangrove environments to mitigate climate change. Understanding the changing conditions of and threats to mangroves is critical to effectively manage these ecosystems. However, the vast spatial coverage of mangroves presents a challenge for collecting data on their health. Coupled with satellite assessments, aerial surveys offer a practical solution to evaluate environmental health and shoreline condition over large spatial scales. Aerial surveys to understand mangrove health Our team has developed a method to capture high-resolution, overlapping images of shoreline vegetation from small helicopters. These images have been paired with notes on the condition of mangroves and coastal habitats, including any noticeable changes taking place such as mangrove dieback or shoreline erosion. By recording the condition of shoreline ecosystems as well as any changes taking place, we can recognise current and emerging threats and quantify the dominant drivers of change throughout the region. Gulf of Carpentaria and mass mangrove dieback This project initially evaluated the impact of the 2015-16 mangrove mass dieback event in the Gulf of Carpentaria, with surveys in 2017 and 2019. These surveys recorded the condition of shorelines and health of mangroves along approximately 2,000km of the southern shoreline of the Gulf. The team found over 80 km2 (around 6%) of mangrove forests in the Gulf of Carpentaria had been lost in the 2015-16 mass dieback event. Moderate to severe damage was observed along around 171.1km (22.5%) of shorelines mostly fringed by mangroves. The team also identified other indicators of poor shoreline condition throughout the region, including human impacts such as weeds, vehicle tracks, grassland fires and feral pigs, along with climate-related impacts such as bank erosion, storm damage and terrestrial retreat. The team conducted further surveys in 2025 to evaluate recovery over the last decade and develop strategies to reduce the impact of potential mass diebacks from future extreme climate-related events. Northern Great Barrier Reef This project investigated the condition of shorelines and mangroves and the health of tidal wetlands bordering eastern Cape York Peninsula, surveying from Cape York to Cairns in 2017. The team surveyed nearly 1,500km of coastline alongside the northern Great Barrier Reef and generated a library of 52,187 geotagged images covering every metre of shoreline. A key outcome of this project was the development of a robust classification system for identifying and quantifying current and emerging environmental issues impacting Australian mangroves and tidal wetlands. This produced a set of around 24 environmental indicators that represent the dominant drivers of change, allowing the team to record the status and condition of 28 major estuarine sites along the coast. A notable finding was a link between shoreline retreat and rates of sea level rise. Southern Great Barrier Reef This project assessed the condition of the mangroves and tidal saltmarshes of the southern Great Barrier Reef region between Cairns and Gladstone in 2023. The goal was to identify key threats and the dominant drivers of change, as well as locating potential sites for remediation. The team found that mangroves and saltmarshes along the southern Great Barrier Reef coastline were significantly affected by human- and climate-related stressors. Human impacts were most obvious near major population centres such as Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, and Gladstone. Climate stressors were dominant with shoreline erosion present throughout the region, likely driven by steadily rising sea levels. Southern Torres Strait This project surveyed the complete shorelines of five Torres Strait Islands – Horn, Thursday, Hammond, Friday, and Goods – and the northwest shoreline of Prince of Wales Island, in 2024. This provided a regional-scale assessment of the condition of shoreline mangroves and saltmarshes in south-central Torres Strait, identifying key threats and drivers of change. Human threats were noticeable as reclamation works, coastal development, access tracks, fire scorch damage and altered hydrology. Climate-related indicators were associated with rising sea levels. Data from this project will contribute to an online database of environmental and geophysical information for coastal resource managers in Torres Strait. Each of these projects have provided valuable baseline data on the health and condition of shoreline ecosystems and insights into drivers of change specific to different regions of northern Australia. These findings support tracking of future trends and other critical observations required for more effective local and national management of coastal ecosystems, especially for mangroves and tidal saltmarshes. Project details These projects were led by Professor Norm Duke, Jock Mackenzie, and Dr Adam Canning. Work in the Gulf of Carpentaria was funded by the Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub and Tropical Water Quality Hub. Work in the northern Great Barrier Reef was funded by the Australian Government, for the southern Great Barrier Reef by Greening Australia, and for Torres Strait by SmartState. Research support Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Norm Duke Senior Research Scientist norman.duke@jcu.edu.au Research leads

Native freshwater turtles have been caught in the battle to keep feral pigs out of coastal wetlands, with many adult turtles becoming fatally trapped by fences. TropWATER ‘Turtle gate’ gives safe passage in feral pig dilemma 10 March 2022 TropWATER BACK But now, scientists and Traditional Owners on Cape York Peninsula have found it’s possible to keep the destructive pests out and give turtles safe passage to move between water bodies during critical lifecycle periods. It’s called a ‘turtle gate’ and any freshwater floodplain fence can be modified to include it by removing a small section of wire, with little more than a pair of pliers. The research, led by James Cook University’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research ( TropWATER ), shows the modifications can be made to the most common exclusion fences used in Australia. TropWATER Principal Researcher Dr. Nathan Waltham said many inland wetlands tend to dry out entirely in the dry season, resulting in the migration of freshwater species. “These freshwater turtles need to make the very slow journey across land, from one wetland to another waterhole,” he said. “In cases where fences have been built around wetlands to protect them from feral animals, we found many turtles simply became stuck either inside or outside of the wetlands. “Without being able to move to another river or creek, turtles would often not survive either because of dehydration or from starvation.” The research showed any freshwater turtle with a shell width greater than the diagonal wire gap would likely become trapped, limiting their ability to access nesting sites, other waterholes, mates, and food. “These turtle gates are a fast and cost-effective solution, which could be included by landholders or local rangers,” Dr. Waltham said. The research was funded by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program through the Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub. North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Research Manager Dr. Justin Perry said feral pigs were the worst invasive mammal in Australia and managing the feral animals was a “hard balance” to get right. “Pigs can contaminate water sources and quickly destroy a wetland in just a few days, decimating crucial habitats for native plants and animals,” he said. “Fences are a common management solution and our project partners on Cape York, Aak Puul Ngantam (APN), and Kalan Enterprises, have been using fences to protect wetlands for many years. “We know that well-maintained fences do a good job at keeping pigs out, but we need to take into account what these exclusion fences could be doing to native species. “These small modifications could save many turtles already caught in challenging floodplain environments.” The study Simple fence modification increases land movement prospects for freshwater turtles on floodplains was published in Wildlife Biology, authored by Nathan Waltham, Jason Schaffer, Sophie Walker, Justin Perry, and Eric Nordberg. Next Previous

Coral reef habitats support thousands of species. The Great Barrier Reef alone makes up about 10 per cent of the world's coral reef ecosystem. Coral reef habitats Long-term environmental records across the Great Barrier Reef We are producing new environmental and climate proxy records to provide a greater understanding of the Reef's disturbance history and long-term ecosystem evolution. Featured project READ MORE Coral reef habitats support thousands of species. The Great Barrier Reef alone makes up about 10 per cent of the world's coral reef ecosystem. Our scientists undertake multiple monitoring programs to provide governments and industries with essential data on the condition of coral habitats. We also work closely with Traditional Owners, communities, and tourism operators in monitoring and coral reef resilience-building projects. BACK We are working with Marranbala and li-Anthawirriyarra Rangers and other partners to map the location and condition of seafloor habitats - and record the many species these ecosystems support - in Marra Sea Country. Mapping benthic habitats and fish communities in Marra Sea Country Community, Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON We are surveying fish communities to find nursery habitats and understand species connectivity across remote reef lagoons in the Coral Sea Marine Park. Finding fish nurseries in the Coral Sea Marine Park Research READ MORE COMING SOON We surveyed over 250 km of coastline with First Nations partners to assess the impact of flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, one year after the flood event. Assessing the impacts of flooding after Tropical Cyclone Jasper Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON A local network to connect, grow and champion the efforts of diverse organisations in the region to support the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns Port Douglas Reef Hub Community READ MORE COMING SOON We closely monitor coral reefs around Great Barrier Reef islands to understand their condition. We assess the impacts of disturbances such as cyclones, floods, and coral bleaching, and help track the patterns of recovery following these events. Long-term monitoring of coral reefs at inshore islands in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Our rapid visual surveys mapped 3,500 km² of benthic fauna and seagrass in five reef lagoons of the Coral Sea Marine Park, leading to further research on potential fish nurseries in deepwater marine vegetation areas. Reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping in the Coral Sea Marine Park Monitoring, Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are producing new environmental and climate proxy records to provide a greater understanding of the Reef's disturbance history and long-term ecosystem evolution. Long-term environmental records across the Great Barrier Reef Research READ MORE COMING SOON Our long-term environmental monitoring of port industries is extensive, covering coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity. Long-term monitoring for port industries: coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects READ Partnership advances marine science and port management 4 November 2025 READ Explainer: Coral recruitment 13 May 2025 READ A history of the Great Barrier Reef 8 April 2025 READ Flood plume reaches offshore reefs in Great Barrier Reef 28 March 2025 News Adam Smith Adjunct Professor adam.smith@jcu.edu.au Adam is CEO of Reef Ecologic (a B Corp) and has 30 years experience as a marine scientist, marine park manager, environmental consultant, Director. He has extensive regulatory, EIA, policy, partnership, incident and communication experience in coral reef research and management. He has led diverse, multidisciplinary projects associated with conservation and sustainable management of Tourism, Defence, Shipping, Fisheries, Port and Restoration in the Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. He was co-investigator (with Dr Ian McLeod) of the National Environment Science Program (NESP) Tropical Water Quality Hub project Best practice coral restoration for the Great Barrier Reef. He is a co-founder of the International Coral Reef Management and Leadership program. He is founder of the Museum of Underwater Art. He is on numerous reef and international advisory committees. April Hall Senior Research Officer april.hall@jcu.edu.au April Hall is a senior research officer at TropWATER with broad interests in coral reef fish ecology and a particular focus on marine parks management and conservation of coral reef fish communities. April’s current research is centred on monitoring fish communities and associated benthic habitats on inshore fringing coral reef habitats of the Great Barrier Reef. April is a specialist in identifying and quantifying reef fishes, and is part of a team delivering a broad-scale integrated monitoring program for fishes on inshore reefs. In collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, in 2022 April completed an Advance Queensland Postdoctoral Research Fellowship examining the contribution of partially protected conservation park (yellow) zones to biodiversity conservation in the Marine Park. This project built on her PhD research (2015) about the importance of predatory fishes on reefs and the trophic impacts of predator removals on coral reef fish communities. The fellowship provided novel data on the contribution of yellow zones to conservation and management of reef fishes on the Great Barrier Reef. April has worked collaboratively on a range of projects in Australia and the Indo-Pacific, including examining spatial and temporal trends in coral trout abundance, evaluating outcomes from locally managed marine reserves in Fiji and Solomon Islands, and investigating the demographics and reproductive biology of reef fishes. Brodie O'Breza Research Intern brodie.obreza@jcu.edu.au Brodie O’Breza is a Coastal and Marine Science and Environmental Management graduate from Curtin University, currently undertaking a four-month research internship with TropWATER at James Cook University. She is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with family connections to Saibai Island, and her work is grounded in a strong connection to Sea Country. Brodie is passionate about supporting Indigenous representation in STEM and advancing research that is meaningful to community. At TropWATER, she has developed skills in coral and seagrass identification, microscopy, and salt marsh restoration, alongside field-based greenhouse gas measurements using a LI-COR analyser. She has also worked collaboratively with Indigenous Rangers on Country, supporting knowledge sharing and applied ecological research. Brodie has gained diverse experience across Australia and internationally, including a CSIRO Indigenous Time at Sea voyage in the Coral Sea, research on carbon sequestration through microbial biomineralisation, and community-based marine conservation work in Fiji with the Locally Managed Marine Area Network. She is currently scoping a Master's degree by research focused on the Torres Strait, with a strong interest in co-designed approaches that intertwine Indigenous knowledge systems and marine science. Gemma Galbraith Senior Research Officer gemma.galbraith@jcu.edu.au Gemma Gailbraith completed her PhD at James Cook University in 2021. Her research explored the ecology of reef fishes on submerged seamount and pinnacle coral reefs. Before this, Gemma completed a Master of Science in marine environmental management and spent time working in the South Pacific, Caribbean and south-east Asia. Broadly, Gemma is interested in combining community ecology and emerging technologies to study remote and distinct coral reef habitats and to understand how understudied marine ecosystems are connected to the wider seascape. As a senior research officer at TropWATER, Gemma’s key focus is conducting reef fish surveys across the inshore island groups of the Great Barrier Reef as part of the IMR Reef Fish Monitoring Project. Gemma’s past research efforts have included using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and remote video technologies to investigate deep and distinct coral reefs in Papua New Guinea and the Coral Sea, and investigating connectivity between marine reserves on the Great Barrier Reef. This work was conducted at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies as a postdoctoral research associate. Ian McLeod Adjunct Professor ian.mcleod@jcu.edu.au Ian is a multidisciplinary research leader with a passion for science communication, innovation, and applied research. He has 20 years broad experience working in environmental research, management, and communication on every continent. Currently, Ian is the Executive Director, Strategy, Science and Partnerships for General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Sea Turtles in the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. He is also an Adjunct Professor at TropWATER, James Cook University. From 2022-23 Ian was the Program Director for the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. Ian was based at James Cook University from 2010 until 2023, most recently as a Professorial Research Fellow. He was seconded to the Australian Institute of Marine Science to help lead the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program from 2019-2023. From 2014-2019 Ian was also the Managing Director for Cinematic Science, a media company focused on science communication. Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Dr Katie Chartrand has 20 years of expertise spanning tropical coral and seagrass ecosystems, photobiology, spatial analysis, and mapping. Katie's extensive research background has influenced the management and compliance of large-scale dredging programs. Katie’s research also extends to monitoring at-risk habitats, particularly inshore coral reefs and seagrass, while leading multiple applied research programs focused on replenishing high value marine ecosystems in a highly collaborative framework. Katie's passion has centred on building authentic partnerships with First Nations communities and tourism operators on the Great Barrier Reef. Her initiatives include the Great Reef Census, a citizen science-based monitoring program, Mars Reef Stars for rubble stabilization and repair, and coral larval delivery at targeted reef locations. These initiatives drive localised and scalable outcomes, anchored in partnerships spanning various sectors, including ports, indigenous rangers, tourism, and citizen science, complementing traditional government bodies such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Katie's overarching philosophy is to forge strong partnerships, using interdisciplinary networks to support scalable research strategies and conservation science. Through this approach, she is dedicated to advancing the science and management of reef and coastal assets. Katie’s research offers solutions that are making a tangible and positive impact on the preservation and resilience of our vital marine ecosystems. Katie Motson Casual Research Worker katie.motson@jcu.edu.au Katie grew up in the North of England, spending most of her free-time living abroad and diving the world’s oceans. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2012 with a BSc in Geography and took to the skies once more, dreaming of diving and studying on the Great Barrier Reef. In 2014 Katie obtained her MSc in Marine Biology & Ecology at James Cook University, investigating the capacity for thermal developmental acclimation in three tropical wrasse species. After spending two years working in various research positions: as a research assistant for Prof. Philip Munday; as a Research Projects Officer with CSIRO in Brisbane; and researching the effects of Cyclone Winston on coral reefs in Fiji, Katie returned to her academic nest at JCU to begin her next adventure. Under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Hoey and Dr. Kate Hutson, Katie’s PhD looks at the effects of coral reef condition and disturbance on the parasite communities infecting herbivorous fish on the Great Barrier Reef. Kevin Kane Adjunct Associate Professor kevin.kane@jcu.edu.au As a marine science graduate and postgraduate in the 90’s, Kevin studied and worked at James Cook University (JCU) in the areas of reef research, aquaculture and fisheries science. Since then Kevin has been a Hatchery Manager, Construction Manager, Fisheries Inspector, Maritime Safety Officer, a Principal with the Department of Environment and Heritage, before his present role with North Queensland Bulk Ports in 2010. Kevin previously chaired the Queensland Ports Association Environment and Planning Committee, and is active on a range of Great Barrier Reef advisory panels and regional committees. He co-chaired an international working group authoring a practical guideline on environmental risk management of navigational infrastructure projects. Kevin was integral in establishing what is now one of Queensland’s most extensive coastal marine monitoring programs and a long-standing partnership with James Cook University. Also a long standing member of the management committee of the Mackay Whitsunday Healthily Rivers to Reef Partnership, Kevin holds a number of directorships on the boards of Natural Resource Management Regions Queensland, The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure – Australia/New Zealand and Reef Catchments Limited. Maya Srinivasan Principal Research Officer maya.srinivasan@jcu.edu.au Maya Srinivasan is an experienced researcher in the field of coral reef ecology with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. She is skilled in Marine Research Design, Lecturing, Conservation Issues, and Scientific Writing. Maya is a strong research professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Reef Fish Recruitment from James Cook University and is currently running a monitoring program on inshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Paul Marshall Adjunct Professor paul.marshall@jcu.edu.au Paul is responsible for leading the visionary program to conserve 95% of NEOM (25,000 km2) as a protected area spanning spectacular red deserts, snow-capped mountains, vibrant coral reefs and deep ocean habitats. NEOM is a gigaproject that aims to accelerate human progress and spearhead delivery of Vision 2030 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In collaboration with Saudi Arabian and international partners, the NEOM Nature Reserve will kickstart a new era in the conservation of Arabian wildlife through a unique approach integrating landscape-scale habitat restoration, rewilding, nature-based tourism and development planning. Before joining NEOM, Paul served as a Managing Director of Reef Ecologic, a company specialized in creating innovative solutions for environmental challenges. This followed a 15-year career in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, where he was the founding director of the Climate Change Program and led key programs in research, monitoring, conservation planning and resilience-based management. Throughout his career spanning private sector, government and NGO engagements, Paul has regularly advised and worked with international organisations, national governments, NGOs and leaders from the private sector. These have included International Union for the Conservation of Nature, UNESCO, The Nature Conservancy, NOAA, The Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and governments of Australia, USA, St Lucia, Grenada, Belize, Vietnam, Palau and Saudi Arabia. He is a founding member of the IUCN Working Group on Climate Change and Coral Reefs, member of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, member of the Advisory Board of the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre, founding co-chair of the International Working Group on Management for the Coral Restoration Consortium and serves on the Executive Committee for Sustainability of the Red Sea. Roger Beeden Adjunct Professor roger.beeden@jcu.edu.au Roger is the Reef Authority’s Chief Scientist. He has held several senior management roles since he joined the Reef Authority in 2008 including positions in Climate Change, Reef Knowledge, Reef Interventions and Tourism and Stewardship. His current role is the culmination of more than two decades working to protect the Reef, and focuses on communicating the Reef Authority’s key management initiatives to the community and developing science collaborations with national and international research teams to better protect the Reef for future generations. In recent years Roger has focused on the expansion and delivery of the Crown-of-thorns starfish control work and coordination with the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. These initiatives are delivered in partnership with government, not-for-profit, industry, community and Traditional Owners, serving as front-line response actions that can be taken to protect the Reef for future generations. The demonstrated coral protection outcomes delivered by the COTS control program aid the implementation of the Reef 2050 plan, inform the five-yearly Outlook report, and underpin resilience-based management of the Great Barrier Reef as the climate changes. Originally from the UK, Roger moved to Townsville in 2004 to complete an MSc degree in Marine Biology at James Cook University. Since then, he has combined this knowledge with 12 years of commercial marketing experience from the pharmaceutical industry to identify strategies to support the future of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem under a changing climate. In partnership with a range of scientific, government and non-government organisations Roger has focused on improving Reef stewardship and building knowledge about the resilience of coral reef ecosystems to climate change. Roger completed a PhD in 2014 that examined how individuals, industry and managers can jointly assess reef health to inform actions to support the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Severine Choukroun Research Associate severine.choukroun@jcu.edu.au Severine Choukroun is a physical oceanographer and biophysical modeller with a background in marine science. Severine has developped hydrodynamic models models for understanding and predicting ecological processes – like how marine life moves in ocean currents – and understanding how physical and biological processes influence marine population connectivity and persistence. She has significant experience in conducting observational and modelling research on coastal and shelf dynamics, coupled with biophysical modelling that integrates complex early life behaviour. Severine’s recent activities include work with crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), including a project with CSIRO to develop information infrastructure to better share modelled data between stakeholders involved in COTS control. This will improve data-sharing reliability and efficiency, while aligning with the broader infrastructures already being created through other programs. Severine is also studying patterns of COTS outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef by tracking larval spread via ocean currents. Understanding, measuring and predicting how larvae are dispersed is vital to both modelling COTS outbreaks on the GBR and controlling those outbreaks effectively. Tessa Concannon Research Worker tessa.concannon@jcu.edu.au Tess joined the TropWATER team in 2024. She works across a range of projects including seagrass and coral monitoring, spatial analysis, coral recruitment studies, running training workshops for community members and Indigenous Rangers both on and off Country, and collaborating with industry partners. Tess completed her Bachelor of Animal Science in 2014, her Graduate Diploma in Conservation Biology in 2016, and is currently completing her Masters in Conservation Biology. Tess is a qualified coxswain and has extensive experience in scientific diving, management and work health and safety practices, and coral reef health monitoring. Previous work has seen Tess project manage a collaborative reef restoration and community engagement project with Traditional Owners, facilitate a broad range of research and education activities on JCU's Orpheus Island Research Station as a Station Officer, and manage and train teams in marine naturalist guiding in multiple locations on the Great Barrier Reef. Researchers MORE ACCESS Webster E, Duce S, Limpus C, Murray N, Patterson T, Pillans R, Shimada T, Hamann. Coral reef habitats A dynamic foraging habitat distribution estimate for green turtles in the Great Barrier Reef. ACCESS Stewart O, Downie AT, Choukroun S, Bode M. Coral reef habitats Larval dispersal models predict reefs that experience crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks receive more larvae. ACCESS Srinivasan M, Galbraith GF, Ceccarelli DM, Cresswell BJ, Strahl SJ, Williamson DH. Coral reef habitats Long-term effects of a severe tropical cyclone on coral reef habitat and fish assemblages at the Whitsunday Islands, central Great Barrier Reef. ACCESS Barrios-Garrido H, Alatawi A, Alghrair M, Alkaboor A, Ghazzawi E, Khamis A, Lyons B, Marshall P, Vijaya AP, Santillan A, Porej D, Cowie W, Ramalho RO. Coral reef habitats Post-breeding dispersal of nesting marine turtles from the NEOM Islands, Saudi Arabia. ACCESS Cartwright P, Browne N, Fearns P, O'Leary M, Lowe R. Coral reef habitats Applying ensemble climate models to predict the fate of marginal coral reefs already existing at thermal and turbidity limits in arid tropical Australia. ACCESS Bode M, Choukroun S, Emslie MJ, Harrison HB, Leis JM, Mason LB, Srinivasan M, Williamson DH, Jones GP. Coral reef habitats Marine reserves contribute half of the larval supply to a coral reef fishery. ACCESS Lazarus E, Duce S, Lewis S, Smithers S. Coral reef habitats The reef island geomorphic activity assessment: A new approach to quantify cay geomorphic change. ACCESS Suggett DJ, Goergen EA, Fraser M, Hein MY, Hoot W, McLeod I, Montoya-Maya PH, Moore T, Ross AM, Vardi T. Coral reef habitats A user’s guide to coral reef restoration terminologies. Reports and publications MORE

This project aims to monitor fish communities in nursery seascape, using a range of underwater camera technology. This enhances our understanding of the role habitats play in fish abundance and size. Magnetic Island, Dunk Island Location Despite the critical role of inshore nursery habitats in the life history of many fish species, data on fish communities in these areas are limited. This project surveys fish abundance and distribution across coastal, island, and inter-reef inshore nursery habitats between Magnetic Island and Dunk Island. Survey design, site selection and field monitoring are conducted with Traditional Owners and Rangers from Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, Minga Minga Rangers, and Wulgurukaba Rangers. Key points Monitoring fish communities in nursery seascapes BACK Finding inshore fish nurseries Inshore nursery habitats are vital for many fish species. The rich abundance of fish using these nurseries is valuable for recreational, commercial, and cultural purposes. Despite their importance, these nurseries are often overlooked. Data on fish communities, especially juveniles, in habitats like seagrass and mangroves are scarce. Identifying fish nurseries ensures appropriate management to support adult populations. Understanding fish size, distribution, and habitat connectivity is essential for effective species management. TropWATER scientists, in partnership with Traditional Owners and Rangers, are addressing this gap in the central Great Barrier Reef by monitoring a wide range of inshore fish habitats to collect key baseline data. Surveying fish nursery habitats Our team are conducting fish surveys of inshore habitats between Dunk Island and Magnetic Island over two years. We are monitoring nursery seascapes of habitats of a variety habitats – from mangrove, seagrass, shoals, algae, and reef habitats using underwater stereo camera systems. The project is a collaboration with Traditional Owners and Rangers from Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, Minga Minga Rangers, and Wulgurukaba Rangers. They contributed to the survey design, using local and cultural knowledge for site selection, and participated throughout the field surveys. Monitoring surveys for inshore nurseries incorporate the following: Surveys in three seascapes: coastal, inter-reef, and islands. A variety of habitats, such as mangroves, seagrass, shoals, algae, the bottom of reef slopes, and reef flats. Use of stereo non-baited Remote Underwater Video Stations as well as Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations for fishes and drop cameras for benthic habitats. Two surveys conducted per year, for two years. These surveys will increase our understanding of the role that habitat plays in fish abundance and size. They will also be integrated with inshore fringing reef and deep-water inter-reef monitoring undertaken by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and other TropWATER researchers to deliver a more comprehensive look at reef fish status and trends. Creating a monitoring baseline This project will develop a baseline of monitoring data for inshore fish habitats. Future assessments of the status and trends in fish communities, including how they respond to environmental changes, can then be compared to this baseline. So far, over 221 fish species have been identified as part of this project. These include many species of commercial, recreational, and cultural importance such as: Barramundi (Lates calcarifer ) Coral trout (Plectropomus maculatus ) Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran ) Mackerel (Scomberomorus sp.) Results also showed distinct fish communities in inshore habitats, with certain species associated with particular habitat types. These findings are critical for conserving these habitats to maintain adult populations into the future. This research supports healthy fish populations and sustainable fisheries. It informs strategies to protect critical habitats, supports the replenishment of adult populations, and guides efforts to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem health. Project details This project is supported by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is a collaboration with the University of the Sunshine Coast, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, Minga Minga Rangers, and Wulgurukaba Rangers. Research support Alex Carter Principal Research Officer alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au Tim Smith Senior Research Officer tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au Research leads

We are partnering with Indigenous Rangers across northern Australia to co-design seagrass monitoring programs, conduct baseline surveys, and build capacity in key skills for ongoing Ranger-led monitoring. Northern Australia Location We are partnering with Indigenous Rangers across northern Australia to provide hands-on skills training and online resources to establish Ranger-led seagrass monitoring programs. These programs will increase our understanding of seagrass communities across northern Australia and contribute to Ranger-led management of Sea Country. Training videos and guides developed as part of this project will become publicly available resources to support current and future Ranger-led seagrass monitoring. Key points Establishing Ranger-led seagrass monitoring programs BACK Seagrass in northern Australia Northern Australia’s seagrass meadows stretch from Queensland’s tropical north and Torres Strait, across the Gulf of Carpentaria, and along the Northern Territory and northern Western Australian coastlines. They provide a range of valuable ecosystem services, from storing carbon and supporting fisheries to offering habitats to many threatened species, such as dugongs and turtles. But seagrasses face many threats, and monitoring the distribution and condition of these meadows can guide conservation and management efforts. Many of these meadows lie in remote regions, where Indigenous Ranger groups are well-positioned to lead monitoring and management of these habitats while building on existing connections Sea Country. For these Ranger-led programs to be effective, a consistent and comprehensive approach to monitoring is needed to support long-term investment. This includes maintaining up-to-date resources and ongoing skills training in monitoring tools and methods. Co-design for sustainable monitoring We are partnering with Indigenous Ranger groups across northern Australia to co-design seagrass monitoring programs. This is a highly coordinated approach, involving baseline surveys using helicopters, drones, and boats, training in standardised monitoring methods, and resources and reference guides to support ongoing, sustainable Ranger-led monitoring. Hands-on training in survey methods include: Helicopter surveys – for surveying large areas of intertidal seagrass, to establish a baseline and select intertidal monitoring locations. Drone surveys – for surveying small areas of intertidal seagrass, as a more affordable and accessible alternative to helicopter surveys. Walking transects – for surveying areas of intertidal seagrass that are exposed at low tide, where safe to do so. Boat-based towed and drop cameras – for surveying subtidal (submerged) seagrass habitats. Boat -based van Veen grabs – for surveying subtidal (submerged) seagrass habitats when visibility is low. Our researchers are also providing training in GIS skills to assess and manage collected monitoring data. Establishing these Ranger-led monitoring programs will support Traditional Owner decision-making about local resources and management of Sea Country, including dugong and turtle management plans, help protect culturally and ecologically important habitats and species, and strengthen planning for long-term change. Resources for training and engagement We are developing visual and written guides to seagrass monitoring methods and species identification for northern Australia. These training materials will be valuable reference guides for partner Ranger groups undertaking monitoring and be made publicly available for others interested in establishing monitoring programs. Training materials will include videos developed with a professional filmmaker as well as posters, flyers, and written manuals. Filming for training materials took place throughout 2025 with partner Ranger groups on Sea Country. Project details These projects are led by Dr Alex Carter and Dr Catherine Collier. Baseline surveys and monitoring programs are in partnership with Angkamuthi, Gangalidda-Garawa, Girringun, Karajarri, Kaurareg, Marra, South East Arnhem Land, Tiwi Islands, Torres Strait, Wellesley Islands, Wuthathi, and Yanyuwa Traditional Owners and Rangers. Training materials are being developed in partnership with Girringun, Karajarri, Marra, and Torres Strait Traditional Owners and Rangers with funding from the National Environmental Science Program, the Northern Territory government, and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Research support Alex Carter Principal Research Officer alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au Catherine Collier Principal Research Officer catherine.collier@jcu.edu.au Research leads

TropWATER staff only SUBMIT Incorrect password. Please try again. Login Team resources A central hub for TropWATER staff This is a secure hub for sharing resources, templates, training materials, and media assets – designed to support collaboration, streamline workflows, and ensure easy access for team members anytime. By using these shared tools, we strengthen our communications, build consistency across projects, and boost the overall impact of TropWATER’s work. Please contact Molly or Emma in the Communications team for the password. Login to access files and folders

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. TropWATER A gateway to understanding manta rays in the central Great Barrier Reef 14 June 2024 TropWATER BACK 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. Next Previous

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. TropWATER Internship highlights 15 January 2025 TropWATER BACK 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." Next Previous

We are working with Traditional Owners to deploy temperature loggers to measure thermal risk to inshore seagrass, and developing a model to predict areas of seagrass most at risk of thermal stress from high temperatures. Cape York to Gladstone Location High temperatures pose a serious threat to seagrass health, but we need on-the-ground data to know what temperatures are reached and to find inshore areas that are likely at risk. We are working with Traditional Owners to deploy temperature loggers at locations throughout the inshore Great Barrier Reef and will use the data to develop a model for predicting areas of seagrass most at risk of thermal stress. Findings can be used to respond to high-risk temperature events, understand what is causing changes in seagrass meadow condition, and underpin management strategies such as prioritising areas for restoration. Key points Thermal risk for inshore seagrass on the Great Barrier Reef BACK Heat stress for seagrass Climate change threatens the health of seagrass meadows in multiple ways, including increasing sea surface temperatures. High temperatures cause thermal stress by impacting processes like photosynthesis, causing leaves to burn and reducing growth, abundance, and overall resilience. Inshore seagrasses in shallow waters are at greater risk of being exposed to very high temperatures than those in deeper waters. Current spatial temperature data does not represent the variability occurring in shallow inshore environments along the Great Barrier Reef. In-water measured data is needed to quantify the dynamic changes and extremes in these environments where seagrass meadows are widespread. Deploying loggers for temperature monitoring We are partnering with Traditional Owners and Land and Sea Rangers from nine First Nations groups to deploy loggers in shallow inshore seagrass habitats between far northern Cape York and Gladstone. The project involves: Working with Traditional Owners to co-design the sampling strategy for each site. Collecting temperature data at 10 locations, from temperature loggers recording every 10 minutes. Measuring temperature across a gradient of exposure from never or rarely exposed to the air (deeper water) to more frequently exposed and higher up the shore (shallower water). Developing a model of thermal risk. Results of high temperatures for inshore seagrass The team found that temperatures changed throughout the day by up to 20°C, with the highest variability generally at the most frequently exposed sites (closer to shore). Temperature generally varied less and had shorter exposure to high temperatures at sites that were rarely exposed (furthest from shore). This monitoring is ongoing and will continue to 2026. The data will be used to develop and validate a model predicting thermal stress to seagrass. This will identify thermal stress hotspots, helping to pinpoint the extent and location of inshore seagrass areas most at risk on the Great Barrier Reef. Project details This project is led by Dr Catherine Collier, with support from Hayley Brien, Nicki Wilson, Lucas Langlois, Len McKenzie and Traditional Owners. This project is funded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Banner image: Kathy of Wuthathi Land and Sea Rangers photographed by TropWATER. Images: Photos of Yuku Baja Muiliku Land and Sea Rangers are by Jazmin Ford of Yuku Baja Muiliku Land and Sea Rangers. Photos of Gidarjil Land and Sea Rangers and Darumbal Land and Sea Rangers are by Nicki Wilson of TropWATER. Hayley Brien Research Worker hayley.brien@jcu.edu.au Nicki Wilson Research Worker nicki.wilson@jcu.edu.au Lucas Langlois Research Officer lucas.langlois@jcu.edu.au Len McKenzie Principal Research Officer len.mckenzie@jcu.edu.au Research support Catherine Collier Principal Research Officer catherine.collier@jcu.edu.au Research leads

Over four years, we will plant thousands of seagrass fragments and over half a million seeds, while tracking the return of fish species and measuring the blue carbon benefits. Cairns, Mourilyan Harbour Location Scientists are investigating the most effective restoration methods for different species to maximise growth. We’re also new trailing planting methods, like hovercrafts. This work involves working with Traditional Owner and engaging community groups for training and seagrass planting events. The team will measure blue carbon storage benefits and improvements in fisheries habitat throughout the project’s lifecycle. Key points Restoring tropical seagrasses and their ecosystem services BACK Restoring seagrass meadows Tropical seagrass in the Indo-Pacific represents 35% of the global seagrass species, with an area of 88,000 km² mapped in tropical Australia. A third of this is found in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region of Queensland. Over a decade ago, cyclones and floods devastated seagrass habitats in Cairns and Mourilyan, North Queensland, impacting their ecological functions. Climate-driven events put pressure on these ecosystems, with the intensity of cyclones, storms, floods, and marine heatwaves expected to rise due to climate change. The need for tropical seagrass restoration becomes increasingly urgent. Despite their importance, many tropical seagrass species remain understudied, and there have been few restoration attempts. Restoring tropical seagrass meadows in Northern Australia presents unique challenges. They are often found in muddy, crocodile-inhabited environments, requiring innovative restoration approaches. Australia’s largest tropical seagrass restoration project We are leading Australia's first meadow-scale tropical seagrass restoration project, restoring tropical seagrass meadows at Cairns and Mourilyan. Over four years, the team aim to restore five hectares of meadows wiped out a decade ago, planting tens of thousands of seagrass fragments and seeds. They will also work to speed the recovery of 425 hectares of meadows that are struggling to recover from cyclone damage. What species? Different seagrass species may respond better to different restoration methods. We are matching methods to species to maximise survival and regrowth. How do we plant? We are planting with the tide. At high tide, we use boats to drop anchored fragments. At low tide, we are trialling methods such as using hovercraft to plant sods (small intact clumps with roots and surrounding mud) on intertidal flats too shallow for boats. Who do we work with? The team is engaging with Traditional Owners, community groups and school students for seagrass planting events and Indigenous Rangers for training. What do we measure? We are measuring blue carbon storage benefits and improvements in fisheries habitat throughout the project’s lifecycle, and the most effective restoration methods. This project will investigate a range of methods to identify the safest, most cost-effective options, creating an evidence base to guide restoration efforts elsewhere. The project is in collaboration with four Traditional Owner groups (Gimuy Walubara Yidindji, Mandubarra, Goondoi and Yirrganydji), OzFish Unlimited and local community groups, with funding support from BHP’s Blue Carbon Grants program. Volunteers vital for planting Researchers collected seagrass fragments to initiate the restoration effort, with planting days held in 2023, 2024, and 2025. During these planting days, volunteers were essential in rapidly planting these fragments in Cairns and Mourilyan, including Traditional Owners, community members, and school students. Future proofing Australia's tropical seagrasses As part of this work, our scientists are developing species-specific restoration methods and approaches tailored to the diverse range of tropical seagrass species found across the Indo-Pacific. Seagrass planting methods and enhancement methods are being tested experimentally and restoration suitability models developed to build a restoration framework applicable across the Indo Pacific. This research is being funded through an Australian Research Council linkage program partnering with North Queensland Bulk Ports and Ports North. Research support Abbi Scott Senior Research Officer abbi.scott1@jcu.edu.au Michael Rasheed Principal Research Scientist michael.rasheed@jcu.edu.au Paul York Senior Research Officer Paul.York@jcu.edu.au Tim Smith Senior Research Officer tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au Research leads

This project has developed a comprehensive roadmap to guide coordinated, large-scale coastal and marine restoration efforts in Australia. Australia Location Urgent action is needed to stop extensive loss of coastal and marine ecosystems. A large-scale, coordinated restoration approach will provide significant environmental, economic, and social benefits. This project has developed a comprehensive roadmap to guide coordinated, large-scale coastal and marine restoration efforts in Australia. Effective future restoration projects will rely on co-design with diverse stakeholders and meaningful engagement with Traditional Custodians. Key points Roadmap to large scale restoration BACK Large-scale efforts needed to restore coastal and marine ecosystems Coastal ecosystems offer essential services like fisheries, tourism, carbon storage and climate change mitigation, shoreline protection. They also act as breeding grounds for many marine and freshwater species. Yet, they face significant losses due to human activities and climate change. Ecological restoration is crucial for climate change mitigation and adaptation, according to the recent IPCC report . These ecosystems can store ten times more carbon per unit area than most land ecosystems, making them critical for reducing greenhouse gases and stabilising the climate. Despite recent advances, coastal restoration efforts in Australia remain small-scale and experimental. This is falling short of meeting biodiversity and climate change goals. Scaling up effective restoration projects across Australia is a monumental task. It needs a coordinated national approach to meet many challenges, including environmental, technical, social, political, and economic. Key principles for the future of coastal and marine restoration TropWATER and CSIRO scientists worked together to develop a roadmap to scale up restoration. This responded to the need for higher-level coordination and to speed up effective large-scale restoration. Involving input from more than 170 contributors, including scientists, First Nations people, government agencies and funders, ‘A Roadmap for Coordinated Landscape-scale Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Restoration ’ is the most forward-looking restoration review in Australia to date. The project involved working with stakeholders through workshops and national surveys, while assessing existing restoration programs. The project sought to understand the current state of Australian coastal and marine ecosystems, understanding limitations, opportunities, and gaps in research. The roadmap identified ten key principles: Co-designing projects with stakeholders, especially Traditional Owners. Fit-for-purpose governance with supportive, clear policies, permitting processes, and reporting. No-gap funding for the long term, including monitoring, management, and maintenance. Open access to social, economic, and biophysical information. Evidence-based, transparent decision-making. Restoration coordinated at scale. Robust monitoring, maintenance, valuation, and reporting. A clear strategy for climate change adaptation. Implementation of nature-based solutions. Effective knowledge sharing, supporting well-resourced practitioner and stakeholder networks. Recommendations to upscale restoration To address the urgent need for effective coastal and marine ecosystem restoration, this project produced the following key recommendations: A large-scale, coordinated approach to coastal and marine ecosystem restoration is essential to enhance valuable natural assets and provide significant economic and social benefits. Scaling up restoration efforts requires a national science-based plan to guide state and local strategies, along with a new economic model that blends government and private funding. Restoration projects should be co-designed with diverse stakeholders, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, researchers, practitioners, and communities. The roadmap will guide future projects to meet national and international targets for coastal and marine restoration, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the Ramsar Convention. For more information see Australian Coastal Restoration Network website. Project details This project was co-led between CSIRO and TropWATER (JCU), with important contributions from the University of New South Wales, Macquarie University, the University of Queensland, and the University of Melbourne. Research support Nathan Waltham Senior Principal Research Officer nathan.waltham@jcu.edu.au Research leads

A local network to connect, grow and champion the efforts of diverse organisations in the region to support the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns, Port Douglas Location Local organisations are working to protect and rehabilitate areas of the Great Barrier Reef, but these activities need to be coordinated and collaborative for greater impact. The Reef Hub is an open collaborative network that is connecting, growing, and championing the efforts of tourism operators, Traditional Owners, community groups, and other organisations in the Cairns-Port Douglas region that are supporting the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Through building a skilled network, facilitating collaborative reef science and championing local voices, the Reef Hub aims to increase the positive impact of local reef restoration efforts. Key points Cairns Port Douglas Reef Hub BACK Local challenges for building reef resilience A range of pressures increasingly threaten the health of the Great Barrier Reef, and hands-on efforts are urgently needed to build reef resilience. These stewardship activities are needed across regional to local scales, and many local organisations are already acting to protect and rehabilitate the reef. These activities need to be coordinated and collaborative to be effective. Local organisations need a way to share ideas, gain knowledge and skills, and work together to improve reef health in a scalable way. The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub was created to provide these connections. A network for sharing, learning, and championing local reef restoration efforts The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub (Reef Hub) is an open collaborative network that is connecting, growing, and championing the efforts of tourism operators, Traditional Owners, community groups, and other organisations in the region that are supporting the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. The Reef Hub aims to coordinate activities and pilot programs, serving as a platform for communication and collaboration. It supports activities, facilitates knowledge sharing, and builds capacity through training and access to appropriate tools. Using an action learning approach, the Reef Hub collaborates closely with partners and adjusts its strategies to meet evolving project needs. By connecting and supporting local organisations, the Reef Hub strives for a better future for coral reefs. The Reef Hub has coordinated several projects to date: Spawning School – a practical learning program run in partnership with Reef Recruits that trained local First Nations Land and Sea Rangers how to raise coral larvae for reef restoration. Recruitment Tile Study – run with a collective of local organisations, investigating relative coral recruitment within and across five reefs following mass spawning. Collaborative Monitoring Project – a pilot project run with RRAP, Traditional Owners, community partners, and tourism operators to test collaborative models for deploying and monitoring the best coral seeding systems for widespread use on the Great Barrier Reef. Capacity building workshops – practical training that assists reef recovery and monitoring, based on practitioner needs. Further funding needed to expand initiatives Further funding is needed to expand the Reef Hub's programs and ensure their long-term impact. This support will enable the continuation and growth of initiatives that enhance reef resilience across the region, facilitating collaboration among local organisations, Traditional Owners, government bodies, researchers, and community stakeholders. Project details The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub is hosted by TropWATER and coordinated by Dr Katie Chartrand and Dr Abbi Scott. The Reef Hub pilot program was funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and enabled by the partnership’s Community Reef Protection and Traditional Owner Reef Protection components, and the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program with a network of local partners. https://www.reefhub.com.au/ Research support Abbi Scott Senior Research Officer abbi.scott1@jcu.edu.au Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Research leads

Freshwater and wetland habitats are the lungs of our environment, filtering pollutants, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining good water quality. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Monitoring and protection of temporary waters in Northern Australia Our team is developing guideline values that can protect temporary aquatic ecosystems from contaminants. This will inform and improve mine site operations and rehabilitation in the future. Featured project READ MORE Freshwater and wetland habitats are the lungs of our environment, filtering pollutants, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining good water quality. We use innovative and science-based solutions to restore, preserve, and rehabilitate coastal wetlands. This research is key in developing coastal restoration, optimising water resource allocation, improving carbon storage, protecting coastlines, and boosting biodiversity. BACK We are working with the Department for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water to improve Australia's environmental planning and approval processes for threatened and migratory species and ecological communities. Improving outcomes for threatened and migratory species and threatened ecological communities Research READ MORE COMING SOON We are developing restoration techniques for oyster reefs and Vallisneria, marking the first Vallisneria restoration in Australia and the first oyster reef restoration in the Australian tropics. Oyster and Vallisneria restoration with Wanjuru-Yidinji Traditional Owners Restoration, Community READ MORE COMING SOON This project identifies potential wetland restoration sites between Cairns and Gladstone. Scoping coastal wetlands and suitable trees for blue carbon restoration Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Our team is developing guideline values that can protect temporary aquatic ecosystems from contaminants. This will inform and improve mine site operations and rehabilitation in the future. Monitoring and protection of temporary waters in Northern Australia Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON This project has developed a comprehensive roadmap to guide coordinated, large-scale coastal and marine restoration efforts in Australia. Roadmap to large scale restoration Research READ MORE COMING SOON Our researchers are exploring how to maximise water resource allocation across the vast and diverse landscapes of Northern Australia, advising policymakers on potential impacts to ecosystems. Sustainable water security in northern Australia Monitoring READ MORE COMING SOON Projects READ Highlighting the experiences of women in science 11 February 2026 READ Wetlands, agriculture and water quality 8 September 2025 READ Celebrating the work of women in science 11 February 2025 READ Internship highlights 15 January 2025 News Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Adam’s interests lie in investigating nature-based solutions to have a productive agricultural landscape within ecologically healthy catchments that support high water security. He has experience in using network modelling to better under the flow of nutrients (carbon and nitrogen) through catchments and aquatic ecosystems, species distribution modelling, catchment land use planning, sports fish and game bird management, and the interface between freshwater science and policy/planning. At present, he is working on how wetlands and regenerative actions can be incorporated into our landscapes to increase food production, improve water quality, or buffer against climate change. Amrit Kumar Mishra Senior Research Officer amrit.mishra@jcu.edu.au Amrit's research experience is as a coastal marine ecologist, assessing coastal biogeochemistry of marine habitats of tropical marine ecosystems. His areas of specialisation coincide with coastal marine macrophyte (i.e., seagrass, saltmarsh, macroalgae) ecology and the biogeochemical processes that governs the functioning of these coastal ecosystems. Currently in TropWATER, Amrit is working on wetland restoration of the Queensland coast. His previous research experience includes coastal trace metal pollution monitoring through the use of seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems as models. Secondly, he is also interested in climate change mitigation capacity of these coastal ecosystems through organic carbon, i.e., blue carbon sequestration and storage and how these ecosystem services can be utilised for conservation and management of coastal ecosystems. Amrit is also working on the impacts of ocean acidification on seagrass ecosystems and associated biodiversity for the Indian Ocean Region. His research also aims to understand the role of seascape connectivity in influencing climate change mitigation (both Carbon sequestration and ocean acidification) and adaptation strategies of coastal ecosystems and its associated biodiversity. His aim is to link the outcomes of his research to various Sustainable Development Goals. As an early career researcher, Amrit is aiming to generate new data on existing knowledge gaps on coastal ecology and high-quality science in partnership with government, and external funding agencies. Antony Squires Technical Officer antony.squires@jcu.edu.au Barry Butler Principal Research Officer barry.butler@jcu.edu.au Barry is a limnological consultant with more than thirty years experience studying the relationships between ambient water quality, ecological health and anthropogenic pressures in the freshwater ecosystems of northern Australia. Since joining the current research group at TropWATER (formerly the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research) in 1990 he has participated in numerous interdisciplinary contract research and consultancy projects for government agencies, resource managers, and industrial clients such as mines and refineries, and has authored in excess of 150 environmental monitoring reports for submission to State and Federal regulatory authorities. Ben Jarihani Principal Research Officer ben.jarihani@jcu.edu.au With a fervent commitment to advancing environmental science and water resources engineering, Ben brings a wealth of professional and research excellence to James Cook University. As a seasoned hydrologist and water engineer with over 25 years of industry experience, his expertise spans Environmental Earth Science, Water Resources Engineering, Catchment and Coastal Processes, and Environmental Modelling. Armed with a PhD in Hydrological Science from the University of Queensland and dual master's degrees in Water Resources Engineering and Remote Sensing/GIS, Ben possesses a robust educational foundation in environmental modelling. His multifaceted career has seen him successfully navigate diverse multidisciplinary research projects, utilising advanced modeling skills and spatial analysis. In addition to his research prowess, he has demonstrated a dedication to education, delivering courses on Hydrology, Natural Hazards, Geomorphology, Remote Sensing, and GIS at undergraduate and master's levels. Ben has actively mentored students and supervised numerous PhD and Honours candidates, showcasing his commitment to knowledge dissemination. His interests include water resources management and engineering, watershed management and water quality modelling, environmental modelling (including hydrological and hydrodynamic modelling), hydroinformatics, flood risk assessment and mitigation, water-energy-food nexus, ecohydrology, remote sensing applications in hydrology, natural disasters and resilience to climate extremes, and soil and gully erosion modelling and mapping. Brendan Ebner Senior Research Officer brendan.ebner@jcu.edu.au Ebb is an ecologist with expertise in aquatic conservation. His primary interest is at the interface between society and aquatic fauna in freshwater and near shore marine ecosystems. He champions the application of direct observation and remote video for studying freshwater fishes and this has led to new insights into behaviour of rare and threatened species. This exploration has led to detection of species not previously known to occupy Australian waters and the conservation listing of species. Ebb provides key input to regional, state and national conservation planning in tropical Australia. Brodie O'Breza Research Intern brodie.obreza@jcu.edu.au Brodie O’Breza is a Coastal and Marine Science and Environmental Management graduate from Curtin University, currently undertaking a four-month research internship with TropWATER at James Cook University. She is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with family connections to Saibai Island, and her work is grounded in a strong connection to Sea Country. Brodie is passionate about supporting Indigenous representation in STEM and advancing research that is meaningful to community. At TropWATER, she has developed skills in coral and seagrass identification, microscopy, and salt marsh restoration, alongside field-based greenhouse gas measurements using a LI-COR analyser. She has also worked collaboratively with Indigenous Rangers on Country, supporting knowledge sharing and applied ecological research. Brodie has gained diverse experience across Australia and internationally, including a CSIRO Indigenous Time at Sea voyage in the Coral Sea, research on carbon sequestration through microbial biomineralisation, and community-based marine conservation work in Fiji with the Locally Managed Marine Area Network. She is currently scoping a Master's degree by research focused on the Torres Strait, with a strong interest in co-designed approaches that intertwine Indigenous knowledge systems and marine science. Damien Burrows Director, TropWATER Founder damien.burrows@jcu.edu.au Professor Damien Burrows is the founding director of TropWATER. He specialises in freshwater, estuarine and coastal aquatic ecosystems and catchment management, and has more than 30 years research experience in the tropics. Damien has spent most of his professional life studying freshwater, estuarine and coastal ecosystems; in particular, applied management in the context of development pressures. He has engaged extensively with industry, community and government from grassroots to policy level. Damien is the co-Hub leader for the $47 million National Environment Science Programme (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub (2021–2027). This follows his leadership of the NESP Tropical Water Quality Hub, a six-year $32 million research program (2015–2021) to improve water quality of the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments. The current program has an expanded focus to encompass Australia-wide marine and coastal issues. Damien coordinates research, engagement and knowledge-sharing across multiple and diverse stakeholders. Damien is also a member of the Independent Expert Panel for the GBR, which advises the state and federal environment ministers about scientific matters. He is on the board of Directors for Townsville-Burdekin-focused natural resource management organisation NQ Dry Tropics and has served on several GBR-related steering committees and boards over his career. Elle Robertson PhD student Elle is currently completing her PhD, broadly examining the response of vertebrate biodiversity to water availability, land condition and grazing in far north Queensland. She has an interdisciplinary and international background, having spent 5 years in the UK completing her BSc and MSc in business management and environmental management respectively. This included 7 weeks spent in Madagascar conducting research for her MSc thesis in 2024, with a focus on the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on avifauna. Elle has recently worked with a team of international researchers examining opportunities for methane reduction in Australian agriculture and is passionate about stakeholder engagement and multidisciplinary research. Originally from a sheep farm in southern NSW, she is keen to continue her involvement in agriculture and create positive environmental and production outcomes. Elle’s PhD is supervised by Dr Jack Koci (TropWATER) and Prof Lin Schwartzkopf (College of Science and Engineering, JCU). Geoffrey Collins Adjunct Research Fellow geoffrey.collins@jcu.edu.au Geoffrey is the Program Manager with OzFish Unlimited and Adjunct Research Fellow with TropWATER and based in Townsville, North QLD. Geoffrey has active projects across all of tropical QLD. He is working on applied research and project delivery with community groups, government, industry and traditional owners. Geoffrey is also working on a range of environmental restoration and monitoring projects including waterway monitoring and restoration, seagrass restoration, fishway monitoring and mapping tropical shellfish reefs. Glenn Morgan Technical Officer glenn.morgan1@jcu.edu.au Glenn has worked for TropWATER in the freshwater ecology group since 2005. His main focuses are providing field support to several limnological research projects and technical assistance to establish and maintain laboratory experiments in TropWATER’s aquarium facilities. For example, Glenn is involved in determining the tolerance of a large range of native tropical freshwater and exotic pest fish species to elevated temperatures and low dissolved oxygen. He also runs experiments designed to quantify and maximise the effects of electrofishing on the pest species tilapia. Glenn has also designed and developed field equipment used to collect water samples and other environmental data. Other key contributions include calibrating, maintaining and operating field equipment including water quality meters, data-loggers, boats and electro-fishers; implementing field surveys involving collecting water, sediment and freshwater biota samples; and conducting macro-invertebrate and fish surveys. Jack Koci Senior Research Officer jack.koci@jcu.edu.au Dr Jack Koci is a Senior Research Officer at the Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), with over ten years’ experience working across university, government, and industry. Jack is committed to working collaboratively with community, industry, and government to deliver innovative and science-based solutions to challenges affecting agricultural and rangeland productivity, while preserving the health and function of natural landscapes, waterways, and biodiversity. Jack’s research is primarily focused on improving understanding of the causes, processes, impacts and management of land degradation in tropical agro-ecosystems. In this research, Jack combines detailed on-ground field studies, including soil, water, and vegetation monitoring, mapping and modelling, with broader scale remote sensing, including the use of drones and satellites. Prior to joining TropWATER, Jack worked as a Lecturer in the College of Science Engineering at James Cook University, Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Field Scientist at Seqwater, and Project Officer at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Jordan Iles Research Fellow jordan.iles@jcu.edu.au Jordan is an aquatic scientist interested in ecological and biogeochemical processes occurring in freshwater rivers, streams and wetlands. Jordan obtained a Bachelor of Science at the University of Technology, Sydney (2003), and completed his PhD at The University of Western Australia in 2019. His thesis on intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams investigated how nutrients and organic matter are utilised and conserved throughout these systems. Jordan has broad experience working in remote arid aquatic systems throughout Australia, spending many years wading through wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin, chasing ephemeral streams and waterholes in the arid Pilbara, and exploring mountain streams in the tropics. He takes a mechanistic approach to investigating environmental and ecological issues. He is interested in all the small things that do the heavy lifting to make ecosystems work – like algae, macrophytes, charophytes, macroinvertebrates and microcrustaceans – and putting them in the big picture. Jordan is involved with water quality and monitoring projects for North Queensland Bulk Ports; the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership; and some tourism and groundwater-centred projects in the Whitsundays and Torres Strait, respectively. Justin Perry Adjunct Senior Research Fellow justin.perry@jcu.edu.au Justin had been intimately involved with conservation management, Indigenous land management and biodiversity monitoring/ecology in Northern Australia since the late 90s. Living and working in remote areas of the Northern Territory and Queensland has exposed him to the inherent limitations and challenges faced by land mangers in remote areas. He leads interdisciplinary projects that work with land managers (predominately Indigenous ranger groups) to develop robust monitoring of values with a specific emphasis on the impact of threatening processes such as feral animals and fire on the plants and animals. The main focus of this work has been to collaboratively develop appropriate frameworks and tools for measuring the success of environmental projects in relation to biodiversity conservation. Nathan Waltham Senior Principal Research Officer nathan.waltham@jcu.edu.au Nathan has a deep interest in coastal landscape ecology and urbanisation, which has developed growing up on the Gold Coast in southeast Queensland, Australia. He completed a BSc in Marine Biology/Aquaculture in 1997 at Southern Cross University (Lismore) and post graduate studies in environmental management at Griffith University in 2001. Nathan has worked in local government (Gold Coast City Council) for 13 years. His PhD research investigated the habitat, role and value of artificial urban waterways (residential canal estates), which are an obvious and major feature of the worlds’ estuaries. Nathan’s research interests include ecosystem responses (freshwater, marine and estuarine) to urbanisation and landscape change, ecosystem health assessment, fish ecology, water quality, and modelling optimal mitigation responses to protect and enhance waterways and catchments. Richard Pearson Emeritus Professor richard.pearson@jcu.edu.au Richard was employed at JCU as Senior Tutor in Zoology in 1974, eventually becoming Professor in 1999. He was successful in his 1988 funding application to the federal government to establish the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research (ACTFR, now TropWATER) and became its Deputy Director, moving to Director in the mid-90s. He was appointed as Head of the new School of Tropical Biology in 1999 and subsequently relinquished the directorship of the ACTFR. During this time, he continued to teach, supervise postgraduate students and undertake research, for which he had continuous funding from several sources. Richard initially investigated the effects of river pollution by sugar mills, followed by projects associated with the sugar industry and Cooperative Research Centres for Rainforest Management and the Great Barrier Reef. For the rainforest CRC he investigated the ecology of pristine tropical streams and continued that work beyond retirement in an international programme on stream ecology. He led the original joint CRC Catchment to Reef programme, and he worked for several years on the ecology of the Burdekin River. Richard has authored at least 70 technical reports and over 160 refereed journal papers and book chapters. He supervised more than 70 postgraduate students. He continues to collaborate with TropWATER staff and others, and to write up his and his students’ research results. Rory Mulloy Research Officer rory.mulloy@jcu.edu.au Rory’s interest in coastal marine science began in the waters of Tobago in the Caribbean where he worked on a citizen science project conducting coral reef health monitoring. Since then he has completed a Master of Science majoring in Protected Area Management from James Cook University and conducted a PhD in ecological engineering at CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC). Rory’s work has involved roles in project management for NGOs leading reef health impact assessments, as a science educator on board National Geographic expeditions and as a principal investigator in restoration research projects. His PhD research focused on nature-based solutions for industrial port design and specifically how urban coastal infrastructure can be developed to incorporate habitat provision for mangroves and benthic ecosystems. Throughout his research career Rory has been involved in a range of projects monitoring coastal ecosystems including mangroves, seagrass, and wetlands alongside water quality and fishery assessment projects. His research interests are centered on coastal restoration and the development of applied solutions to coastal development that minimise impacts on marine ecosystems. Sarah McDonald Research Officer sarah.mcdonald@jcu.edu.au Sarah’s passion lies in understanding the impact of human actions on the aquatic environment, with specific regards to ephemeral systems such as urban stormwater and dry streambeds in the wet-dry tropics. Her field of special competence is water and sediment quality assessment, focusing on the quantification of the form (speciation), behaviour (bioavailability) and ecotoxicological impact (bioaccumulation) of chemical contaminants and stressors, and the development of suitable ecological monitoring tools to measure and mitigate these impacts. She has a deep and varied understanding of the national water quality guidelines framework and the application of the guidelines in complex ephemeral systems. Her additional capabilities include knowledge on the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic ecosystems, it’s characteristics and effect on the speciation and toxicity of chemical contaminants. She also has experience conducting research in the field of radioecology. Sigit Deni Sasmito Senior Research Officer sigitdeni.sasmito@jcu.edu.au Sigit Sasmito is a wetlands ecologist who has more than 12 years of experience in researching to assess the roles and impacts of tropical wetlands for climate change mitigation and adaptation, especially through peatland and blue carbon ecosystems. His research interests focus on carbon monitoring, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, ecosystem restoration assessment and natural carbon capture and removal. He uses multiple approaches such as systematic review and meta-analysis, spatial mapping and field assessment. His works are closely relevant to policies and decision-makers, specifically by providing science-based evidence on how to include wetlands conservation and restoration into national emissions reduction targets. He holds a PhD in Environmental Science from Charles Darwin University, Australia and a BSc in Applied Meteorology from IPB University, Indonesia. He has previous extensive research collaboration experiences at the National University of Singapore and CIFOR-ICRAF in Indonesia. Sigit is an active member of Science Technical Working Group for UN Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC). Tertius de Kluyver Adjunct Senior Research Fellow tertius.dekluyver@jcu.edu.au Tertius has applied his marine science, biochemistry, and occupational hygiene knowledge and skills across a range of environmental issues over a forty-year career. Early career highlights include helping to establish Tasmania’s first oyster hatchery at Bicheno, managing asbestos and other environmental issues within Queensland’s state schools, undertaking research across a range of environmental disciplines at the CSIRO Marine Laboratories (Cleveland, Qld), Lions Cancer Institute (UQ), and at QUT, and developing and teaching a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses on environmental management and marine science in Australia and the USA. Tertius entered the Commonwealth Public Service on return from the USA, initially working on air quality policy development. Here he developed the emission models and cost benefit analysis that led to the establishment of Australia’s first emission standards for non-road two-stroke petrol engines. Tertius then moved to the Climate Change Division and over the following decade worked as a member of the team that produces Australia’s annual greenhouse gas accounts reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He specialised in waste and land-based emissions and was singularly responsible for establishing the wetland greenhouse gas accounts for coastal wetlands (mangroves, tidal marsh and seagrass), farm dams and reservoirs. He later collaborated with Australian academics to improve the farm-dam and reservoir accounts resulting in two co-authorships on peer-reviewed papers, with a third currently in preparation. In retirement Tertius continues to be actively involved in promoting the work of the UNFCCC as a registered member of the Roster of Experts (RoE), the group that undertakes formal audits of all annual GHG accounts and associated reports submitted to the UNFCCC. Tertius is also lead author on four draft IUCN Red List of Ecosystem Assessments for Australia’s mangrove communities and is finalising this work in collaboration with JCU and other Australian scientists. Thomas Stieglitz Adjunct Associate Professor thomas.stieglitz@jcu.edu.au With a background in physics and biogeography, as well as economics, Thomas Stieglitz’s research in the coastal zone covers a wide range of subjects. His interests range from coastal hydrology, in particular submarine groundwater discharge, to seafloor geomorphology and benthic ecology, including benthic habitats and animal-habitat interaction. Thomas’ work is divided between academic research, research-for-management and scientific consulting, including working with the European Centre for Research and Education in Environmental Geosciences (CEREGE) in France. Researchers MORE ACCESS Sasmito SD, Mishra AK, Duvert C, Montagna L, Barkley AS, Widanto DS, Mulloy R, Cartwright P, Waltham NJ. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Contrasting sediment and aquatic CO2 and CH4 effluxes across Australian tropical salt flat, saltmarsh, mangrove and tidally restricted wetlands. ACCESS Carpenter-Bundhoo L, O'Mara K, Davis A, Villacorta-Rath C, Bock D, Burrows D, Pusey B, Donaldson J, Kennard M. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Freshwater fishes of the Bloomfield River: Preliminary report on field surveys in the early dry season 2025. ACCESS Coughlan A, & Canning A. Wetlands and freshwater habitats The influence of rainbow trout on dwarf galaxiid habitat preferences. ACCESS Waterhouse J, Molinari B, Star M, Weber T, Waltham N, Motson K. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Synthesis of evidence of the effectiveness of wetlands in water quality improvement, costs and cost-drivers in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area. ACCESS McKnight DT, Bower DS, Ariel E, Beatty S, Clulow S, Connel M, Deppe AR, Doody S, Freeman A, Georges A, Hannabass SL, Hollender EC, Howel H, Krochmal A, Ligon DB, Munscher E, Nordberg EJ, Roth TC, Santoro A, Schaffer J, Simms A, Spencer R, Stone P, Voves KC, Walde AD, Wassens S, Welsh MA, Whiterod NS, Wirth W, Van Dyke JU. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Does a lack of juveniles indicate a threat? Understanding body size distribution in a group of long-lived vertebrates. ACCESS Malerba ME, de Kluyver T, Wright N, Omosalewa O, Macreadie PI. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Including methane emissions from agricultural ponds in national greenhouse gas inventories. ACCESS Vulliet C, Koci J, Jarihani B, Sheaves M, Waltham N. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Assessing tidal hydrodynamics in a tropical seascape using structure-from-motion photogrammetry and 2D flow modelling. ACCESS Trevathan-Tackett SM, Kepfer-Rojas S, Malerba M, Macreadie PI, Djukic I, et al. Wetlands and freshwater habitats Climate effects on belowground tea litter decomposition depend on ecosystem and organic matter types in global wetlands. Reports and publications MORE

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’. TropWATER Scientists, Traditional Owners and conservationists come together in ‘The Reef Cooperative’ 3 December 2024 TropWATER BACK 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.” Next Previous

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. TropWATER TropWATER showcases need to adapt water quality goals for mining environments 3 December 2024 TropWATER BACK 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. Next Previous