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

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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

We're working with Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers in a long-term partnership to map and monitor benthic habitats and the megafauna, and provide the tools and training to support Rangers in managing their Sea Country. Yarrabah Location Data on benthic habitats in Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Sea Country near Yarrabah are limited, despite their cultural and ecosystem importance. Our scientists are working with Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers to map and monitor these habitats and megafauna that rely on these areas. We provide tools, training, and capacity building to support Rangers in managing their Sea Country. Key points Building capacity of Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers BACK Understanding benthic habitats on GMY Sea Country Benthic habitats, such as seagrass and coral reefs, provide critical ecosystem services like feeding grounds for turtles and dugongs, nursery grounds for fish , and blue carbon storage. Deep-water seagrass habitats are recognised as an important ecological resource that contributes sustaining value to the Great Barrier Reef. Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers want to better understand habitats on their Sea Country near Yarrabah to improve management and conservation efforts. With the last comprehensive surveys on benthic habitats in this region happening over 30 years ago, data was urgently needed on where these habitats occur, how much area they cover, and their condition. Capacity building on GMY Sea Country We partnered with Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji (GMY) Rangers to enhance their skills in mapping, monitoring, and assessing Sea Country while updating data on benthic habitats. Our scientists facilitated training, including a first-of-its-kind water confidence course for free-diving, and hands-on activities in mapping and monitoring benthic habitats to update information gaps in GMY Sea Country. We are now training GMY Rangers how to use drones to track and monitor animals that rely on these critical benthic ecosystems, such as dugong and turtles. Outcomes from this project include: Empowering a team of Rangers with the skills and confidence to lead, collaborate on, and complete on-the-ground activities on Sea Country Contributing to statistics on dugong populations across the Great Barrier Reef Filling key knowledge gaps in current deep-water seagrass monitoring Habitat assessments underway This project, which began in 2022, will improve our understanding of benthic habitats on GMY Sea Country and fill critical knowledge gaps. GMY Rangers and our scientists have: Completed habitat assessments at 226 sites, identifying over 15 km2 of seagrass habitat and six species of seagrass. Completed the targeted assessment of 41 offshore sites at seven reefs and uploaded around 1,600 photographs to the Great Reef Census AI platform for analysis. Further baseline and monitoring surveys are planned for 2024 and 2025, with funding for the project continuing until 2026. Project details This project is led by Skye McKenna and Dr Katie Chartrand in partnership with the Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers. The project is funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Department of Environment and Science’s Land and Sea Ranger Great Barrier Reef Grant Program. Research support Katie Chartrand Senior Research Fellow katie.chartrand@jcu.edu.au Skye McKenna Senior Research Officer skye.mckenna@jcu.edu.au Research leads

The project embraces the combined benefits of Indigenous Knowledge, on-ground monitoring, and science and management expertise to provide training for Torres Strait rangers and to report data needed for ecosystem management. Torres Strait Location Tracking the health of seagrass meadows in the Torres Strait is key to sustaining the diverse species and marine resources they support. We’ve partnered with Torres Strait Regional Authority Rangers and Traditional Owners for over 15 years to map, monitor, and research seagrass, with data collected by Rangers and researchers. This project provides critical data to understand and mitigate changes to seagrass habitats in the region and to inform management decisions. Key points Torres Strait seagrass mapping, monitoring and research BACK Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website may contain images of people who have passed away. Seagrass meadows and marine health in Torres Strait Seagrass meadows in Torres Strait teem with diverse species and serve as vital food sources and nursery grounds for local marine life. For Torres Strait Islanders, these habitats support culturally important species, including dugong and green sea turtle. While seagrass is widespread and abundant, some of these meadows have recently declined, potentially disrupting food sources for dugongs and green turtles. Understanding the health of these meadows is key to managing the rich marine life and resources they support. A long-term partnership For more than 15 years our researchers have partnered with Torres Strait Regional Authority and their Land and Sea Rangers and Traditional Owners to map, monitor, and research seagrass habitats. Eight Ranger groups play a critical role in this partnership, collecting valuable on-ground data for long-term monitoring. The partnership combines Indigenous Knowledge, on-ground monitoring, and scientific expertise to assess and understand seagrass condition. Condition indicators include density (percent cover or biomass), distribution, and species diversity. Data collection methods include: Ranger-led intertidal monitoring (walking, transects, and quadrats) at 12 sites spread across six islands, surveyed twice a year. Ranger-led seagrass monitoring (boats, drop video cameras, and van Veen grab) at four meadows, surveyed annually. Scientist-led intertidal meadow-scale surveys (helicopter and quadrats) at three meadows, surveyed annually. Anecdotal information from Rangers and Traditional Owners about observed local trends is also collected to help interpret results. Impact of long-term monitoring for Torres Strait seagrass As of 2024, all sites have a minimum of 5 years of survey data, with most sites reaching the 10-year minimum required to create meaningful baselines for seagrass condition. This provides valuable data for understanding seagrass health across Torres Strait in the long term, as well as the culturally and ecologically important species these meadows support. This is essential for identifying and mitigating the effects of change on these habitats. Monitoring activities give the people of the Torres Strait critical information to inform management decisions and maintain important marine resources such as dugong and turtle populations and fisheries. Key findings are annually presented by Rangers to the community and Traditional Owners. Seagrass report cards This project develops annual Torres Strait seagrass report cards, compiling monitoring results and comparing them with conditions across Queensland. This informs management decisions and response planning to conserve seagrass habitats across the state. The most recent Torres Strait seagrass monitoring report card (2024) is available online here . Further outputs from contracted research through collaborations with Rangers and Traditional Owners include: Large-scale mapping of benthic habitats and production of publicly available spatial products to describe Torres Strait marine resources, including seagrass, coral, and algae. A synthesis of all spatial data collected in Torres Strait, part of a larger synthesis that included the Gulf of Carpentaria (1983-2022). A targeted research program since 2021 to understand effect of dugong and turtle herbivory on seagrass declines. A targeted research program from 2009-2014 to understand seagrass recovery and environmental conditions on seagrass. Project details The project is led by Dr Alex Carter with Madeina David and Don Whap from the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Land and Sea Management Unit, and Torres Strait Land and Sea Rangers. Additional funding and partnerships since the project began have included the National Environmental Science Program, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, CRC Torres Strait, CSIRO, AIMS, and Ports North. Research support Alex Carter Principal Research Officer alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au Research leads

TropWATER, James Cook University’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, brings together leading researchers to tackle critical environmental issues. We provide science-based solutions to industries, communities, and governments for managing, protecting, and restoring tropical ecosystems. Networks and partnerships Our work is made possible by building collaborative networks and establishing strong partnerships. Networks we lead TropWATER leads a range of impactful networks that support research, conservation, and management of aquatic ecosystems. These networks focus on facilitating collaboration and building partnerships that span research institutions, government, industry, and community organisations. Australasian Coastal Restoration Network Coastal conservation, restoration, and management efforts can be strengthened and improved by building connections between researchers, organisations, and environmental managers. The Australasian Coastal Restoration Network brings together these organisations across Australia to collaborate and share knowledge. The Network facilitates communication, collaboration, and networking between individuals and organisations and provides information on further resources Read more Challenges to effective restoration From coral reefs, oyster reefs and kelp forests to saltmarsh, mangroves, and seagrasses, coastal ecosystems are diverse and play key roles in protecting coasts, filtering water, and supporting biodiversity. Climate change, human development, and extreme climate events all pose significant ongoing threats to coastal ecosystems. Restoration and management are critical to supporting these valuable environments, but there are different challenges presented by each of the many ecosystem types found along our coastlines. Effective conservation, restoration, and management of these ecosystems requires communication between professionals, sharing knowledge and working together for the best ecological outcomes. Goals of the network The ACRN aims to: Support and facilitate networking between organisations and individuals interested coral ecological restoration and management. Provide opportunities for ACRN members to meet and network each year at an annual symposium. Improve and increase awareness of coastal habitats and the value of conservation and restoration activities. Serve as a single point of reference for useful resources including relevant conferences, workshops, and events, other networks and organisations, and funding opportunities. Making connections to strengthen coastal restoration Founded in 2017, the Australasian Coastal Restoration Network (ACRN) connects marine and coastal restoration specialists, researchers, practitioners, and managers for collaboration and knowledge sharing to find solutions to challenges in coastal restoration and management. The Network aims to strengthen coastal restoration and management efforts by connecting members with each other, with information and latest research, and with funding and project opportunities. The network also supports habitat-focused networks such as the Seagrass Restoration Network, Shellfish Restoration Network, and Australian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network. Network leaders The Australasian Coastal Restoration Network is led by TropWATER’s Associate Professor Nathan Waltham and Dr Katie Motson along with CSIRO’s Dr Megan Saunders, supported by funding from the National Environmental Science Program’s Marine and Coastal Hub and the NSW Department of Industry. VISIT MangroveWatch Mangroves are vulnerable to a range of threats, and effectively managing and conserving these habitats requires long-term, large-scale monitoring. MangroveWatch is an environmental monitoring program designed to engage Traditional Owners and community volunteers to evaluate and report on tidal wetland ecosystems. Expert training is provided, and the program supplies tools to help participants to identify mangrove plants in their region. MangroveWatch promotes awareness, education, research, and conservation of mangroves, tidal saltmarsh, and tidal wetlands. Read more Mangroves under threat Mangrove habitats provide a range of essential ecosystem services, but they are threatened by climate change, sea level rise, and severe storm events, as well as land reclamation and other direct and indirect human-led disturbances. Understanding these threats and how to best manage tidal wetland environments requires long-term regional-scale monitoring. This is only possible by engaging communities and diverse stakeholders to effectively monitor threatened mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems to enable sustainable management. Community monitoring of mangroves MangroveWatch is a monitoring program for better management and reporting on the environmental health of intertidal wetlands. MangroveWatch brings together scientists, Traditional Owners, community volunteers, government, and industry to advance the research, education, and conservation of mangrove and tidal saltmarsh environments. MangroveWatch community groups are currently active across Australia. MangroveWatch publications also provide illustrated tools and resources for mangrove identification, including Australia’s Mangroves and the World Mangrove iD-2 guide. Developed by TropWATER’s Professor Norm Duke, these guides include descriptions, images, and detailed botanical information for all mangrove plants worldwide to provide expert assistance for identification. Goals of the program MangroveWatch aims to: Establish a long-term, geo-referenced visual record of mangrove habitats and plants. Improve our understanding of mangrove ecosystem function, values, threats, and local and regional processes. Promote community awareness of mangroves and encourage local environmental stewardship. Provide standardised, robust methods to assess the condition of mangrove and saltmarsh habitats and the organisms they support, and monitoring change over time. Program leaders MangroveWatch is led by TropWATER’s Professor Norm Duke and Jock Mackenzie of Earthwatch Australia. VISIT Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network Global declines in mangroves and saltmarshes require urgent and coordinated efforts to conserve these valuable ecosystems and the many benefits they provide. The Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network connects individuals and organisations working to protect, manage, and restore intertidal wetland habitats. The network supports communication, collaboration, education, and community mentoring and participation to facilitate knowledge sharing and address current conservation and management issues. Read more Loss of mangroves and saltmarsh Mangrove and saltmarsh habitats are being lost at an alarming rate worldwide. These ecosystems are impacted by land reclamation, pollution, and other human pressures, as well as climate change – particularly as sea level rise accelerates. These pressures are causing substantial declines in habitat condition, resilience, and functionality. Coordinated efforts are needed to monitor, understand, protect, manage, and restore these important wetland ecosystems. Effective communication and collaboration are critical to achieve this goal. Goals of the network The Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network aims to: Support ongoing communication and collaboration among stakeholders, including postgraduate students dedicated to the conservation of tidal wetland. Promote community mentoring and participation. Provide networking and communication opportunities through an annual conference. Facilitate the creation of committees as needed to deal with emerging serious issues. Collaborating to manage mangroves and saltmarshes Established in 2008, the Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network connects individuals and organisations concerned about mangrove and saltmarsh intertidal wetland habitats across the region. The Network promotes sustainable communication, collaboration, and community mentoring and participation in restoring and managing critically vulnerable intertidal wetlands. It also supports the community monitoring-focused MangroveWatch program. Network leaders The Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network is led by TropWATER’s Professor Norm Duke, who founded the network in 2008. VISIT Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub 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 region that are supporting the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. Through support, facilitation, and knowledge-sharing, the Reef Hub aims to increase the positive impact of local reef restoration efforts. VISIT Our long-term partnerships and alliances Our projects are built on strong partnerships with Traditional Owners, community groups, industry, and government. Some of these collaborations extend significantly beyond individual projects and have been maintained for more than two decades. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority We work closely with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to deliver regular monitoring of seagrass condition and water quality for the Marine Monitoring Program. For over a decade, we have partnered to track long-term trends and measure the impacts of extreme events to inform targeted management in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. North Queensland Bulk Ports We have partnered with North Queensland Bulk Ports since 1994 to ensure sustainable practices, implementing measures to protect seagrass and coral habitats, reduce water pollution, and mitigate dredging impacts and disturbances to marine wildlife. Since 2014, the partnership has expanded to deliver industry-related education opportunities for James Cook University students, including coursework, internships, and funding for research. Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia James Cook University TropWATER, Charles Darwin University, and Central Queensland University have partnered with the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia to develop a comprehensive research program focused on water security in northern Australia since 2021. Together, researchers are delivering flagship research activities that address water infrastructure and security knowledge gaps required to inform key decision-making. Read more about the partnership here and our involvement here . Catchment Water Quality Alliance We have partnered with researchers from the University of Queensland’s Reef Catchment Science Partnership and the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation to form the Catchment Water Quality Alliance. The Alliance is improving water quality monitoring, enhancing data sharing, and engaging regional stakeholders to assist communities to better care for Queensland waterways. Read more about the partnership here and our involvement here . Our partners

We are using metabarcoding and other innovative techniques to better understand how farming affects nutrient cycling in soils. Ingham and Rockhampton, Queensland Location To improve water quality across the Great Barrier Reef, we need to assess agricultural practices and how they affect nutrients in soils. We are using metabarcoding and other innovative techniques to better understand how farming affects nutrient cycling. These projects will guide agricultural practices to increase nutrient retention, reduce runoff, and improve water quality across the Great Barrier Reef. Key points Assessing agricultural nutrient recycling using metabarcoding BACK Agricultural practices for improving water quality For many agricultural farms, applying fertiliser is needed to enhance soil fertility, meet crop nutrient demands and promote healthy crops or pasture. But heavy rainfall and intense irrigation can quickly wash nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers off the paddock and into drainage systems and waterways, and leach into groundwater. This can harm ecosystems and put stress on habitats and aquatic species. Decades of research is helping growers improve their practices to enhance water quality while keeping their farms profitable. To maintain soil health, growers are adjusting their practices by using rotational cropping, reducing tillage, reducing fertiliser use, or replacing synthetic fertiliser with organic nutrients to boost soil fertility. Scientists and landholders are working together to understand the benefits of improved agricultural practices, from nutrients and microbes in the soil all the way to the plants and animals they support. A metabarcoding snapshot Our team is using advanced technique called metabarcoding to investigate how nutrients move through the environment, and microbes and invertebrates that play a key role in this process. This helps us better understand how nutrients are recycled and lost to waterways in agricultural systems. The process works by targeting a specific gene that is shared by many different species. Our researchers then look for all the DNA in a soil or water sample that matches this common gene. Once the relevant DNA is found, it is sequenced and compared to a database to identify the different species present in the sample – this is then matched with the processes these species support. This allows us to gain a detailed picture of the biodiversity in an area without needing to physically collect or observe the organisms. By understanding the microbial and invertebrate communities in soil and water, scientists can identify key farming practices that influence nutrient cycling, helping to improve farming practices and reduce nutrient loss to waterways. Our team are applying this method across a range of projects investigating agricultural practices that improve water quality. Nitrate leaching in Melaleuca and sugarcane This project investigated rates of nutrient loss under different land uses on a farm near Ingham, Queensland. The project consisted of examining differences in microbe diversity and nitrate leaching in sugarcane, mature Melaleuca , restored Melaleuca , and grass. Our team investigated: Microbe diversity including bacteria, fungi, and nematodes, using soil metabarcoding. Soil properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, total carbon, total nitrogen, and organic matter. Nitrate leaching, using the ion-exchange resin method. The team found substantially higher levels of nitrate leaching from sugarcane than all other sites. Even when the same high levels of nitrate were applied, sugarcane leached significant amounts of nitrate while mature Melaleuca did not. These results suggest that the restoration of Melaleuca and removal of sugarcane in low-lying, flood-prone sites could eliminate nitrate leaching from these low-productivity areas when wet season floods deliver and deposit nitrogen. As this would reduce nitrogen runoff to the Great Barrier Reef, Melaleuca restoration could serve as a method to gain credits through the Queensland Government’s Reef Credit Scheme. A report on this study is available here and a news story: The benefits of converting flood-prone cane paddocks into melaleuca plantations . This project was funded by Greening Australia. Effects of mulch on soil nutrient retention and microbes This project investigated the impacts of different mulch compost on nutrient retention and microbial diversity in soils on three farms around Rockhampton, across macadamia, lychee, and grazing systems. Mulch is used to help stimulate soil microbes, which are important for nutrient cycling, breaking down organic matter, and controlling disease. Our team compared the effects of no mulch, woody mulch, and mulch made of water hyacinth (an aquatic weed), with and without the application of fertiliser on leaching and microbial diversity. By studying soil microbes (bacteria, fungi, and nematodes) and soil properties like pH and carbon levels, our team could measure microbial diversity and nitrate leaching in each mulch type at each farm. Results found that water hyacinth mulch increased microbial diversity associated with nutrient cycling and decomposition, but this varied depending on vegetation type and soil conditions. This means that microbes facilitate the mobilisation of nutrients so they are available for plants but may also be at risk of leaching. While woody mulch was more closely associated with stabilisation of organic matter and suppression of nematodes, which could be useful to control plant parasitic nematodes that reduce crop health. Soil microbe assemblages were found to differ considerably between the three different agricultural systems, making any findings and recommendations context-dependent. Outcomes of this project will address ways to practically reduce nutrient leaching and use of fertilisers and pesticides. This will have significant flow-on effects for water quality by reducing runoff at the source. This project was funded by Fitzroy Basin Authority, the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia, Rockhampton Regional Council, and the Queensland Government. Research support Adam Canning Senior Research Officer adam.canning@jcu.edu.au Research leads

We are are working with Traditional Owners and museum curators to understand dugong genetic diversity and connectivity across northern Australia. Northern Australia Location We are partnering with Traditional Owners and museum curators to collect dugong tissue samples from across northern Australia for genomic analysis. We have developed and distributed sampling kits to our community partners and are providing practical training workshops on tissue sample collection. Results will provide insights into genetic diversity and connectivity between dugong populations to inform conservation and management. Key points Using dugong genetics to understand connectivity BACK Genomics provide clues to dugong population connectivity Dugongs hold cultural and ecological importance, and effective management of this threatened species requires not only tracking dugong population numbers but also understanding genetic connections between and across populations. Previous studies of Australian dugong genetics have primarily focused on the east coast, identifying different genetic lineages across the dugong range in Australian waters. Little is known about the genetic diversity and population connectivity in more remote parts of northern Australia. Partnerships to collect dugong tissue samples We are partnering with Traditional Owners, Indigenous Rangers, and museum curators to better understand genetic diversity and dugong population connectivity across northern Australia using genomics. Our researchers have developed a user-friendly sampling kit for collecting dugong tissue samples and are distributing these kits to project partners across northern Australia. They are also providing hands-on workshops to train community partners to collect high-quality samples to ensure robust results. Tissue samples have been collected by our team on dedicated sampling field trips as well as by Indigenous community collaborators during dugong strandings or hunting activities. These samples are currently being analysed to examine changes in population sizes, genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow within and between dugong population groups – including identifying potential inbreeding or genetic bottlenecks. Understanding connectivity for improved management The findings from this project will guide dugong management by identifying distinct dugong populations, levels of genetic diversity, and areas of connectivity or isolation. This will help target conservation actions where they are most needed at the community, state, and federal levels. Project details This project is led by PhD candidate Eva Paulus with supervision from Jan Strugnell, Chris Cleguer, and Ira Cooke. The project is funded by the National Environmental Science Program and James Cook University, with additional support from the Threatened Species Initiative, the Australasian Genomic Technologies Association, the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, and the Ecological Society of Australia. Research support Eva Paulus PhD student Christophe Cleguer Principal Research Officer – Marine Megafauna Group Leader christophe.cleguer@jcu.edu.au Research leads

We are surveying fish communities to find nursery habitats and understand species connectivity across remote reef lagoons in the Coral Sea Marine Park. Coral Sea Location Little is known about how fish populations move across the almost 1 million sq km Coral Sea Marine Park and where young fish take shelter in the early stages of life. We are surveying fish communities to find nursery habitats and understand species connectivity across remote reef lagoons in the Coral Sea. Findings will inform future monitoring and conservation planning to protect key habitats and support fish populations in the Coral Sea Marine Park. Key points Finding fish nurseries in the Coral Sea Marine Park BACK Isolated offshore reef habitats From vast coral gardens to complex macroalgae beds, reef lagoons in the Coral Sea Marine Park are home to rich biodiversity. Many of these habitats may serve as fish nurseries , supporting young fish during the vulnerable early stages of life before they move elsewhere as adults. These reefs are scattered across the nearly one million square kilometres of the marine park. Little is currently known about how fish use habitats in the marine park and potential connectivity between these isolated reef refuges. We are building on our previous work mapping benthic habitats to investigate how fish communities use habitats in the Coral Sea Marine Park and how reef systems may be connected for fish populations. Results will guide conservation zoning and protection strategies for the marine park. Surveying fish of the Coral Sea Marine Park We are surveying fish species and their distribution across habitats in the reef lagoons of the Coral Sea Marine Park to identify fish nurseries and find patterns of diversity and connectivity across reefs. We are using: Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS) to record fish species richness, abundance, and size across shallow to deep waters. Larval light traps to collect fish larvae and zooplankton, providing a measure of biological productivity. Otolith and genetic analysis for blue-spot coral trout (Plectropomus laevis ) to determine whether individuals move between reef systems throughout their life. Early results Our initial surveys found: A wide range of juvenile and adult fish species. Different zooplankton species and biomass between deep and shallow water sites. A high number of juvenile sharks in reef lagoons. Many fish species were gravid (carrying eggs) ahead of breeding; further monitoring is needed to identify the timing of breeding seasons and locate breeding grounds for these species. These findings are contributing to baseline assessments of habitats, species diversity, and population connectivity to inform ongoing monitoring and long-term conservation of marine life in the Coral Sea Marine Park. Project details This project is led by Dr Samantha Tol and Dr Tim Smith and funded by Parks Australia and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Darcy Philpott PhD student Evie Furness PhD student Paul Leeson Technical Officer paul.leeson@jcu.edu.au Luke Hoffmann Research Worker luke.hoffmann@jcu.edu.au Lloyd Shepherd Research Worker lloyd.shepherd@jcu.edu.au Research support Samantha Tol Senior Research Officer samantha.tol@jcu.edu.au Tim Smith Senior Research Officer tim.smith2@jcu.edu.au Research leads

The Women Warriors of the Torres Strait – an all-female crew of Traditional Owners, rangers, and scientists led by the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Sea Team and James Cook University – have set sail as part of the Great Reef Census to survey the northernmost section in the Torres Strait, northern Australia. TropWATER Women Warriors of the Torres Strait set sail for the Great Reef Census 3 December 2024 TropWATER BACK The five-day voyage to Mer (Murray Island) by the Women Warriors of the Torres Strait is the first time the Great Reef Census – led by Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef – has ventured beyond Cape York. TSRA Senior Natural Resource Management Officer and Marine Biologist Madeina David, 24, said the trip served as ‘ethical science’ in the Torres Strait, with researchers and Traditional Owners working together to monitor the Great Barrier Reef, collect data, and share findings with island communities to support local decision-making. “Our voyage sets a new course for science to value, respect, and incorporate the traditional ecological knowledge of custodians who have cared for land and sea for centuries,” Ms. David said. “We will connect ancient knowledge and modern science to assess the condition of the northern Great Barrier Reef, including water temperatures, coral conditions, and even explore the potential for a future turtle sanctuary.” Next Previous