Signs of reef recovery as operators protecting the reef get Federal funding boost

Reef operators have shared the good news that there are early signs of recovery around Cairns after a tough summer caused mass bleaching along much of the Great Barrier Reef as their protection projects get a Federal funding boost.

Reef operators say there are early signs of recovery around Cairns after a tough summer caused mass bleaching along the Great Barrier Reef, as a protection project receives a much-needed boost.

Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef Senator Nita Green announced an additional $5 million from the federal budget to ensure tourism operators can continue to help protect the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Quicksilver Group environment and compliance manager Doug Baird said the funding had allowed operators to document what is happening on the reef.

“This initiative up to date has allowed us to document two unique events, the cyclone and the mass coral bleaching event all throughout the reef,” he said.

Gareth Phillips, Doug Baird, Nita Green and Reef Authority Chief Scientist Roger Beeden at the Cairns Reef Fleet plaza on Monday. Picture Emily Barker.

“It is really allowing us to document the recovery which we are seeing particularly in the outer reefs with the inner reefs a little slower incoming back.

“We are seeing some very promising recovery on the reefs.”

The Reef Tourism Protection Initiative has delivered a significant uplift to reef health monitoring capacity, conservation and protection activities across the reef.

Mr Baird said the Quicksilver group has used the funding to assist in weekly reef surveys and photo-enhancement surveys aided with the help of AI to document changes in the reef.

Since 2021 tourism operators have monitored and cared for 109 high-value reefs, conducted more than 15,000 Reef Health surveys, and removed 1700 crown-of-thorns starfish and 215,000 Drupella snails.

“This has been a challenging summer for the reef. It is important this program continues during this crucial time for monitoring the reef and building its resilience,” Senator Green said.

“Tourism operators are an extra set of eyes on the reef. They’re in the water every day, so are really well placed to play this important monitoring and protection role.

​“There have been excellent results out of the program to date, so I am pleased that work will continue across the Marine Park, which is particularly important following our summer period in which coral reefs have experienced heat stress.”

​The program was due to end in June 2024.

The funding secures its continuation for another 12 months.

Tourism operators will be invited to apply through a tender process to undertake targeted stewardship and education activities including site monitoring, controlling coral predators and undertaking site intervention actions.

Originally published as Signs of reef recovery as operators protecting the reef get Federal funding boost