AusLeisure

With the Great Barrier Reef being one of the most vulnerable ecosystems it faces an uncertain future as rising temperatures and extreme weather events threaten its delicate balance.

In response to these threats, the Coral Nurture Program is combining research with practical conservation techniques to bolster the resilience of these vital ecosystems at a local scale. This program unites scientists from the University of Technology Sydney and nine tourism operators in Cairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays to research and refine reef restoration methods at high-value reef sites.

Tourism operators play a critical role in the Coral Nurture Program, serving as both stewards and storytellers. Kate Slaughter, a marine biologist with Wavelength Reef Cruises in Port Douglas, sees tourism as the ‘front line’ of reef conservation.

Slaughter shares "we're here every single day out on the Reef, and it lets people from around the world come out and see it. That's the only way you find the intrinsic value in the Reef, by coming out with a tourism operator.

"It's exciting to partner with the Coral Nurture program. Doing the research is great but being able to get out there and plant corals yourself, to be the ones to help the Reef, it's so fulfilling."

Le'a Dawes, a Master Reef Guide with Passions of Paradise in Cairns, echoes the program's importance noting "People want to help the Reef. By coming out and supporting an ecotourism operator, they're actually supporting conservation of the Great Barrier Reef. The Reef is a magical place. I think it's quite transformative and whenever you visit the Great Barrier Reef, you want to do more."

Dr. Paige Strudwick, a postdoctoral researcher with the Coral Nurture Program, emphasises "we need this network of tourism operators, stakeholders, and people to mobilise their people power and make meaningful change for the Reef.

"We have the social benefit where tourism operators and stakeholders are empowered to implement this stewardship at their reef sites - they can protect their patch. We also have the ecological benefits too. We see these degraded sites that we've been able to implement these activities at and they're showing real promise."

Using underwater nurseries to propagate coral fragments, the Coral Nurture Program is assisting the recovery of key reef areas. Since its inception in 2018, over 110,000 corals have been planted across 30 sites, with an impressive survival rate of 85%. By accelerating natural recovery and building resilience, the program is aiming to buy precious time for the Reef to adapt to future challenges.

Dr. Strudwick said one of the program's most exciting milestones came when coral fragments planted in 2019 began spawning just two years later advising "this means that our impacts extend beyond just the planting of corals. They're feeding back into creating new genetic diversity and resilience."

Dr Strudwick adds "the challenges we face are immense, but so are the possibilities." While climate change remains a constant threat, collective efforts like the Coral Nurture Program offer a beacon of hope for the future of the Great Barrier Reef. By empowering individuals to take action and equipping them with the tools for restoration, we can help the Reef not only survive but adapt until global action on climate change can take effect. It's important to preserve the Reef's beauty and biodiversity for future generations to experience and cherish.

Image top: Coral Nurture Program unites tourism operators with scientists to bolster the resilience of coral reefs. Credit: Dr. Paige Strudwick; Image below: Coral Nurture Program have outplanted over 110,000 corals across 30 sites. Credit: Bendi Media.

Related Articles

22nd January 2025 - University of Sydney study reveals catastrophic bleaching of Great Barrier Reef coral

25th August 2024 - Extra water quality funding essential for health of Great Barrier Reef

25th June 2024 - UNESCO urges Australia to set more ambitious climate targets to protect Great Barrier Reef

8th May 2024 - University of Queensland receives $3.6 million boost to monitor Great Barrier Reef water quality

2nd February 2024 - Progress report delivered and wetland strategy released for protection of Great Barrier Reef

3rd December 2023 - New vessel joins Great Barrier Reef fleet in Queensland’s north

14th September 2023 - UNESCO decides to not list the Great Barrier Reef as being ‘in danger’

14th September 2023 - CSIRO installs specialised sensors to protect areas of southern Great Barrier Reef

10th September 2023 - North Keppel (Konomie) Island becomes first carbon negative island in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

2nd August 2023 - Federal and Queensland Governments given six more months to tackle threats to Great Barrier Reef

11th July 2023 - Great Barrier Reef partnerships continue to receive funding for healthy waterways

14th June 2023 - $7.4 million to support island restoration on Great Barrier Reef

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.