Reef Trust

29/05/2026

A new major wetlands restoration project in the Burdekin Delta will trial and monitor several approaches for reducing pollutants entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

Led by NQ Dry Tropics NRM, the project will repair, modify and restore wetlands to reduce fine sediment, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and pesticide flowing to the Reef — improving water quality, supporting healthy waterways and ecosystems.

This project is part of the Reefwise Wetlands Program, funded by the Reef Trust. The program is funding projects to support healthy, resilient wetland and riparian systems across the Reef catchment.

Wetlands are critical to the health of the Reef. They act as natural filters to improve water quality and are also vital habitats for marine life.

27/05/2026

New research has shown that baby corals can travel 100 km or more across the Pacific Ocean to find a new home. 😮

Scientists have discovered that a common coral species shares genes across reefs from the Great Barrier Reef to New Caledonia.

The study found that the offspring of this branching coral species can settle 100 kilometres or more from their parents—one of the largest dispersal distances ever recorded.

This movement also allows coral populations in Australia and New Caledonia—separated by thousands of kilometres—to share genetic material. These shared genes act like useful “tools” that help corals adapt to changing conditions.

These findings highlight the importance of considering diversity and connectivity in reef management, as well as the need for conservation efforts that extend beyond national borders.

The research was led by Southern Cross University and the French National Centre for Scientific Research.

It was supported by the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, funded through a partnership between the Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Read more 👉 https://www.scu.edu.au/news/2026/coral-connectivity-across-pacific-ocean/

📸 Coral spawning, Great Barrier reef Foundation

27/05/2026

Some huge efforts from ReefClean volunteers over the past few weeks.

💙At Bustdard Bay, volunteers and two staff from 1770 LARC! Tours removed an impressive 279.50 kg of marine debris, including a full-size water tank and other waste washed away by the recent floods.

💙Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples PBC Rangers and community volunteers at Yarrabah removed 92.63 kg of marine debris, including a FAD that will now be processed through .

💙The quarterly clean-up at Cape Kimberley was a success, with 242.08kg of debris from the 3km stretch of beach. This clean-up involved Queensland National Parks, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation Rangers, Douglas Shire Council.

ReefClean is run by Tangaroa Blue and funded by the Reef Trust.

ReeClean is helping to reduce the impact of marine debris on the Reef through clean-up events, collecting valuable data and redirecting marine debris into recycling pathways.

Want to get involved? Find an event near you 👉 https://tangaroablue.org/reefclean/

24/05/2026

It was on Saturday and we’ve got some turtle-y great news to share! 🐢

The Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program is delivering real results for marine turtles across the Great Barrier Reef.

Since 2014, the program has:

• monitored more than 40,000 nests
• achieved more than 90% nest survival rates
• protected around 2.5 million hatchlings. 🥚

This work is powered by strong partnerships with Traditional Owners, supported by Indigenous land and sea rangers leading vital on-ground efforts including:

• monitoring nests
• controlling predators such as feral pigs and foxes. 🐷🦊

With new projects underway in eastern Cape York, the program continues to grow its impact.

Jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, the program is protecting our precious marine life and supporting a healthier reef now and into the future. 🪸

That’s totally worth shell-ebrating! 💙

Discover more via the link below.

📷 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Queensland Environment

20/05/2026

Through the Reefwise Wetlands Program, Reef Catchments is leading a large-scale project to restore wetlands and riparian systems.

The project will combine multiple proven management techniques to maximise pollutant removal, support healthy ecosystems, and improve Reef water quality.

Wetlands are critical to the health of the Reef. They act as natural filters to improve water quality and are also vital habitats for marine life.

📸QLD DETSI, Reef Catchments

20/05/2026

Partnerships supporting Reef protection. ⭐🪸

Marine biologists, Traditional Owners and tourism operators are working together to protect the Great Barrier Reef by improving how we manage crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) outbreaks.

GBR Biology has been conducting fine-scale juvenile COTS monitoring since 2014. More recently, they have been training other tourism operators and Traditional Owners to conduct monitoring.

Fine-scale monitoring involves divers systematically searching areas of the Reef to detect juvenile or hidden adult COTS, along with feeding scars. This helps build an early warning system for future outbreaks and supports faster, more effective responses.

This training is strengthening partnerships with First Nations communities, creating meaningful pathways into sea country management and tourism, while enhancing Reef protection.

It is funded by the Reef Trust and Great Barrier Reef Foundation through the COTS Control Innovation Program. It is also part of the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI).

It shows how together, we’re building knowledge, capacity and resilience for the future of the Reef.

📷 GBR Biology

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

18/05/2026

In a significant win for threatened turtles and seabirds, an extensive eradication program supported by Reef Trust funding has helped to eradicate black rats from North West Island in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

The project was delivered by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland National Parks through the Reef Joint Field Management Program.

North West Island in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area has been declared rat-free, a significant win for the conservation of threatened turtles and seabirds.

16/05/2026

15/05/2026

They may look intriguing, but crown‑of‑thorns starfish (COTS) are one of the biggest threats to coral reefs.

Covered in toxic spines, able to grow more than 20 arms, and capable of eating up to 10 square metres of coral each year, these native predators can cause widespread reef damage during outbreaks.

The good news?

Targeted control programs led by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and ongoing research are helping protect coral on the Great Barrier Reef from this spiky pest and support reef recovery.

We're proud to suppport these efforts through the COTS Control Innovation Program (CCIP), which is delivering new tools and research to enhance Australia's approach to COTS control.

The CCIP is funded through the Reef Trust Partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

📸 Dr Rickard Abom

13/05/2026

Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRAs) are community‑led plans that empower Traditional Owners to care for Sea Country and manage marine resources alongside government partners.

Co‑designed with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Environment there are now 10 accredited TUMRAs, covering 43% of the Reef’s coastline, with three more groups working towards accreditation.

TUMRAs support strong environmental stewardship while creating meaningful local jobs and caring for culture.

Australian Government funding has supported the expansion of the TUMRA program to:

🐢 increase protection for Reef species and ecosystems
🪶 protect Indigenous heritage values
🌏 enhance planning, monitoring and on‑Country activities
👷 deliver employment opportunities for Traditional Owners

Read more about Traditional Owner partnerships and actions that are supporting a resilient Reef 👉 https://bit.ly/4cLWLIe.

📸 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

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