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Reef in Brief, image of turtle: © Commonwealth of Australia (Reef Authority)

Two women on a boat and in background people snorkelling in the ocean. (C) Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority.

Tourism protecting the Great Barrier Reef

In 2020, COVID all but closed the tourism industry on the Reef. The Reef Authority activated tourism to stay connected to high frequency sites. This evolved into a large-scale project delivering reef protection services and enriched visitor experiences. See how the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative has helped to protect the Reef, from controlling coral predators to training AI models about reef health.

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#LovetheReef highlights

GGreen and orange fish (C): Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority. Photographer: Johnny Gaskell

Person snorkelling with tourist pontoon in background (C) Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority. Photographer: Jordan Robins.

Reefscape with diver in background (C) Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority. Photographer: Chris Jones

Marine turtle swimming over coral. (C) Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority.

Report marine strandings

The QWildlife app now includes a 'marine strandings' function for reporting sick, injured, or dead marine animals (turtles, dolphins, dugongs, whales and seals) on land or in coastal waters. Great Barrier Reef visitors are encouraged to make reports via the QWildlife app. For those unable to use the app, there is still an option to contact the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation via the hotline 1300 130 372.

Man in room with people sitting in the background. (C) Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority. Photographer Stan Lui.

New MPA Board member

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner Tibau Stanley (Stan) Lui has been appointed as the new First Nations’ member to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Board. Mr Lui is a Torres Strait Islander from Erub (Darnley Island) with academic qualifications in science and an extensive track record advising on policies for the sustainable use and safeguarding of marine ecosystems.

Sea Country Connections

Four people standing on the beach. (C): Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority.

Managing Sea Country

Our Indigenous Compliance Team and TUMRA (Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements) team delivered Eyes and Ears Compliance Training to Woppaburra and Darumbal Traditional Owners. The training provides valuable insights into managing compliance on Sea Country in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Our teams also met with Port Curtis Coral Coast - Gidarjil Rangers and staff, providing feedback and support.

Fish swimming in seagrass meadow. (C): Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority.

Appearing originally in Caring for Sea Country

Seagrass the unsung hero

Seagrass and seagrass meadows are the unsung heroes of the Great Barrier Reef. They are essential habitats for marine species such as dugong and sea turtles, that also hold totemic value for Traditional Owners. On Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji (GMY) Sea Country, Indigenous rangers are learning western science and combining it with their own traditional knowledge systems and applying this on their Sea Country.

Women standing on the beach. (C): Commonwealth of Australia: Reef Authority. Photographer Brooke Owens.

Improving outcomes for mob: Meet Brooke

You don’t have to go to great depths to fall in love with the Great Barrier Reef — just ask Brooke Owens who exudes sheer delight and passion when she talks about her work to protect the icon — but is yet to take a dive into the deep waters!
Brooke’s determination to improve outcomes for mob combined with a love affair with the Reef, made her a perfect fit for our Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRA) team.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority acknowledges the continuing Sea Country management and custodianship of the Great Barrier Reef by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect the Reef for future generations.

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