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22.01.2022 After a cyclone impacted reefs in the Whitsundays, Reef Ecologic, in partnership with the local community and tourism industry began a reef restoration project. With the creation of coral nurseries, the idea was to grow corals in two high-value tourism sites to assist with natural recovery. The team of scientists have worked with local volunteers in the tourism industry on each trip from the beginning. This trip aimed to get multiple tourism crew involved, with hands-on learn...ing to help plant the corals on their local reefs. The tourism industry crew are local reef champions who showcase their local island and reefs, so it’s fitting that they can assist in the reef restoration and help share the journey with visitors. This project is made possible by the Reef Islands Initiative, a program of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, supported by funding from Lendlease, the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, the Queensland Government and the Fitzgerald Family Foundation. This project is supported with funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program.

19.01.2022 Project 25 has gained some traction lately with more Russell/Mulgrave landholders coming on board with practice change to reduce fertilizer runoff to the Great Barrier Reef. Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said giving growers access to real time data had helped to build trust and provide confidence when making on-farm decisions that support the environment. This is an example of farmers and scientists working closely together to improve ecosystem health, ensuring far...mers are fully informed and can have faith in the data they are receiving, Minister Ley said. ...Protecting our waterways means cleaner rivers, larger fish stocks, resilient marine life, healthier coral and stronger coastal tourism. To do this we need to work closely with growers and maintain their trust. The project has partnered with local farmers to design the program and carry out the research." See the full media release via link below https://nesptropical.edu.au//joint-media-release-sweet-vi/ Stephen Calcagno with one of the nitrate measuring sensors used in the project

18.01.2022 A new report on designing an Aesthetics Long-Term Monitoring Program for the Great Barrier Reef has been released by NESP TWQ Hub. "Monitoring of aesthetic values can potentially serve as a proxy for reef health monitoring in places where scientific ecological monitoring is not feasible or too expensive. Additional opportunities and benefits offered by ALTMP include greater engagement between Reef managers, scientists, citizen scientists, and the wider community in initiativ...es to restore and maintain aesthetic and other values of important habitats and places throughout the GBR World Heritage Area." Final Report https://bit.ly/3eWfNuo Virtual Conference Presentation - Design of an Aesthetics Long-Term Monitoring Program for the Great Barrier Reef https://bit.ly/3jviNRA Project 5.6 Homepage https://nesptropical.edu.au/i/round-5-projects/project-5-6/ Photo Credit: Matt Curnock

18.01.2022 Very strong motivation for local-scale reef stewardship Traditional Owners, citizen scientists and major reef tourism operators are motivated to restore and maintain coral ecosystems at their own sites, not just for economic or cultural reasons but also out of a real desire to improve the health of their patch of the Great Barrier Reef. These are the findings of a number of recent Tropical Water Quality Hub research projects, which looked at the attitudes of both Indigenous a...nd tourism stakeholders in terms of engagement in reef restoration and tourism activities. While acknowledging that slowing climate change is essential for the reef’s ongoing health, major tourism operators feel responsibility to be good stewards, and Traditional Owners have cultural responsibilities to look after their sea country. These findings are being used by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to guide investment in a new wave of locally-driven Great Barrier Reef restoration efforts. Check out the findings in the reports linked below: http://bit.ly/2Su1VNZ https://bit.ly/2CLnia9 Photo: Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel

17.01.2022 By applying the right amount of water, at the right time, in the right crop, to match that crop's requirements, sugar growers can save water and deliver significant benefits to the #GreatBarrierReef. NESP TWQ Hub researcher Yvette Everingham's video on innovative technology in this field has recently been shared as part of National Science Week Celebrations. Take a look!

15.01.2022 "QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the climate change innovator was a newly introduced category to recognise effort in addressing one of the greatest global challenges." Congratulations to Reef Restoration Foundation on their recent recognition! On-ground efforts at the Fitzroy Island Coral Nursery are supported by Tropical Water Quality Hub research. For more information on best practice for coral restoration on the GBR visit the TWQ Hub website: https://nesptropica...l.edu.au/i/round-4-projects/project-4-3/ #ReefRestoration #GBR #envirogov #RRRC https://www.cairnspost.com.au//fd9eea6a037dcffd3a03a2f13b6

13.01.2022 A recently published TWQ Hub report highlights potential for growers to use a newly-developed insurance product as a way to reduce fertilizer runoff on the Great Barrier Reef: We have shown that insuring against the risk of sugarcane yield loss with reduced N fertiliser applications is technically feasible. Further, we have shown that it can be implemented in a way that overcomes many of the problems that have plagued traditional crop insurance. The prototype product has rec...eived support from international re/insurance companies, and sugarcane farmers and the institutions that support them. If widely adopted, it could facilitate substantial reductions in DIN discharged from GBR catchments. Direct Link to report: https://bit.ly/3jUyTVa

12.01.2022 Contracts worth $28.6 million have been awarded to help win the race against coral-eating Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS) on the Great Barrier Reef. Find out more via the link below. https://nesptropical.edu.au//joint-media-release-crown-of/

11.01.2022 NESP Project leader, Professor Norm Duke from JCU remarks on his multi-hub research and the compounding impacts affecting mangrove health across Australia's Northern Region and Gulf of Carpentaria. There will almost certainly be impacts on fisheries and the ability of mangroves to protect the coasts from erosion, he said. Initial reports estimated the area damaged in 2015 to be about 1,000km in length, but Duke says subsequent visits put that number at more like 2,000km. About 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) of mangroves had been affected.

10.01.2022 Have your say on plans to protect the Great Barrier Reef for the next 30 years. The Queensland and Australian governments are reviewing the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan to ensure that it continues to focus on the right priorities and actions to support the health and resilience of the Reef. The draft updated Reef 2050 Plan includes a greater emphasis on climate change and its impact on the Reef. It also seeks to empower communities to take stronger action to prote...ct the Reef. The governments are working with local governments, industry, scientists, Traditional Owners, farmers and the community to deliver on the priorities for the Reef. The Reef is under significant pressure but with strong local, national and global action to address the greatest threats, it can be sustained as a living natural and cultural wonder of the world. Have your say on the draft updated Reef 2050 Plan by 30 September 2020. https://haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/reef-2050-plan #Reef2050Plan

09.01.2022 Our Great Barrier Reef Long-Term Monitoring team have found numbers of coral trout continue to climb in ‘no take’ marine reserves, also known as ‘Green Zones’. ... Released yesterday, our latest Annual Summary Report on the condition of reefs shows coral trout numbers in Green Zones are now almost double those on reefs open to fishing. Valuable to recreational and commercial fishers, coral trout numbers have been climbing since 2004, when the number of Green Zones was increased to 33% of the Marine Park. Learn more in the report: https://bit.ly/31gxqBy : F. Kroon

07.01.2022 The July edition of our Hub e-newsletter, View on TWQ, is online now. Read it now at the link below. https://nesptropical.edu.au//ne/e-newsletters-2/july-2020/

04.01.2022 Well done to all graduates of the Annual Reef Restoration and Leadership Workshop at Orpheus Island Research station, under the expert tutelage of Reef Ecologic! Cutting-edge Reef Restoration techniques are supported by NESP TWQ Hub Research - more more information visit the project page: https://nesptropical.edu.au/i/round-4-projects/project-4-3/... #ReefRestoration #GBR