The Australian Government has committed to Improving the Outlook of the Great Barrier Reef and has allocated $3.8 million over two years to this initiative.

$3 million of this funding is to expand the highly successful Reef Guardian Stewardship Program under the Enhancing Reef Guardians Project. The Project will deliver enhanced community and Local Government stewardship programs and new industry stewardship programs that will improve capacity and facilitate the adoption of environmentally sustainable best practices.

The Project will strengthen the existing Reef Guardian School Program which has in excess of 200 schools participating and the Reef Guardian Council Program which has ten councils involved. It will also establish new industry stewardship programs in the fishing and farming sectors by developing, implementing and evaluating pilot programs in each sector and also exploring opportunities for the tourism sector.