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The Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program
What is monitored? | Monitoring locations | Results | Summary reports | Science reports | References
The Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program is funded by the Australian Government under Caring for our Country - Reef Rescue.
The way in which catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef are managed affects the quality of water in our rivers, estuaries and in the Great Barrier Reef, particularly in marine areas close to the coast.
The quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon has declined since European settlement. Pollutants contained in catchment run-off include excessive quantities of sediments and nutrients, as well as pesticides. These pollutants can harm the different ecosystems that make up the Great Barrier Reef such as corals, seagrass, mangroves and other seabed plants and animals.
The Queensland and Australian Government Reef Water Quality Protection Plan and the Australian Government Reef Rescue initiative aim to minimise non-point source pollution from broad-scale land use and reduce the entry of those pollutants to the Reef. Specifically, they work to improve the adoption of land management practices that reduce run-off of nutrients, pesticides and sediments from agricultural land. In the long-term, these activities will help halt and reverse the decline in water quality and will contribute to a healthier Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.
A key component of water quality improvement is a long-term water quality and ecosystem monitoring program in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon to assess the ongoing health of the system as well as monitor long-term trends in inshore water quality. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has been running this program since 2005.
The Reef & Rainforest Research Centre currently administers the program on behalf of the GBRMPA.
The monitoring providers for this long-term program are:
- James Cook University
- Australian Institute of Marine Science
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
- National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology
- Fisheries Queensland - Seagrass Watch
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Visit the Reef
Visit our Great Barrier Reef and discover its amazing plants, animals and habitats. There are a range of tourism experiences on offer.
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What you can do
Everyone has a role to play in protecting our Great Barrier Reef. Find out what you can do to help protect this Great Australian icon.
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Report marine strandings
If you see sick, dead or stranded marine animals please call RSPCA QLD 1300 ANIMAL
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