Programs and projects

Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks cause significant damage to coral reefs and are one of the major causes of coral decline across the Reef over the past 40 years.

Our Eye on the Reef monitoring and assessment program enables anyone who visits the Great Barrier Reef to contribute to its long-term protection by collecting valuable information and data.

There are 19 councils between Bundaberg and Cooktown in the Reef Guardian Councils program undertaking a range of projects, covering more than 300,000 square kilometres.

The Reef Guardian School program has been running since 2003, the program encourages teachers and students to take actions that help protect the Great Barrier Reef and its connected ecosystems.

The Tourism Reef Protection Initiative delivers Reef protection and conservation services at high-value tourism reef sites across the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The Program is a long-term initiative, critical to supporting resilience-based management and delivering evidenced-based reporting on the Reef.

The Reef Guardian Fishers program recognises commercial fishers who fish sustainably and maintain the health of the Reef while building the future of their business.

Australia is a founding member of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), a partnership of nations and organisations working together on coral reefs and ecosystems.

When coal carrier Shen Neng 1 ran aground in April 2010, it caused the largest ship grounding scar known in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The initiative aims to support frontline jobs in marine tourism while simultaneously helping conserve high-value tourism sites along the Reef.

The Pacific Coral Reef Collective brought together reef managers and designated partners from 14 Pacific countries to address shared challenges facing coral reefs.

Aiming to maximise the benefits and minimise the negative impacts of the rezoning on the existing users of the Marine Park.