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CAIRNS PORT DOUGLAS REEF HUB

Check out our Instagram and Facebook pages below and stay tuned for more blogs!

🦈 Our first Lunch & Learn for 2025 will be next week! 🦈
We are excited to welcome Richard Fitzpatrick from @biopixeloceans and @biopixeltv. If you are on the mailing list check your inbox for a zoom link.

Talk summary: Biopixel Oceans Foundation supports marine research, exploration, and education. Our research continually evolves to address current ocean conservation and fisheries management challenges. Our focus includes:
• Studying the ecology of marine megafauna
• Developing and integrating new technologies for conservation
• Enhancing our understanding of shark behavior, particularly in human-shark interactions
• Providing ecological insights to support fisheries management
In this presentation, we will share updates on shark research conducted on the Great Barrier Reef, including recent studies on: Whale sharks, Leopard sharks, Grey Nurse sharks and shark interactions

An introduction to our speaker:

Richard Fitzpatrick is an Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and an Adjunct Professional Research Fellow at James Cook University, specializing in sharks. He has filmed over 120 documentaries for renowned clients such as BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel. Richard is widely recognized for capturing complex and unusual animal behaviors on film.

🦈 Our first Lunch & Learn for 2025 will be next week! 🦈
We are excited to welcome Richard Fitzpatrick from @biopixeloceans and @biopixeltv. If you are on the mailing list check your inbox for a zoom link.

Talk summary: Biopixel Oceans Foundation supports marine research, exploration, and education. Our research continually evolves to address current ocean conservation and fisheries management challenges. Our focus includes:
• Studying the ecology of marine megafauna
• Developing and integrating new technologies for conservation
• Enhancing our understanding of shark behavior, particularly in human-shark interactions
• Providing ecological insights to support fisheries management
In this presentation, we will share updates on shark research conducted on the Great Barrier Reef, including recent studies on: Whale sharks, Leopard sharks, Grey Nurse sharks and shark interactions

An introduction to our speaker:

Richard Fitzpatrick is an Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and an Adjunct Professional Research Fellow at James Cook University, specializing in sharks. He has filmed over 120 documentaries for renowned clients such as BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel. Richard is widely recognized for capturing complex and unusual animal behaviors on film.

Calling all divers! Do you have a connection with the underwater world? @diversforclimate need your voice to help shape climate policy!

The ocean is changing, and divers are experiencing it firsthand. Now, for the first time, a national survey is capturing divers' experiences with climate change to drive meaningful action for people and oceans.
This is your chance to contribute to research and policy, and help protect the places you love to dive. Plus, you’ll go in the draw to win amazing ocean-loving prizes!

⏳ It takes just 10 minutes to complete.
📅 Survey open throughout Feb 3rd to March 3rd 2025.
🔗 Take the survey now (scan QR code, or check out the link in @diversforclimate bio)

Dive in!
#DiversForClimate #ClimateActionNow #collectiveexperience #cuttlefish

Calling all divers! Do you have a connection with the underwater world? @diversforclimate need your voice to help shape climate policy!

The ocean is changing, and divers are experiencing it firsthand. Now, for the first time, a national survey is capturing divers' experiences with climate change to drive meaningful action for people and oceans.
This is your chance to contribute to research and policy, and help protect the places you love to dive. Plus, you’ll go in the draw to win amazing ocean-loving prizes!

⏳ It takes just 10 minutes to complete.
📅 Survey open throughout Feb 3rd to March 3rd 2025.
🔗 Take the survey now (scan QR code, or check out the link in @diversforclimate bio)

Dive in!
#DiversForClimate #ClimateActionNow #collectiveexperience #cuttlefish

New paper alert! Great to see this work from @coralrestorationconsortium.

This paper defines the terms and definitions used in reef stewardship projects worldwide to help practitioners, scientists and other stakeholders.

The @coralrestorationconsortium hope to elevate the practice of coral restoration globally, by using common terms and bringing everyone onto the same page.

Go and check out this paper and follow the @coralrestorationconsortium!

New paper alert! Great to see this work from @coralrestorationconsortium.

This paper defines the terms and definitions used in reef stewardship projects worldwide to help practitioners, scientists and other stakeholders.

The @coralrestorationconsortium hope to elevate the practice of coral restoration globally, by using common terms and bringing everyone onto the same page.

Go and check out this paper and follow the @coralrestorationconsortium!

A few highlights as we wrap up an awesome 2024 for the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub!

Thanks to everyone who has been a part of Reef Hub activities this year, it's been fantastic to work with and connect with so many of you, and to see the network grow.

Also thanks to the Reef Hub steering group for all their contributions to guide the strategic direction of the Reef Hub, and to our funders @greatbarrierreeffoundation.

We are excited to keep growing in 2025!

A few highlights as we wrap up an awesome 2024 for the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub!

Thanks to everyone who has been a part of Reef Hub activities this year, it's been fantastic to work with and connect with so many of you, and to see the network grow.

Also thanks to the Reef Hub steering group for all their contributions to guide the strategic direction of the Reef Hub, and to our funders @greatbarrierreeffoundation.

We are excited to keep growing in 2025!

Our next Lunch and Learn is covering all things Spawning School!

We are wrapping up the year featuring some of the work we at the Reef Hub have helped to facilitate around coral spawning with our local Indigenous communities. Our second annual Spawning School with five Traditional Owner Ranger groups took place over the last two weeks during the November coral spawning period.

Join us for our last ‘bite size’ session of 2024 with one of our Reef Hub coordinators, Dr. Katie Chartrand, and coral spawning guru Dr. Kerry Cameron @kerry.cam.science from @reefrecruits who led the week long program. They will share their knowledge and practical skills around the process of coral spawning, fertilisation and rearing of coral larvae before settling them out in a controlled aquarium system designed in collaboration with attendees. If schedules align, some rangers that attended Spawning School hope to also share their experience from the week during this seminar. Beyond the salty fingers and late nights, building relationships amongst rangers, the science team and with the broader community is a vital part of Spawning School. We hope you enjoy learning about this unique local program that we are excited to share with our Reef Hub community.

If you are on the Reef Hub mailing list you should have a calendar invite for this Lunch and Learn already, but just send us a message if you need the zoom link.

Our next Lunch and Learn is covering all things Spawning School!

We are wrapping up the year featuring some of the work we at the Reef Hub have helped to facilitate around coral spawning with our local Indigenous communities. Our second annual Spawning School with five Traditional Owner Ranger groups took place over the last two weeks during the November coral spawning period.

Join us for our last ‘bite size’ session of 2024 with one of our Reef Hub coordinators, Dr. Katie Chartrand, and coral spawning guru Dr. Kerry Cameron @kerry.cam.science from @reefrecruits who led the week long program. They will share their knowledge and practical skills around the process of coral spawning, fertilisation and rearing of coral larvae before settling them out in a controlled aquarium system designed in collaboration with attendees. If schedules align, some rangers that attended Spawning School hope to also share their experience from the week during this seminar. Beyond the salty fingers and late nights, building relationships amongst rangers, the science team and with the broader community is a vital part of Spawning School. We hope you enjoy learning about this unique local program that we are excited to share with our Reef Hub community.

If you are on the Reef Hub mailing list you should have a calendar invite for this Lunch and Learn already, but just send us a message if you need the zoom link.

💻New Lunch & Learn seminars now live on our website 💻

Did you miss our most recent seminars from @citizensofthereef or @greatbarrierreefsafaris? You can can catch up on both of these now on the Lunch and Learn project page on our website.

Sean Daly and Chris Lawson from Citizens of the Reef talked through the story and science behind the #GreatReefCensus in September, while our most recent seminar in October was from Adele Pile who spoke about the importance of monitoring in reef conservation and the partnerships needed to make this happen.

Head over to our website to catch up on these and join our mailing list to hear about upcoming seminars.

💻New Lunch & Learn seminars now live on our website 💻

Did you miss our most recent seminars from @citizensofthereef or @greatbarrierreefsafaris? You can can catch up on both of these now on the Lunch and Learn project page on our website.

Sean Daly and Chris Lawson from Citizens of the Reef talked through the story and science behind the #GreatReefCensus in September, while our most recent seminar in October was from Adele Pile who spoke about the importance of monitoring in reef conservation and the partnerships needed to make this happen.

Head over to our website to catch up on these and join our mailing list to hear about upcoming seminars.

🤿 Get ready for our next Lunch and Learn seminar with Adele from @greatbarrierreefsafaris on Thursday 🤿

🗓️ Everyone on the mailing list should have a calendar invite, send us a message if you want to join.

Adele will be talking about the importance of monitoring in reef conservation, more information below:

'Do you see what I see? A plea for monitoring for monitoring's sake.

Long term monitoring and research are crucial for informed, best practice management as well as providing valuable insights that inform research. Yet within the scientific community they are poorly perceived and with good reason as many monitoring programs fail and/or go underreported. This is further complicated as most academics view monitoring as the purview of management agencies and unrelated to scientific research. Attitudes towards monitoring aside, a key challenge to monitoring programs are resources and time. The ability to overcome these challenges and get researchers into the field monitoring can be achieved by partnering with nontraditional industries and Traditional Owners, the people who are out there every day.'

🤿 Get ready for our next Lunch and Learn seminar with Adele from @greatbarrierreefsafaris on Thursday 🤿

🗓️ Everyone on the mailing list should have a calendar invite, send us a message if you want to join.

Adele will be talking about the importance of monitoring in reef conservation, more information below:

'Do you see what I see? A plea for monitoring for monitoring's sake.

Long term monitoring and research are crucial for informed, best practice management as well as providing valuable insights that inform research. Yet within the scientific community they are poorly perceived and with good reason as many monitoring programs fail and/or go underreported. This is further complicated as most academics view monitoring as the purview of management agencies and unrelated to scientific research. Attitudes towards monitoring aside, a key challenge to monitoring programs are resources and time. The ability to overcome these challenges and get researchers into the field monitoring can be achieved by partnering with nontraditional industries and Traditional Owners, the people who are out there every day.'

🌊 Collaborating to understand coral dynamics: Year 2 of Our Regional Recruitment Study is underway 🪸

Over the past few weeks, eight incredible organizations from the Reef Hub network have been hard at work on the water, deploying recruitment tiles as part of the second year of our regional coral recruitment study! 🔍

This study will play an important role in understanding where coral larvae settle after spawning, providing insights into individual reef dynamics and contributing to larger, GBR-wide models. These findings will help tourism operators, non-profits, and the scientific community make informed decisions about local reefs. 🌏

Together, we're covering six reefs across a vast area—from Agincourt to Moore Reef—deploying a total of 270 recruitment tiles in just two weeks! It’s a massive team effort, and we’re incredibly grateful for the skills, dedication, and teamwork driving this project forward. 🙌

The tiles will remain in place until early next year, when we’ll examine them in the lab to count coral recruits, once again with the support of our amazing Reef Hub network.

Want to dive deeper? Learn more about this study and last year’s results on our website! 🌐

This project is run by the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub and led by local partners @downundercruiseanddive, @jabalbinaofficial, @passionsofparadise, @quicksilvercruises, @silverswiftcruise, @greatadventurescruises, @reef_restoration_foundation and @wavelengthreefcruises. The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is coordinated by @tropwater_jcu at @jamescookuniversity.

🌊 Collaborating to understand coral dynamics: Year 2 of Our Regional Recruitment Study is underway 🪸

Over the past few weeks, eight incredible organizations from the Reef Hub network have been hard at work on the water, deploying recruitment tiles as part of the second year of our regional coral recruitment study! 🔍

This study will play an important role in understanding where coral larvae settle after spawning, providing insights into individual reef dynamics and contributing to larger, GBR-wide models. These findings will help tourism operators, non-profits, and the scientific community make informed decisions about local reefs. 🌏

Together, we're covering six reefs across a vast area—from Agincourt to Moore Reef—deploying a total of 270 recruitment tiles in just two weeks! It’s a massive team effort, and we’re incredibly grateful for the skills, dedication, and teamwork driving this project forward. 🙌

The tiles will remain in place until early next year, when we’ll examine them in the lab to count coral recruits, once again with the support of our amazing Reef Hub network.

Want to dive deeper? Learn more about this study and last year’s results on our website! 🌐

This project is run by the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub and led by local partners @downundercruiseanddive, @jabalbinaofficial, @passionsofparadise, @quicksilvercruises, @silverswiftcruise, @greatadventurescruises, @reef_restoration_foundation and @wavelengthreefcruises. The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is coordinated by @tropwater_jcu at @jamescookuniversity.

🪸Reef Hub Round Up🪸

Thanks to everyone who attended our first ever mini symposium yesterday! It was fantastic to have 70 people from across the Reef Hub network join us.

It was a great opportunity to have discussions, hear the latest updates from locally led and larger scale projects in the region and think about how the Reef Hub can continue to connect all of these.

Thanks to everyone who attended and to all of our presenters on the day. We had talks from: @jamescookuniversity, @gbrlegacy, @reef_restoration_foundation, @coralnurtureprogram, @passionsofparadise, RRAP, @csirogram, @gbrmarinepark, @thecairnsinstitute, @jabalbinaofficial, Yirrganydji Rangers, North Marine, Pacific Marine, @newmancatholiccollege.

The Reef Hub is hosted by JCU's TropWATER and funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

🪸Reef Hub Round Up🪸

Thanks to everyone who attended our first ever mini symposium yesterday! It was fantastic to have 70 people from across the Reef Hub network join us.

It was a great opportunity to have discussions, hear the latest updates from locally led and larger scale projects in the region and think about how the Reef Hub can continue to connect all of these.

Thanks to everyone who attended and to all of our presenters on the day. We had talks from: @jamescookuniversity, @gbrlegacy, @reef_restoration_foundation, @coralnurtureprogram, @passionsofparadise, RRAP, @csirogram, @gbrmarinepark, @thecairnsinstitute, @jabalbinaofficial, Yirrganydji Rangers, North Marine, Pacific Marine, @newmancatholiccollege.

The Reef Hub is hosted by JCU's TropWATER and funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

This week our Hub Highlight is an exciting event next week run by @fightforourreef @marineconservation.au and @diversforclimate🪸 🐢🐋🤿

The Queensland state election is fast approaching. Do you know where your local candidates stand on protecting our Reef and the 64,000 regional jobs that depend on it?

Join AMCS, Divers for Climate and the Barron River community for our Candidates Forum.

This is your chance to get to know your local candidates and find out what they will do on critical issues like climate, renewable energy, water pollution, and fisheries, as well as hear from scientists and people who work on the Reef.

You can register for tickets and submit questions in advance by checking the link in bio at @fightforourreef.

Join us for the Reef Hub Round Up in the day and head to this event afterwards for a full day of Reef discussions!

This week our Hub Highlight is an exciting event next week run by @fightforourreef @marineconservation.au and @diversforclimate🪸 🐢🐋🤿

The Queensland state election is fast approaching. Do you know where your local candidates stand on protecting our Reef and the 64,000 regional jobs that depend on it?

Join AMCS, Divers for Climate and the Barron River community for our Candidates Forum.

This is your chance to get to know your local candidates and find out what they will do on critical issues like climate, renewable energy, water pollution, and fisheries, as well as hear from scientists and people who work on the Reef.

You can register for tickets and submit questions in advance by checking the link in bio at @fightforourreef.

Join us for the Reef Hub Round Up in the day and head to this event afterwards for a full day of Reef discussions!

🌊The principles behind the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub 🌊

Back in the early days when the idea of a Reef Hub in Cairns-Port Douglas was being developed, @greatbarrierreeffoundation held a series of focus groups. These were to to discuss the idea of what a Hub could do and what it should look like

One of the things that came out of these discussions was a series of principles to guide working together and overall Reef Hub operations.

These principles have been used to guide the development of the Reef Hub and are still at the core of what we do.

Thanks to @greatbarrierreeffoundation and all the local partners who helped to develop these.

The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The Hub is coordinated by TropWATER at James Cook University and enabled by the partnership's Community Reef Protection and Traditional Owner Reef Protection components, and the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program with a network of local partners.

🌊The principles behind the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub 🌊

Back in the early days when the idea of a Reef Hub in Cairns-Port Douglas was being developed, @greatbarrierreeffoundation held a series of focus groups. These were to to discuss the idea of what a Hub could do and what it should look like

One of the things that came out of these discussions was a series of principles to guide working together and overall Reef Hub operations.

These principles have been used to guide the development of the Reef Hub and are still at the core of what we do.

Thanks to @greatbarrierreeffoundation and all the local partners who helped to develop these.

The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The Hub is coordinated by TropWATER at James Cook University and enabled by the partnership's Community Reef Protection and Traditional Owner Reef Protection components, and the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program with a network of local partners.

Hub Highlight: Citizens of the Reef 🌊

This week, we're thrilled to spotlight @citizensgbr, a people powered organisation on a mission to protect the Great Barrier Reef, and reefs worldwide. Over the last four years Citizens of the Reef has pioneered a unique 21st century conservation model to address this global challenge combining everyday people, science and technology. The #GreatReefCensus is one of the world's largest citizen science marine initiatives bringing together top reef scientists and managers, global technology experts, Traditional Owners, local reef communities and virtual volunteers to deliver a highly practical, scalable and economic conservation solution.

Follow @citizensgbr to join this incredible global community of everyday reef conservationists 💙🪸

Don't forget to join our next Lunch and Learn seminar on Thursday 26th September to hear more about the Great Reef Census.

Photo credit to @nicolemclachlanphoto for @theundertowmedia

Hub Highlight: Citizens of the Reef 🌊

This week, we're thrilled to spotlight @citizensgbr, a people powered organisation on a mission to protect the Great Barrier Reef, and reefs worldwide. Over the last four years Citizens of the Reef has pioneered a unique 21st century conservation model to address this global challenge combining everyday people, science and technology. The #GreatReefCensus is one of the world's largest citizen science marine initiatives bringing together top reef scientists and managers, global technology experts, Traditional Owners, local reef communities and virtual volunteers to deliver a highly practical, scalable and economic conservation solution.

Follow @citizensgbr to join this incredible global community of everyday reef conservationists 💙🪸

Don't forget to join our next Lunch and Learn seminar on Thursday 26th September to hear more about the Great Reef Census.

Photo credit to @nicolemclachlanphoto for @theundertowmedia

🤿 Our next Lunch & Learn seminar will be from @citizensgbr 🤿

Citizens of the Reef uses a 21st Century conservation model to involve everyday citizen scientists in reef conservation, helping to protect reefs across the world. The Great Reef Census is delivered in partnership with some of the Reef’s leading scientists and managers. Within just four years, the program has significantly expanded survey coverage across the Great Barrier Reef, helping to capture a broad scale snapshot of reef condition and provide timely information to reef managers and scientists that help to target protections. The Census complements existing monitoring efforts by filling critical information gaps and targeting reefs which are outside of current long-term monitoring programs. Additionally, the data helps to update reef importance scores, identify key source reefs and refugia which assist Crown-of-Thorns starfish control vessels.

In this talk Sean Daly and Dr Chris Lawson will provide the story of Census; from how it started to where it is now, and the science behind Census.

If you are on the mailing list look out for a link in your inbox today! Please reach out if you want the zoom link to join.

🤿 Our next Lunch & Learn seminar will be from @citizensgbr 🤿

Citizens of the Reef uses a 21st Century conservation model to involve everyday citizen scientists in reef conservation, helping to protect reefs across the world. The Great Reef Census is delivered in partnership with some of the Reef’s leading scientists and managers. Within just four years, the program has significantly expanded survey coverage across the Great Barrier Reef, helping to capture a broad scale snapshot of reef condition and provide timely information to reef managers and scientists that help to target protections. The Census complements existing monitoring efforts by filling critical information gaps and targeting reefs which are outside of current long-term monitoring programs. Additionally, the data helps to update reef importance scores, identify key source reefs and refugia which assist Crown-of-Thorns starfish control vessels.

In this talk Sean Daly and Dr Chris Lawson will provide the story of Census; from how it started to where it is now, and the science behind Census.

If you are on the mailing list look out for a link in your inbox today! Please reach out if you want the zoom link to join.

💬 Have you missed any of our Lunch & Learn seminars? You can catch up on the recordings on our website now! 💬

Catch up on Dr @emmafcamp from @future_reefs_lab seminar on @coralnurtureprogram and hear from Prof Michael Rasheed from @jamescookuniversity's @tropwater_jcu on seagrass restoration.

Check out the recordings on the project section of the website and join the mailing list to stay up to date on upcoming Lunch & Learn seminars.

💬 Have you missed any of our Lunch & Learn seminars? You can catch up on the recordings on our website now! 💬

Catch up on Dr @emmafcamp from @future_reefs_lab seminar on @coralnurtureprogram and hear from Prof Michael Rasheed from @jamescookuniversity's @tropwater_jcu on seagrass restoration.

Check out the recordings on the project section of the website and join the mailing list to stay up to date on upcoming Lunch & Learn seminars.

📖 Hub Highlight - new research from @yolandaleewaters, working with tourism operators from our region 📖

See the full summary from Yolanda below and follow her for more information!

------------------------------------
🪸NEW RESEARCH 🪸

The summary version? We spoke to almost 700 tourists on the #GreatBarrierReef about climate change and found that not only does it not ruin anyone’s day, but people are actually hungry for more information, **especially information about action** - and who do they want to hear it from? People who live and breathe the reef everyday! 🐠

This was my favourite thesis chapter to write because it involved working with tourism operators out on the #GreatBarrierReef and people watching in one of my favourite places in the world. Over 6-months, I learned so much about the nuances of climate communication, public opinion of the Reef and the potential role of tourism in promoting widespread, transformative change.

I know tourism still has some tricky questions and ground to navigate as we move forward in a climate changed world, but I deeply believe in the important role that the industry plays moving forward, especially in a country like Aus.

Thanks to all the tourism operators who graciously gave their time and support and collaborated with me for this project, the wonderful volunteers who helped distribute surveys, and my fabulous co-authors 🐟

The article is open access (yay!) and there is a plain language summary available (link in bio)
----------------------------------------

📖 Hub Highlight - new research from @yolandaleewaters, working with tourism operators from our region 📖

See the full summary from Yolanda below and follow her for more information!

------------------------------------
🪸NEW RESEARCH 🪸

The summary version? We spoke to almost 700 tourists on the #GreatBarrierReef about climate change and found that not only does it not ruin anyone’s day, but people are actually hungry for more information, **especially information about action** - and who do they want to hear it from? People who live and breathe the reef everyday! 🐠

This was my favourite thesis chapter to write because it involved working with tourism operators out on the #GreatBarrierReef and people watching in one of my favourite places in the world. Over 6-months, I learned so much about the nuances of climate communication, public opinion of the Reef and the potential role of tourism in promoting widespread, transformative change.

I know tourism still has some tricky questions and ground to navigate as we move forward in a climate changed world, but I deeply believe in the important role that the industry plays moving forward, especially in a country like Aus.

Thanks to all the tourism operators who graciously gave their time and support and collaborated with me for this project, the wonderful volunteers who helped distribute surveys, and my fabulous co-authors 🐟

The article is open access (yay!) and there is a plain language summary available (link in bio)
----------------------------------------

🪸 Last chance to register for the Reef Hub Round Up 🪸

Registrations have been extended until the end of the week, check your inbox or send us an email to get the link to register. We can't wait to see you all there!!

📷 Matt Curnock

🪸 Last chance to register for the Reef Hub Round Up 🪸

Registrations have been extended until the end of the week, check your inbox or send us an email to get the link to register. We can't wait to see you all there!!

📷 Matt Curnock

🤿 Hub Highlight - Jabalbina Rangers @jabalbinaofficial 🤿

The incredible Jabalbina Ranger team is dedicated to caring for their sea Country across diverse habitats. These skilled rangers have earned dive master and boating qualifications, along with specialised training in reef stewardship methods.

They're putting these skills to work with various projects including planting corals on their sea Country, COTS control and assisting Marine Parks with public mooring maintenance.

Follow @jabalbinaofficial and visit their website to learn more about the amazing work they're doing. We’re excited to see what projects they tackle next!

#cpdreefhub #caringforcountry #reefstewardship #coralreef #coralplanting #ranger

🤿 Hub Highlight - Jabalbina Rangers @jabalbinaofficial 🤿

The incredible Jabalbina Ranger team is dedicated to caring for their sea Country across diverse habitats. These skilled rangers have earned dive master and boating qualifications, along with specialised training in reef stewardship methods.

They're putting these skills to work with various projects including planting corals on their sea Country, COTS control and assisting Marine Parks with public mooring maintenance.

Follow @jabalbinaofficial and visit their website to learn more about the amazing work they're doing. We’re excited to see what projects they tackle next!

#cpdreefhub #caringforcountry #reefstewardship #coralreef #coralplanting #ranger

🌊 Don't forget to register for the Reef Hub Round Up!

We’re excited to see everyone in October, and registration is closing soon—so be sure to check your email and sign up before the end of the week!

If you have any questions about the event or the registration process, feel free to send us an email or a message. Thanks to everyone who has registered already.

🌊 Don't forget to register for the Reef Hub Round Up!

We’re excited to see everyone in October, and registration is closing soon—so be sure to check your email and sign up before the end of the week!

If you have any questions about the event or the registration process, feel free to send us an email or a message. Thanks to everyone who has registered already.

🌊 Exciting Coral Recruitment Study Update! 🌊

In late 2023, the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub ran a new collaborative study led by five local partners — @downundercruiseanddive, @passionsofparadise, @quicksilvercruises, @reef_restoration_foundation and @wavelengthreefcruises — to explore coral recruitment rates following the early summer coral spawning.

This joint effort aimed to support the Reef Hub community’s goals to better understand and support the ecological resilience of our region’s reefs.

At a glance…
🔨 Partner organisations deployed 15 limestone recruitment tiles at 2-3 sites per reef.
🪸 Tiles were temporarily placed on the reefs, then later retrieved to estimate coral recruitment (new coral offspring aren't visible to the naked eye until they're almost a year old).
🔬 Members of our wider Reef Hub learned how to identify coral recruits and record data from the 180 tiles deployed back in the lab.
🪸 Recruitment patterns, as expected, were variable within and among the reefs. Clearer trends are more likely to emerge with continued monitoring.
🌍 We hope this is the first step in a long-term study of coral recruitment in our region led by our Reef Hub community!
🌡️ The study will be repeated in 2024, especially to assess how 2024 extreme conditions may affect coral recruitment patterns.
🐠 Learn more about this study at reefhub.com.au and stay tuned for more updates as we continue this vital community-driven research!

The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is coordinated by @tropwater_jcu at James Cook University.

#CairnsPortDouglasReefHub #CoralRecruitment #GreatBarrierReef #MarineScience

🌊 Exciting Coral Recruitment Study Update! 🌊

In late 2023, the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub ran a new collaborative study led by five local partners — @downundercruiseanddive, @passionsofparadise, @quicksilvercruises, @reef_restoration_foundation and @wavelengthreefcruises — to explore coral recruitment rates following the early summer coral spawning.

This joint effort aimed to support the Reef Hub community’s goals to better understand and support the ecological resilience of our region’s reefs.

At a glance…
🔨 Partner organisations deployed 15 limestone recruitment tiles at 2-3 sites per reef.
🪸 Tiles were temporarily placed on the reefs, then later retrieved to estimate coral recruitment (new coral offspring aren't visible to the naked eye until they're almost a year old).
🔬 Members of our wider Reef Hub learned how to identify coral recruits and record data from the 180 tiles deployed back in the lab.
🪸 Recruitment patterns, as expected, were variable within and among the reefs. Clearer trends are more likely to emerge with continued monitoring.
🌍 We hope this is the first step in a long-term study of coral recruitment in our region led by our Reef Hub community!
🌡️ The study will be repeated in 2024, especially to assess how 2024 extreme conditions may affect coral recruitment patterns.
🐠 Learn more about this study at reefhub.com.au and stay tuned for more updates as we continue this vital community-driven research!

The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is coordinated by @tropwater_jcu at James Cook University.

#CairnsPortDouglasReefHub #CoralRecruitment #GreatBarrierReef #MarineScience

🎥 Hub Highlight 🎥

With 20 years of using photography and videography to understand environmental patterns, Johnny Gaskell, a local marine biologist, is known for sharing his personal learning journey through imagery and film. It is an invaluable skill to bring a broad cross section of the community along to observe the complexities, joys and challenges only few have the chance to see firsthand on the Reef.

This footage is one such example, showing coral bleaching recovery filmed from February to early July where brain coral and a spaghetti coral colony both recover from pretty much pure white. Unfortunately not all were so lucky and recovery has been varied in the months after the 2024 summer extremes. Find out more during our next Lunch & Learn, Wednesday 21 August, when @johnny_gaskell shares more of his firsthand experiences collecting this and other stories from the Reef.

#cpdreefhub

🎥 Hub Highlight 🎥

With 20 years of using photography and videography to understand environmental patterns, Johnny Gaskell, a local marine biologist, is known for sharing his personal learning journey through imagery and film. It is an invaluable skill to bring a broad cross section of the community along to observe the complexities, joys and challenges only few have the chance to see firsthand on the Reef.

This footage is one such example, showing coral bleaching recovery filmed from February to early July where brain coral and a spaghetti coral colony both recover from pretty much pure white. Unfortunately not all were so lucky and recovery has been varied in the months after the 2024 summer extremes. Find out more during our next Lunch & Learn, Wednesday 21 August, when @johnny_gaskell shares more of his firsthand experiences collecting this and other stories from the Reef.

#cpdreefhub

🪸 Next Lunch & Learn seminar - featuring Johnny Gaskell 🪸

Join us for our next lunch and learn seminar Wednesday, 21 August. As a local marine biologist and avid documentary filmmaker, @johnny_gaskell will share a visual storyboard of his firsthand observations over the extreme year that was 2024: from the microscopic process of symbiont loss and recovery, to the variability in impacts within a selection of individual reefs in the Northern and Southern GBR.

If you are already on our mailing list, you will have the zoom link in your email. Reach out via email if you need the link.

Feel free to share with colleagues and friends. This is one you won't want to miss! 🐠

🪸 Next Lunch & Learn seminar - featuring Johnny Gaskell 🪸

Join us for our next lunch and learn seminar Wednesday, 21 August. As a local marine biologist and avid documentary filmmaker, @johnny_gaskell will share a visual storyboard of his firsthand observations over the extreme year that was 2024: from the microscopic process of symbiont loss and recovery, to the variability in impacts within a selection of individual reefs in the Northern and Southern GBR.

If you are already on our mailing list, you will have the zoom link in your email. Reach out via email if you need the link.

Feel free to share with colleagues and friends. This is one you won't want to miss! 🐠

🌊 Hub Highlight: North Marine 🌊

This week, we're thrilled to spotlight @north_marine_ , a local commercial marine operator dedicated to supporting reef work across our region and beyond. North Marine stands out for their practical solutions and unwavering support for local reef non-profits, from mooring installations to commercial-grade diving and vessel hire.

Committed to sustainability, North Marine is always innovating and building strong relationships with local organisations. They actively volunteer their help for coral nursery installations, spawning projects, and citizen science monitoring, maximizing every opportunity to support meaningful reef initiatives. Recently, they've partnered with RRAP teams as a floating research vessel for spawning studies.

For anyone in our Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub community seeking capable support for their projects, make sure you consider North Marine. Let's celebrate their generosity and expertise in making a positive impact on our reefs! 🐠💙

#NorthMarine #ReefSupport #CommunityHeroes #CairnsPortDouglas

🌊 Hub Highlight: North Marine 🌊

This week, we're thrilled to spotlight @north_marine_ , a local commercial marine operator dedicated to supporting reef work across our region and beyond. North Marine stands out for their practical solutions and unwavering support for local reef non-profits, from mooring installations to commercial-grade diving and vessel hire.

Committed to sustainability, North Marine is always innovating and building strong relationships with local organisations. They actively volunteer their help for coral nursery installations, spawning projects, and citizen science monitoring, maximizing every opportunity to support meaningful reef initiatives. Recently, they've partnered with RRAP teams as a floating research vessel for spawning studies.

For anyone in our Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub community seeking capable support for their projects, make sure you consider North Marine. Let's celebrate their generosity and expertise in making a positive impact on our reefs! 🐠💙

#NorthMarine #ReefSupport #CommunityHeroes #CairnsPortDouglas

Join us for the inaugural Reef Hub Round Up on Thursday October 10th 2024! This full-day event will be hosted at James Cook University's Nguma-bada campus in Smithfield.

The Reef Hub Round Up will provide an opportunity to hear about the work of those in the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub network and meet others who are involved in reef stewardship in the region. The day will feature mini talks with time for Q&A to connect, find out more about other projects and identify opportunities to collaborate. There will also be an afternoon forum for discussion around a few key topics.

To register please check your emails for the link! If you aren't on the mailing list yet just send us a message. This event will be in-person only for attendees from the region.

We are looking forward to connecting with all of you and hearing about the incredible reef stewardship efforts happening in our region!

Join us for the inaugural Reef Hub Round Up on Thursday October 10th 2024! This full-day event will be hosted at James Cook University's Nguma-bada campus in Smithfield.

The Reef Hub Round Up will provide an opportunity to hear about the work of those in the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub network and meet others who are involved in reef stewardship in the region. The day will feature mini talks with time for Q&A to connect, find out more about other projects and identify opportunities to collaborate. There will also be an afternoon forum for discussion around a few key topics.

To register please check your emails for the link! If you aren't on the mailing list yet just send us a message. This event will be in-person only for attendees from the region.

We are looking forward to connecting with all of you and hearing about the incredible reef stewardship efforts happening in our region!

🏝️ Hub Highlight - Tourism Tropical North Queensland 🏝️

@tropicalnorthqueensland showcases the stunning environment of Cairns and the Far North, from the rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef and everything in between.

TTNQ offers informative blogs and web pages that delve into reef health and how everyone can contribute to ongoing research and protection of the GBR. Their blogs and itineraries highlight ways for visitors to experience the GBR, fostering a love for the reef and a desire to protect it.

Follow @tropicalnorthqueensland for the latest updates from our region, and use #exploreTNQ and #explorecairnsgbr to be featured!

🏝️ Hub Highlight - Tourism Tropical North Queensland 🏝️

@tropicalnorthqueensland showcases the stunning environment of Cairns and the Far North, from the rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef and everything in between.

TTNQ offers informative blogs and web pages that delve into reef health and how everyone can contribute to ongoing research and protection of the GBR. Their blogs and itineraries highlight ways for visitors to experience the GBR, fostering a love for the reef and a desire to protect it.

Follow @tropicalnorthqueensland for the latest updates from our region, and use #exploreTNQ and #explorecairnsgbr to be featured!

🌊 Reef Foundations Workshop - On Country Days 🌊

Last week, we took our Reef Foundations workshop to the next level by transitioning from classroom sessions to hands-on practice on Country.

We trained at Wunyami (Green Island) and Yule Point, exploring the beaches at low tide. Participants honed their skills in identifying seaweeds, corals, and various marine animals. Everyone also learnt how to collect valuable data to monitor seagrasses and how to identify different seagrass species.

A huge thank you to the rangers from @jabalbinaofficial, Yirrganydji, Mandingalbay-Yidinji, and Gunggandji for joining us.

🌊 Reef Foundations Workshop - On Country Days 🌊

Last week, we took our Reef Foundations workshop to the next level by transitioning from classroom sessions to hands-on practice on Country.

We trained at Wunyami (Green Island) and Yule Point, exploring the beaches at low tide. Participants honed their skills in identifying seaweeds, corals, and various marine animals. Everyone also learnt how to collect valuable data to monitor seagrasses and how to identify different seagrass species.

A huge thank you to the rangers from @jabalbinaofficial, Yirrganydji, Mandingalbay-Yidinji, and Gunggandji for joining us.

🎙️Hub Highlight - Word on the Reef podcast 🎙️

@Wordonthereefpodcast is a new podcast series telling the stories of divers, conservationists and Traditional Owners on the Great Barrier Reef and aims to inspire urgent action to protect the natural wonder.

With a background in journalism and 12 years’ experience working as a marine naturalist, dive instructor and conservationist on the Reef, host @tanyamurphymusic has plenty of expertise to share, and a range of exciting guests joining her on the show.

“Through this podcast series I take people on a journey to see the Reef through the eyes of those who know it best, exploring the enduring wonders it still holds - while also sharing some of the threats it’s facing, and the things we can all do to help protect it," says Tanya.

Episodes include deep dives into First Nations conservation knowledge, hair-raising encounters with marine life like whales and sea turtles, and first-hand reports of this summer’s coral bleaching event from scientists who live and work on different areas of the Reef.

‘Word on the Reef’ podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all other major podcast platforms.

🎙️Hub Highlight - Word on the Reef podcast 🎙️

@Wordonthereefpodcast is a new podcast series telling the stories of divers, conservationists and Traditional Owners on the Great Barrier Reef and aims to inspire urgent action to protect the natural wonder.

With a background in journalism and 12 years’ experience working as a marine naturalist, dive instructor and conservationist on the Reef, host @tanyamurphymusic has plenty of expertise to share, and a range of exciting guests joining her on the show.

“Through this podcast series I take people on a journey to see the Reef through the eyes of those who know it best, exploring the enduring wonders it still holds - while also sharing some of the threats it’s facing, and the things we can all do to help protect it," says Tanya.

Episodes include deep dives into First Nations conservation knowledge, hair-raising encounters with marine life like whales and sea turtles, and first-hand reports of this summer’s coral bleaching event from scientists who live and work on different areas of the Reef.

‘Word on the Reef’ podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all other major podcast platforms.

🪸🐠🐚 Our first Reef Foundations workshop 🐚🐠🪸

Last week we worked with @russellkelleycoral to deliver a reef foundations workshop with local Indigenous Rangers. We were joined by rangers from @jabalbinaofficial, Yirrganydji, Mandingalbay Yidinji and Gunggandji, @gmyppbc for a two day workshop.

We learnt about the origins of the GBR, life cycles, connectivity and identifying flora and fauna. We got some experience identifying samples in the classroom, but we have been putting the skills into practice on Country this week, watch this space for some photos from this!

If you want to check out the amazing ID guides we were using you can find more information about them here: https://byoguides.com

🪸🐠🐚 Our first Reef Foundations workshop 🐚🐠🪸

Last week we worked with @russellkelleycoral to deliver a reef foundations workshop with local Indigenous Rangers. We were joined by rangers from @jabalbinaofficial, Yirrganydji, Mandingalbay Yidinji and Gunggandji, @gmyppbc for a two day workshop.

We learnt about the origins of the GBR, life cycles, connectivity and identifying flora and fauna. We got some experience identifying samples in the classroom, but we have been putting the skills into practice on Country this week, watch this space for some photos from this!

If you want to check out the amazing ID guides we were using you can find more information about them here: https://byoguides.com

💚🌱 Hub highlight - Seagrass Restoration 🌱💚

The @tropwater_jcu team have been working to restore seagrasses in Mourilyan Harbour. They have partnered with Traditional Owner Rangers from the Cairns and Mourilyan region and are working with community volunteers to collect seagrass fragments in Cairns and trial new ways to restore the seagrass meadow that was lost in Mourilyan.

Find out more about this project and how you can get involved this year in our next Lunch and Learn seminar with Professor Michael Rasheed next week.

#seagrass #generationrestoration #restoration #greatbarrierreef #volunteering

💚🌱 Hub highlight - Seagrass Restoration 🌱💚

The @tropwater_jcu team have been working to restore seagrasses in Mourilyan Harbour. They have partnered with Traditional Owner Rangers from the Cairns and Mourilyan region and are working with community volunteers to collect seagrass fragments in Cairns and trial new ways to restore the seagrass meadow that was lost in Mourilyan.

Find out more about this project and how you can get involved this year in our next Lunch and Learn seminar with Professor Michael Rasheed next week.

#seagrass #generationrestoration #restoration #greatbarrierreef #volunteering

🌱 Next Lunch & Learn seminar - seagrass restoration 🌱

Join us for our next lunch and learn seminar to find out about the first large scale seagrass restoration project in tropical Australia, aiming to replenish more than 400 hectares of seagrass habitat devastated by cyclones and La Nina weather events more than a decade ago. The team at @tropwater_jcu are working with Traditional Owners and local communities and are aiming to restore five hectares of meadows wiped out a decade ago. They will also work to speed the recovery of meadows that are struggling to recover from cyclone damage and consecutive years of heavy wet season impacts leading up to 2011. Find out more about the progress of this project so far, and how you can get involved this year.

You can join our mailing list or send us a message to get the zoom link for the seminar. Those of you on the mailing list will get a calendar invite this week!

🌱 Next Lunch & Learn seminar - seagrass restoration 🌱

Join us for our next lunch and learn seminar to find out about the first large scale seagrass restoration project in tropical Australia, aiming to replenish more than 400 hectares of seagrass habitat devastated by cyclones and La Nina weather events more than a decade ago. The team at @tropwater_jcu are working with Traditional Owners and local communities and are aiming to restore five hectares of meadows wiped out a decade ago. They will also work to speed the recovery of meadows that are struggling to recover from cyclone damage and consecutive years of heavy wet season impacts leading up to 2011. Find out more about the progress of this project so far, and how you can get involved this year.

You can join our mailing list or send us a message to get the zoom link for the seminar. Those of you on the mailing list will get a calendar invite this week!

🔥Hub Highlight - MYAC Trainee Ranger Program 🔥

The Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation (MYAC) ranger traineeship has been designed to develop vocational skills and deliver training to provide a pathway to employment.

The ten trainee rangers have been getting experience with a range of different projects including:
🌊 Beach clean ups and monitoring with Tangoroa Blue
🪃 Cultural tour guide training
🌿 Ecological surveys to identify cultural and scientific values of flora and fauna to assist with developing an eco cultural walking trail promoting reconciliation, cultural tourism and training and employment pathways
🌱 Learning how to undertake mangrove and seagrass monitoring on Country
⚓ The group even had the opportunity to have a guided tour of a US navy vessel which was docked in Cairns

Follow MYAC on Facebook to find out more about their projects and check out Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours to learn from the Rangers on their Country.

#seagrassmonitoring #teamwork #skillingqueenslanders #workskills #culturaltourism #ecologicalsurvey #trainingonthejob #traineerangers #myac

🔥Hub Highlight - MYAC Trainee Ranger Program 🔥

The Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation (MYAC) ranger traineeship has been designed to develop vocational skills and deliver training to provide a pathway to employment.

The ten trainee rangers have been getting experience with a range of different projects including:
🌊 Beach clean ups and monitoring with Tangoroa Blue
🪃 Cultural tour guide training
🌿 Ecological surveys to identify cultural and scientific values of flora and fauna to assist with developing an eco cultural walking trail promoting reconciliation, cultural tourism and training and employment pathways
🌱 Learning how to undertake mangrove and seagrass monitoring on Country
⚓ The group even had the opportunity to have a guided tour of a US navy vessel which was docked in Cairns

Follow MYAC on Facebook to find out more about their projects and check out Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours to learn from the Rangers on their Country.

#seagrassmonitoring #teamwork #skillingqueenslanders #workskills #culturaltourism #ecologicalsurvey #trainingonthejob #traineerangers #myac

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