Standard Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting 2023

The role of community-based Hubs in reef restoration: Collaborative monitoring at Moore Reef (#40)

Abbi Scott 1 , Katie Chartrand 1 , Matt Curnock 2 , Bruce Taylor 3 , Jenn Loder 4 , Rebecca Forster 5 , Carly Randall 5 , Andrea Severati 5 , Eric Fisher 6 , Ryan Donnelly 7 , Hannah Kish 7 , Brian Murgha 8
  1. Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, 4878
  2. CSIRO Environment, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811
  3. CSIRO Environment, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102
  4. Great Barrier Reef Foundation, 13/300 Ann St Brisbane, QLD, 4102
  5. Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, QLD, 4810
  6. GBR Biology, 1 Spence St, Cairns City, QLD, 4870
  7. Reef Restoration Foundation, 43 The Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, 4870
  8. Gunggandji Land and Sea Rangers, Gunggandji Prescribed Body Corporate Aboriginal Corporation, 13 Smith Street, Yarrabah, QLD, 4871

The Cairns-Port Douglas region is home to multiple coral rehabilitation and stewardship projects supported by scientists, Traditional Owners, and a range of local stakeholders. The Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub has been a platform for collaboration across Traditional Owners, tourism operators, not-for-profits and scientists from the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (AIMS and CSIRO) to design and deliver a project at Moore Reef that assesses how new techniques for assisted coral recovery can be applied in rubble habitats. The collaborative project evaluates the viability of newly engineered coral seeding devices developed by AIMS, for deploying coral recruits that were spawned in the National Sea Simulator in December 2022 to sites at Moore Reef close to tourist pontoons. This project provides important data to inform future scaling up of restoration activities and provides a model for active involvement of a range of partners. Through this work, the project builds understanding around key ingredients for best-practice, place-based engagement opportunities for Reef communities and the general public.