CITIZEN SCIENCE ON THE REEF

Enhance your experience, and make a real difference to the reef’s future, by signing up to one of these eco-friendly, citizen science projects.

SIGN UP WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS ECO BARGE CLEAN (ECOBARGECLEANSEAS.ORG.AU) OR TANGAROA BLUE (TANGAROABLUE.ORG) TO HELP OUT WITH BEACH CLEAN- UPS OR ASSIST WITH ANY MARINE DEBRIS TRIPS.

Take part in a reef monitoring program such as EYE ON THE REEF (gbrmpa.gov.au) or REEF CHECK (reefcheckaustralia.org) and help researchers collect valuable information about reef health, marine animals and incidents. All you have to do is swim, snorkel or dive and download an app which allows you to submit GPS-tagged photographs of wildlife, pollution, coral bleaching and pests to the appropriate authorities.

Snap photos of any man ta rays you come across as you enjoy the reef and share them with Project Man ta (biomedical-sciences.uq.edu.au) so researchers can better understand the rays’ movements, distribution and growth rates. If you identify a newman ta ray, you’ ll also score naming rights.

Spend a little time volunteering at Bundaberg’s MON REPOS TURTLE CENTRE (npsr.qld.gov.au), home to six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles, or help look after sick or injured marine turtles at Fitzroy Island’s TURTLE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION ( cairnsturtlerehab.org.au). Not only is it a great experience, but you’ll come away from your trip feeling like you’ve made a positive difference in the world.