Lexi Webster
The Australian government is taking several steps to protect the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site and a natural treasure home to thousands of species of marine life. The Reef is under threat from climate change, poor water quality, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, among other issues. The Australian government has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to protecting and researching the Reef, including a $1.2 billion Reef Protection package to expand the Crown-of-Thorns Control Program and a $27 million research program, the Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative. The government is also investing in initiatives to improve water quality, strengthen partnerships, and reduce fishing-related risks to protected species.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount invested by the Australian Government | $3.7 billion from 2014 to 2030 |
| Amount invested by the Queensland Government | $1.3 billion from 2014 to 2030 |
| Amount invested by the Australian Government per year | $1.2 billion |
| Amount invested by the Australian Government in 2018 | $377 million |
| Amount invested by the Australian Government in the Crown-of-Thorns Control Program | $161,424,000 |
| Amount invested by the Australian Government in the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in 2018 | $444 million |
| Amount invested by the Australian Government in the Great Barrier Reef Foundation since 2016 | $500 million |
| Amount invested by the Australian Government in the Great Barrier Reef Foundation since 2012 | $2 billion |
| Amount invested by the Australian Government in the Tourism Industry Activation and Reef Protection Initiative | $1.2 billion |
| Amount invested by the Australian Government in the Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative | $27 million |
| Number of coral reefs protected by the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program | 335 |
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What You'll Learn
Investing in research and management
The Australian government has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to protecting and researching the Great Barrier Reef, which is home to thousands of species of marine life and supports tens of thousands of jobs. The government's investment in the Reef from 2014 to 2030 is more than $5 billion, with over $3.7 billion coming from the Australian Government. This funding will be used to improve water quality, strengthen partnerships and stewardship, reduce fishing-related risks to protected and threatened species, and enhance management of the Reef.
The Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative (ACRRI) is a significant research program that aims to influence the size of future adult fish populations and the amount of coral cover on a reef. This initiative takes a ''whole-of-system' approach to reef restoration, combining research in coral re-seeding with healthy reef sounds to attract fish and enhance the resilience of coral reefs impacted by climate change. The program brings together research from two World Heritage sites: the Woppaburra Coral Project on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and the Reef Song Project at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and on the Great Barrier Reef.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is a key partner in the ACRRI, working to improve coral survivorship and optimise heat tolerance. The AIMS research team in Ningaloo, Western Australia, is exploring the roles of fish husbandry and herbivory in promoting ecosystem recovery, including whether attracting more fish to a reef positively influences coral settlement and growth after fertilisation.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) is also playing a crucial role in reef protection through its management of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program. This program uses science-based evidence, dedicated vessels, professionally trained crews, and strategic surveillance and monitoring to target efforts and locations effectively. The Australian Government's $1.2 billion Reef Protection package includes an additional $161,424,000 to expand this program over nine years, ensuring the protection of high-value coral reefs and tourism sites.
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Funding restoration and conservation work
The Australian government has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to protecting and restoring the Great Barrier Reef, recognising its critical natural, cultural, and economic value. From 2014 to 2030, the government has pledged over $3.7 billion, with an additional $1.2 billion investment until 2030. This funding will address key threats to the reef, including climate change, poor water quality, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
The Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative (ACRRI) is a significant program that receives funding from the government's investment. ACRRI is a seven-year, AUD 27 million research program that takes a ''whole-of-system'' approach to reef restoration. It combines research in coral re-seeding and healthy reef sounds to attract fish and enhance the resilience of coral reefs impacted by climate change. The initiative spans two World Heritage sites: the Woppaburra Coral Project on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and the Reef Song Project at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, also extending to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program is another critical program receiving funding support. This program uses science-based evidence, dedicated vessels, professionally trained crews, and strategic surveillance and monitoring to target control efforts. Since 2012, the program has protected more than 335 coral reefs from the destructive starfish. The Australian government's $1.2 billion Reef Protection package includes an additional $161 million to expand this program over nine years, ensuring the protection of high-value coral reefs and tourism sites.
Additionally, the government's funding will support projects that help the reef adapt to a changing climate, improve water quality, and strengthen partnerships with First Nations people and local communities. The investment also aims to reduce fishing-related risks to protected and threatened species and enhance management of the reef.
Through these substantial financial commitments, the Australian government is taking decisive action to protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef, ensuring its long-term resilience and conservation for future generations.
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Improving water quality
The Australian government is taking several steps to improve water quality as part of its efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef. From 2014 to 2030, the government has committed over $5 billion in investment, with more than $3.7 billion coming from the Australian Government. Of this, $1.2 billion will be invested until 2030 to improve water quality, strengthen partnerships and stewardship, and reduce fishing-related risks to protected and threatened species.
The Australian government has also announced a $1.2 billion Reef Protection package, which includes an additional $161,424,000 to expand the Crown-of-Thorns Control Program over nine years. This program aims to protect high-value coral reefs and tourism sites by controlling the crown-of-thorns starfish, a major cause of coral decline. This investment is in addition to the Australian Government's $2 billion investment under the Reef 2050 Plan, which outlines targets for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which received a significant portion of the $377 million investment from the Australian government in 2018, also works to limit pollution and improve water quality in the Reef. This funding is intended to support restoration work, fight the crown-of-thorns starfish, and monitor the reef's condition.
The Australian government's efforts to improve water quality in the Great Barrier Reef are crucial to protecting this critical natural asset, which provides billions of dollars and supports tens of thousands of jobs in the Queensland and Australian economies.
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Reducing fishing-related risks
The Australian government has invested more than $3.7 billion from 2014 to 2030 to protect the Great Barrier Reef, which is home to thousands of species of marine life and is a critical natural asset, contributing billions of dollars to the Australian economy.
A significant part of this funding is dedicated to reducing fishing-related risks to protected and threatened species. This includes the following initiatives:
- The Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative (ACRRI) is a research program that aims to influence the size of future adult fish populations and the amount of coral cover on a reef. It takes a ''whole-of-system'' approach to reef restoration, combining research in coral re-seeding with healthy reef sounds to attract fish and improve the resilience of coral reefs affected by climate change.
- The Woppaburra Coral Project, a partnership with the Woppaburra Traditional Custodians, focuses on improving coral survivorship and optimising heat tolerance through research in coral seeding, survivability, and growth.
- The Reef Authority's Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program aims to protect coral on 'priority' reefs by culling crown-of-thorns starfish populations, which are a major cause of coral decline. The Australian Government has provided additional funding to expand this program over nine years, securing its future and enhancing the protection of high-value coral reefs and tourism sites.
- The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's management also includes controlling the voracious predator, the crown-of-thorns starfish, to protect coral cover and support reef resilience.
- The Australian Government's $1.2 billion COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund includes the Tourism Industry Activation and Reef Protection Initiative, which supports reef tourism jobs and reef protection.
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Mitigating climate change
The Australian government has acknowledged the threat of climate change to coral reefs, especially the Great Barrier Reef, and is taking increased action to address it. The government has committed over $3.7 billion from 2014 to 2030 to protect the Great Barrier Reef, with more than $377 million dedicated to combating climate change and its impacts.
One of the key initiatives is the Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative (ACRRI), a seven-year, AUD 27 million research program in partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and BHP. ACRRI takes a ''whole-of-system'' approach to reef restoration, combining research in coral re-seeding with healthy reef sounds to attract fish and enhance the resilience of coral reefs affected by climate change. The program spans two World Heritage sites: the Woppaburra Coral Project on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and the Reef Song Project at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.
The work of AIMS and BHP focuses on understanding the role of fish in the recovery of coral reef ecosystems. They are collecting underwater recordings from healthy reefs and playing them back through underwater loudspeakers to simulate the sound of a healthy reef, attracting fish to the area. This research is the first of its kind to examine whether attracting more fish to a reef positively influences coral settlement and growth, potentially laying the foundation for a novel ecosystem-based approach to support coral reef resilience, adaptation, and restoration.
Additionally, the Australian government is investing in initiatives to improve water quality, strengthen partnerships and stewardship, and reduce fishing-related risks to protected and threatened species. These efforts are in line with the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, which guides actions to restore and protect the Reef through investments delivered by the Reef Trust.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian government is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to protect and research the Great Barrier Reef. The government has also committed to taking increased action on climate change and funding initiatives to build the Reef's long-term resilience.
The Australian government has invested $500 million Australian dollars (more than $377 million US dollars) to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Most of the money will go to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
The Australian Coral Reef Resilience Initiative (ACRRI) is a seven-year, AUD27 million research program that combines research in coral re-seeding with healthy reef sounds to attract fish and improve the resilience of coral reefs being affected by climate change.
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program is a key tool in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's management arsenal to protect coral cover and support reef resilience. The Australian government has provided an additional $161,424,000 to expand the program over nine years.
