Gladstone Ports Corporation is partnering with experts in reef restoration from CQUniversity, the University of Technology Sydney and Monsoon Aquatics to assist the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) at key reef sites in the Port of Gladstone. This collaborative 2025-2028 Coral Restoration Project is utilising cutting-edge phenotype and genetic testing to identify and reproduce identified heat-resilient corals en masse. The first of its kind in Australia, this project aims to set the benchmark for cost-effective, scalable restoration – delivering real on-ground benefits and building long-term reef resilience through deployment of thermally-tolerant corals.
This pioneering Coral Restoration Project supports the objectives of the GBR Marine Park Authority and International Coral Reef Initiative, assisting the resilience of the GBR by undertaking research into creating coral reef, using transplanted coral grown from a land-based coral aquaculture facility. Using best-practice methods in coral conservation, the project team is using various methods to select the best local corals to grow and return to the ocean. The complex interactions between macroalgae (seaweed) and coral is also being investigated to ensure the success of any coral restoration efforts.
Stage 1 applied expert knowledge of the local species and site conditions to optimise site and infrastructure selection. In Stage 2, the risk to the population genetic diversity is being addressed to ensure reared corals maintain site resilience and diversity. The project team has selected resilient corals while maximising genetic diversity, ensuring the best chance of survival for out-planted corals and optimising cost-effectiveness. Following this, the team will have the key knowledge to scale up the restoration either locally, across the wider GBR, or on reefs worldwide.
The macroalgal (seaweed) component will identify key competitive mechanisms and restoration windows, where coral out planting can be optimised, moving the restoration practice towards a holistic ecosystem restoration approach.