That’s a wrap for the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative
Over the past 18 months, our passionate team of skippers, crew and Master Reef Guides have been actively involved in the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative. The Initiative – funded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as part of the Australian Government‘s Reef Protection Package – saw 26 tourism operators throughout the Marine Park conduct reef protection services at their high-value tourism sites.
These activities included conducting Eye on the Reef surveys, controlling coral eating pests like the crown-of-thorn starfish and to facilitate Traditional Owner and community visits to the Great Barrier Reef.
Our passionate team have dove head-first into this opportunity, and not only gathered some incredible results, but have further educated themselves and found new inspiration to help deliver better experiences to our guests.
We’re proud to announce the following results delivered through this Initiative, for the Great Barrier Reef:
2214 Reef Health and Impact surveys
196 Tourism Weekly surveys
331 Rapid Monitoring
150 service days
3320 photos added to ReefCloud database
1743 corals planted in key sites
89 crown-of-thorns starfish controlled
1621 coral eating Drupella snails controlled
“The Tourism Reef Protection Initiative is an opportunity that benefited all parties, from surveys submitted painting a picture of reef health to the repurposing of our vessels, upskilling staff and engagement and opportunities for Traditional Owners to get on Country. This Initiative highlights the positive efforts being made to protect the Australian icon that is the Reef.”
James – Environmental Manager
The benefits of this Initiative will not end now. Ocean Rafting remains committed to continue these benefits for the Reef. This has further established a strong foundation of environmental actions by our team, which will continue to benefit Ngaro Country and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and those who come to enjoy it.
Watch our wrap-up video here!
