Welcome to The Reef Authority

Recent Submissions

• 2018–2023 Monitoring of Repositioned Coral Bommies at Manta Ray Bay, Hook Island, Whitsunday Island Group

  (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2026) Srinivasan, M; Ceccarelli, D; Jones, G; Williamson, D; Mattocks, N; Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

  Show more

  Following a major cyclone in 2017, 400 tonnes of Porites coral bommies stranded in the intertidal zone were relocated sub tidally in Manta Ray Bay off Hook Island (Whitsunday Islands). Earthmoving machinery was used to restore coral habitat, improve aesthetics and access to the beach, and test novel marine park management techniques. Over the next five years 22 bommies were monitored for remnant live coral tissue, recruitment and growth of new corals and other benthic organisms. Fish species density and diversity was also recorded using a single line transect. While little of the original Porites tissue survived due to extended exposure (about 84 days), the relocation achieved all other objectives. Coral recruits to the bommies increased from 17 in 2018 to 457 in 2023, with 16 coral genera recorded. Other benthic fauna also increased. Fish diversity and density increased significantly, from 20 fish species and 894 fish/1,000 m² in 2018 to 57 species and 1,442 fish/1,000 m² in 2023. This project provided valuable insights on habitat change and recovery on artificially placed structures, contributing to the growing field of reef restoration. Continued monitoring and additional restoration efforts may be considered by management agencies.

  Show more
• Local Marine Advisory Committee Meetings May 2026

  (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2026) Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

  Show more

  Summary of discussion topics provided to the Reef Authority

  Show more
• A description of Northern Pisonia grandis populations in Australia

  (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2026) Aestra; David Fell Environmental

  Show more

  This report presents a review of Pisonia grandis forests on islands north of Townsville in the northern Great Barrier Reef, focusing on improving understanding of their distribution, ecological structure, condition, and associated threats. The review synthesises findings from rapid ecological assessments and desktop investigations to provide a regional overview of P. grandis ecosystems and the pressures influencing their resilience and long-term persistence. Pisonia grandis is a key ecological component of tropical island systems throughout the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to island stability, nutrient cycling, and the provision of important seabird nesting habitat. While southern Great Barrier Reef populations are relatively well documented, knowledge gaps remain regarding the trajectory, resilience, and vulnerability of northern populations, particularly in response to climate change and other threatening processes. The review examines the biogeographical distribution of P. grandis, the structure and composition of associated ecological communities, the condition of forests across the northern Great Barrier Reef, and the range of natural and anthropogenic threats affecting these habitats. In doing so, the report identifies key habitat functions provided by P. grandis forests and highlights current and emerging ecological pressures that may influence future management priorities. This work forms part of the Restoration of Reef Islands (RORI) Project, delivered through the Reef Joint Field Management Program by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Trust administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The project aims to support the rehabilitation, enhancement, and long-term resilience of island ecosystems within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area through targeted management of known threats and improved understanding of ecological risk.

  Show more
• Rapid ecological assessment report – Douglas, Cairncross and Wallace islets

  (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2026) Aestra

  Show more

  This report presents the findings of rapid ecological assessments conducted on Douglas Islet, Cairncross Islets, and Wallace Islet in the northern Great Barrier Reef, focusing on quantifying biodiversity values and identifying key ecological threats to Pisonia grandis forests. The assessment provides a snapshot of island condition and potential stressors affecting P. grandis, with particular attention to the presence and impacts of soft scale (Pulvinaria urbicola), alongside other pressures such as weeds and invertebrate activity. The study was designed as a rapid survey rather than a comprehensive inventory of island flora and fauna, and therefore provides targeted observational data to inform management priorities. The assessments also included limited sampling of root and soil material for future analysis of ectomycorrhizal associations and genetic research, with all samples retained for future processing and not analysed within this report. The findings are intended to support management of Pisonia-dominated ecosystems by improving understanding of current condition, emerging threats, and ecological pressures across northern Great Barrier Reef islands, where knowledge gaps remain regarding system trajectory and resilience. This work forms a key deliverable under the Restoration of Reef Islands Project, delivered through the Reef Joint Field Management Program (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) in partnership with Ipima Ikaya Aboriginal Corporation, and Aestra as the environmental delivery partner, and funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust. The project aims to support the rehabilitation, enhancement, and long-term resilience of island ecosystems within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

  Show more
• Rapid survey for Pisonia grandis - Bajigal and Bimi (Stephens and Sisters islands) Supplementary island threat assessment report

  (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2026) Aestra

  Show more

  This report presents the findings of rapid ecological assessments undertaken on Bajigal (Stephens Island) and Bimi (Sisters Island), located on Mandubarra Country in north Queensland. The study focuses on identifying and assessing populations of Pisonia grandis and associated ecological values and threats across the two islands. Using a rapid survey approach, the assessment provides a snapshot of island condition, including the presence of key threatening processes such as invasive species, cyclone impacts, and the occurrence of soft scale (Pulvinaria urbicola), a known driver of decline in Pisonia forests elsewhere in the Great Barrier Reef. The surveys also document broader biodiversity values, including seabird nesting habitat, littoral rainforest communities, and regionally significant flora. The findings are intended to complement existing management knowledge and support targeted conservation actions by outlining current ecological conditions and potential risks to Pisonia-dominated systems. This report provides a practical evidence base to inform management and monitoring efforts aimed at maintaining and enhancing island ecosystem health within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This work forms a key deliverable under the Restoration of Reef Islands Project, delivered through the Reef Joint Field Management Program (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) in partnership with Mandubarra Land and Sea Inc, and Aestra as the environmental delivery partner, and funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust. The project aims to support the rehabilitation, enhancement, and long-term resilience of island ecosystems within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

  Show more