Exploring the S.S. Yongala wreck. Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland
There are plenty of ways you can help the Reef. Whether it’s reducing your individual waste and carbon emissions, cleaning up local environments, using environmentally friendly products or supporting conservation and citizen science efforts—everyone can play their part. And one of the most enjoyable ways to help is to visit the Reef and see it for yourself.
Australians are proud of our Reef and want to make sure future generations can appreciate its beauty and wonder.
The Queensland Government is investing heavily and working with communities and thousands of people and groups to safeguard it.
Industries such as agriculture, councils, urban developers, fishing, ports and tourism continue to improve their practices and reduce impacts on the Reef.
Together we’re making progress, but there’s a lot more to do. That’s why we need your help: whether it’s finding out more, taking action, visiting the Reef or donating to a project.
Reef heroes
Landholders, community groups, individuals and industries are our Reef heroes taking actions to improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
- Reef Champion Award winners
Our award winners include farmers, extension officers, Traditional Owners and community leaders who are working to reduce their impact on the Reef. - Landholders’ stories
Read these landholders’ stories to learn more about how farmers are improving the quality of water flowing to the Reef.
Take climate action
Everyone can take steps to reduce their individual carbon emissions and help the Reef. One of the best ways to reduce your emissions—and save money at the same time—is using less energy.
- Queensland Climate Action Plan
Find out more about the actions you can take as an individual, community, business, industry or local government through the Queensland Climate Action Plan website. - Ecobiz
Small to medium businesses can find out how to make their operation more sustainable and reduce water, energy and waste expenditure through the Ecobiz program.
Citizen science programs
You can help protect and manage the Great Barrier Reef through citizen science projects and volunteering opportunities that help protect and monitor wildlife and habitats, clean up the Reef and collect data.
- Eye on the Reef
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s monitoring and assessment app enables Reef visitors to collect valuable information about Reef health, marine animals and incidents. - CoralWatch
Based at The University of Queensland, CoralWatch works with volunteers worldwide to increase understanding of coral reefs, coral bleaching and climate change. - Seagrass restoration projects - CQUniversity
Community volunteers help collect seagrass flowers and seeds for use in seagrass restoration. The Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre at CQUniversity germinates the seeds and replants them when conditions are right, providing an important food source for turtles and dugong. - Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef
Their mission is to scale up conservation efforts for the Great Barrier Reef and reefs around the world. You can get involved in the Great Reef Census and analyse images of Great Barrier Reef coral from anywhere. - Reef Check Australia
Reef Check Australia empowers communities to support healthy reefs through hands-on reef research, education and practical conservation. - Project Manta
Based at The University of Queensland, this project investigates the population biology and ecology of manta rays in eastern Australia with photo identification being one of the key research methods. - Citizen science projects
Find out more about citizen science projects in Queensland. - MangroveWatch
MangroveWatch is focussed on the research, education and conservation of mangrove and tidal wetland environments. - Volunteering opportunities
There are also a range of volunteering opportunities in Queensland’s national parks throughout the Reef catchments.
Invest or donate
Your support can make a difference to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
- Department of Environment and Science
Through the Department of Environment and Science you can donate to support important environmental initiatives. - Reef Credit Scheme
The scheme provides a unique opportunity for corporates to invest in work that directly protects the Reef while meeting their policy, investment or corporate responsibility charters. - Science investment opportunities
There are many opportunities for businesses to identify investment and partnership opportunities related to scientific research. - Invest in tourism
Queensland offers investors a wealth of opportunities to invest in tourism accommodation and attractions throughout the Reef regions. - Great Barrier Reef Foundation
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation has a range of opportunities for fundraising, workplace giving and leaving a gift in your will.
Visit the Reef
There are so many ways to experience the Reef: dive it, snorkel it, sail it, sleep on it, kayak it, learn about it, fly above it. By visiting you’re contributing to its conservation and helping to protect it for many generations to come.
- Tourism and Events Queensland
Find out more about places to see, things to do and plan your holiday through the Tourism and Events Queensland website. Visitors to the marine park make an important contribution through the environmental management charge with a portion of the ticket price for commercial tourism activities contributing to the day-to-day management and conservation of the Reef. - Master Reef Guides
The program, delivered by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators and Tourism and Events Queensland, trains world-leading Reef guides and interpreters and is the first of its kind in the world. - Great Barrier Reef islands
Learn more about Great Barrier Reef islands including the facilities they have, those you can camp on, information about their natural and cultural values and how we are working to manage pests. You can also help us keep these islands pest free. - Zoning rules
Before visiting the Reef, make sure you’re familiar with the zoning rules. Each zone has different rules for the activities that are allowed, the activities that are prohibited and the activities that require a permit. - Public moorings
Coral reefs can be damaged by a vessel, anchor or chain. If you are using your own boat, use public moorings where available and ensure you are aware of no-anchoring areas. The Reef Trails project is installing new public moorings and no-anchoring areas in the Whitsunday and Townsville areas. - Cultural and maritime heritage
Take the opportunity to learn more about the cultural and maritime heritage of the Great Barrier Reef which dates back tens of thousands of years. - Parks and forests
The Department of Environment and Science Parks and forests website contains useful information about finding a park, camping, vehicle permits, things to do and park alerts including those in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. - Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program
The program provides a subsidy to primary and secondary school students in Queensland for school excursions along the length of the Reef.
Reduce your waste
No matter where you live, you can help protect the Great Barrier Reef by reducing your waste and reusing and recycling items. And if you live in or visit a Reef catchment you can help by cleaning up waterways and the coastline.
- Let’s Get It Sorted
Find out what items can go in your yellow lid recycling bin to make sure we’re all recycling as much as we can, and recycling correctly. - Tackle plastic pollution
Find out more about Queensland’s plan to tackle plastic pollution including the single-use plastic items ban. - Reduce food waste
Organic material, including food waste, makes up about half of what Queenslanders throw away in their wheelie bin. When disposed to landfill, organic matter contributes to climate change. Fight food waste at home by changing a few habits, including preparing only what you need, storing food appropriately and using your leftovers. - Marine debris
Find out more about why marine debris is a major threat to the health of the Great Barrier Reef, killing marine life such as turtles, dugongs, dolphins and seabirds. - Littering and illegal dumping
Help stop littering and illegal dumping by reporting it. Reports about significant pollution incidents can be made via the Department of Environment and Science’s Pollution Hotline.
Case studies
Visit the Great Barrier Reef with a Master Reef Guide
Master Reef Guides are striving to be the world’s leading Reef guides, interpreters and storytellers sharing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area through engaging, entertaining and educational experiences that exceed visitor expectations. Watch the Master Reef Guide experiences video to learn more about Master Reef Guides.
Image details
Master Reef Guides provide advice and assistance to visitors to the Reef.
Photo credit: © Commonwealth of Australia (GBRMPA)
Restoring seagrass beds
Volunteer citizen scientists have spent more than 1000 hours collecting over one million seagrass seeds to help restore seagrass beds which provide habitat for fish, filter nutrients and sediment, trap carbon and are an important food source for dugong and turtles. Learn more about this project which is run by Professor Emma Jackson, Director Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) at CQUniversity.
Master Reef Guide Sam
Master Reef Guide Sam Appleton, owner of Keppel Dive and Snorkel, helps enhance visitors experience of the Reef through education and encourages them to get involved in citizen science projects such as Eye on the Reef.
