Inshore Reef Monitoring

Inshore coral reefs such as those fringing islands are often those most visited and used by local communities for recreation. However, due to this level of use and their proximity to coastal development and agriculture, they are perceived to be most at risk from human impacts.

Reef Check’s inshore monitoring program provides communities, scientists and managers with status and trends of the coral and algae populations, counts of targeted fish such as coral trout as well as counts discarded fishing line.

Reef Check volunteers monitored a number of sites around the Palm Island Group just North of Townsville during 2005-6 and currently monitor 6 sites around Magnetic Island. We aim to expand upon the number of sites we can monitor in the inshore regions to include sites that are held as special places to their local communities.

Current inshore monitoring programs include:

• Reef Check Townsville
• Fishing Line Clean-up
• Recreational Fish Monitoring
• Palm Island Community Reef Check
  

In addition to reef monitoring: scientists, managers, industry and community are working together to reduce the effects of land-based water quality pollution on our Great Barrier Reef. For more information see:
• Creek to Coral
• Reef Plan
• Catchment to Reef