For over a decade, Earthwatch Australia, James Cook University (JCU), and Mitsubishi Corporation have been at the forefront of coral reef conservation. Through the Recovery of the Great Barrier Reef Project, they are pioneering innovative reef restoration techniques to safeguard this critical ecosystem.

During Phase 3 (2022–2024), the project achieved remarkable milestones:

• 82 participants across nine expeditions

• 105 in-water days dedicated to reef restoration

• 1,005 kg of macroalgae removed from degraded reef sites

• 1,800 square meters of reef surveyed for critical data collection

This hands-on conservation work is providing vital insights into reef resilience and restoration.

In 2024, Cyclone Kirrily put the project’s restoration efforts to the test, causing widespread reef damage at Yunbenun (Magnetic Island). Yet, the results were striking: post-cyclone data revealed that sea-weeding sites recovered significantly faster than control plots, proving the effectiveness of this approach. This finding reinforces the importance of proactive restoration efforts in strengthening reef resilience.

The journey doesn’t stop here. Earthwatch and JCU are now scaling up restoration efforts beyond Magnetic Island, with plans to expand sea-weeding across the Great Barrier Reef and launch similar projects worldwide. With continued support from Mitsubishi Corporation and key partners, this project is proving that community-driven conservation delivers real-world results.