Issue 277 – Resilience, recovery and the Reef

This issue provides a snapshot of the Great Barrier Reef and the latest research to help protect and restore it.

2. Aerial flood photographs taken in the Townsville region

Buying time for the Barrier Reef – shading coral and controlling starfish show promise at large scale

Shading corals to reduce mass bleaching and expanding the control of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish—if socially acceptable and done on a large scale—could buy at least 10 to 20 years for the Great Barrier Reef, according to scientists who have for the first time modelled all of the world’s biggest marine ecosystem.

Our researchers take a ‘deep dive’ into understanding what people think about synthetic biology and the Great Barrier Reef

A study about social responsibility in synthetic biology research and development for conserving the Great Barrier Reef

Pictured are dive staff from a Townsville tourism operator sitting on the front of a boat. They are pictured visiting John Brewer Reef. Image by Matt Curnock, CSIRO.

Sun shines on the Great Barrier Reef over summer

Get a glimpse into how the Great Barrier Reef has fared over the summer and the actions being taken to protect it.

A satellite image of the coast of Queensland near Townsville. A brown plume swirls into the blue/green water near the coast at the mouth of the Burdekin River.

eReefs: integrated environmental intelligence for managing the Reef

This interactive platform puts information about management options and past, present, and future conditions of the Reef at users’ flipper-tips.

The front cover of the Second World Ocean Assessment, showing the title, volume and a fisheye image of divers swimming over a coral reef.

Second World Ocean Assessment is afloat

CSIRO’s contribution to the United Nations’ Second World Ocean Assessment has showcased Australia’s world-leading marine science expertise.

Cracking lupin wide open: from test sausages to protein ingredient

Harnessing the power of protein from lupin has been a decades-long process, but it’s finally seeing the light.

Close-up shot of a Loggerhead turtle with barnacles on its shell swimming over coral reefs.

A complete DNA barcode library to manage Australia’s environment

eDNA is poised to revolutionise the way we monitor Australia’s natural environment but it relies on a complete reference library of DNA barcodes. That's where we step in. CSIRO is working with partners to create this library for Australia’s most important species.

A boat sits on the water while the bush behind it (on the edge of the lake) is on fire.

One House to save many

Sometimes playing with fire is actually the safest option – especially when you’re building houses designed to withstand extreme events.

Sea-lebrating coral restoration efforts

Our researchers have been on the larvae lookout of the coral kind on the Great Barrier Reef to trial new, innovative techniques to restore damaged parts of the Reef.