Department of Environment, Science and Innovation’s Post

Wouldn't you rather be here? 🐢😍 Lucky for some of our staff, they get to enjoy the beautiful sites of Raine Island. Our Raine Island Recovery Project aims to protect and restore the island’s critical habitat to ensure the future of key marine species, including green turtles and seabirds. 🔍 The island is the world's largest green turtle rookery, seeing up to 100,000 adult females migrate here each season. 🐢 Phase 1 of the Raine Island Recovery Project was a six-year collaboration between BHP, the Queensland Government, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Wuthathi People and Meriam Nation (Ugar, Mer, Erub) People and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The Raine Island Recovery Project Phase 2 is a collaboration between the Queensland Government and Australian Government and the Wuthathi People and Meriam Nation (Ugar, Mer, Erub) People to re-establish and maintain Raine Island as a viable island. Join us in thanking everyone involved in this vital project for the extremely important work they're doing for turtle habitat. 👏 #QueenslandEnvironment

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a huge ecosystem - larger than the size of Italy! To manage and protect this vast ecosystem, it takes a collective effort. Since time immemorial, Traditional Owners have interwoven their culture and spirituality with the Land and Sea Country of the Great Barrier Reef. Now, it's critical that we - the Reef Authority - walk side by side with the over 70 First Nations communities to manage, protect, and care for Country. Now in its 20th year, Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRA) works with communities to manage their Sea Country, their way - with a union of traditional knowledge and modern science. These Agreements are community-based plans for management of traditional resources which are accredited in legislation and have proved a successful mechanism for joint management of the Reef. They describe how Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner groups work in partnership with the Australian and Queensland governments to manage traditional use activities on their Sea Country. Repost: @gbrmarinepark 📷 Gavin Singleton, Yirrganydji. #LovetheReef #forcefornature #conservationevolved #wildliferangers #wildlifehero #wildlifeconservation

To safeguard migrating marine turtles, it's crucial to grasp their population patterns and where they reside. For instance, young green turtles depart a Costa Rican beach, feeding near Bermuda for two decades. Upon maturity, they come back to their birthplace in Costa Rica to breed, lay eggs, and perpetuate their lifecycle. Dive into 👉 bit.ly/3PM7Mxa to learn more about the #BermudaTurtleProject, our joint initiative with SEA TURTLE CONSERVANCY, INC. #WildlifeWednesday

Exciting Update for World Oceans Day 2024! Our partner, Reef Restoration Foundation is thrilled to announce the modification of coral nurseries at Fitzroy Island and Moore Reef sites. Through strategic action and innovative techniques, we are now building and preserving spawning stock in mobile midwater nurseries. This approach aims to introduce hundreds of millions of coral larvae to the ecosystem annually. The impact of this methodology shift is truly significant, as we continue to scale up the project, continuing to increase its positive outcomes. CEO, Ryan Donnelly, says the shift to using the midwater coral ‘trees’ as spawning ‘forests’ is just the first step in a rapidly evolving program that will grow exponentially in the next couple of years. We'd like to acknowledge the organisations that have contributed to the Moore Reef recovery site: Coles Group, Costa, Gilmac Pty Ltd, Kalgin Global Logistics & Mondiale VGL. #WorldOceansDay #ProtectOurOceans #OceanConservation #MarineLife #SaveOurSeas #HealthyOceans #OceanAwareness #LifeBelowWater #Actingforplanet #UNSDGs #Oceania #Australia 🐠🌿🌏 

Boosting Marine Life: Georgia’s New Artificial Reef Initiative In a commendable step towards enhancing marine biodiversity, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division (CRD) has introduced a 41-foot retired tugboat to Reef KBY off Cumberland, establishing an artificial reef. This initiative, in collaboration with Amelia Island Marina, mirrors a broader commitment to augmenting marine habitats, fostering a flourishing abode for a myriad of marine species, and unlocking new avenues for recreational activities like fishing and diving. Discover more about this fascinating venture and how such efforts are instrumental in preserving and enriching Georgia's coastal and marine assets by checking out the link below. https://lnkd.in/eAHhXD6e #MarineConservation #ArtificialReefs #MarineBiodiversity #GeorgiaCoast #MarineHabitat #EcoFriendlyInitiatives #SustainableFishing #RecreationalFishing

The oceans and the marine life within them are so important to us at JUST ONE Tree! That’s why we’re super excited to partner with WILDCOAST to restore mangroves in two areas of Mexico - Baja California and Oaxaca. The iconic Laguna San Ignacio in Baja California Sur, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the LAST breeding ground of the California gray whale. A study carried out by WILDCOAST (with the support of the United Nations Development Programme) identified 287 acres of potential mangrove restoration sites across Laguna San Ignacio. These have the potential capacity to store up to a whopping 129.8 tons of carbon per acre. So there's lots of work to be done in this area! In Oaxaca, lies Morro Ayuta - at 9 miles long, it's the second most important mass nesting beach in the world for Olive Ridley sea turtles. The mangroves and dunes provide protection to over one million sea turtles that arrive each year to nest. However, sedimentation from upland deforestation, illegal logging and fires have degraded the mangrove forest that surrounds Morro Ayuta, putting this beach and the sea turtles at risk. We're thrilled that JUST ONE Tree is now part of this important mangrove restoration work, which will help combat climate change, support the local communities and protect such amazing marine life. #conservation #mangroves #restoration #undp Amanda Bronkhorst

🌊 Diving into a world of ocean conservation with the Edges of Earth team and Marine Conservation Institute reveals the untold stories of stewardship and resilience. A recent partnership announcement sheds light on their mission to expand the Blue Parks initiative globally, uniting champions for marine protection. 🐠 🌀 Expedition insights will spotlight the success of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), showcasing the tangible impact on habitats and marine life in regions spanning the globe. The documentation of flourishing ecosystems aims to inspire a new wave of conservation efforts and direct engagement. 🌏 🔍 Metaphorically speaking, this collaboration is like connecting the dots on a vast canvas, revealing intricate patterns of dedication, sustainability, and interconnectedness that breathe life into our oceans. 🌊🌐 🦭 As the Edges of Earth team embarks on a journey to remote corners like Panama, Baja, Galapagos, South Africa & Mozambique, Vancouver Island, their narrative will unfold, emphasizing the critical role of MPAs in safeguarding our marine ecosystems. 🐬🌍 🌟 The Blue Parks initiative, championed by Marine Conservation Institute, serves as a beacon for oceanic revitalization, illustrating how empowered communities can be the guardians of our blue planet. 🌊💙 https://lnkd.in/gaRaFEyc #MarineConservation

The word BULA (a Fijian greeting also meaning ‘life’) was immortalised beneath the Malolo waters off Plantation Island Resort over the weekend coinciding with World Oceans Day. Fijian NGO Corals for Conservation unveiled the BULA Reef, an important new ‘super’ coral nursery initiative, developed as part of the UNESCO-endorsed Reefs of Hope program. Reefs of Hope is the first coral-focused climate change adaptation program ever endorsed at UN level, as UNESCO has formally endorsed its work as part of its ‘Ocean Decade of Action’, providing the highest level of international recognition. My client, Plantation Island Resort, has been working with Reefs of Hope founder, Dr Austin Bowden-Kerby since 2018 to develop coral nurseries and to establish a model implementation site for the region, as coral reefs all over the earth face widespread threat from bleaching due to warming seas resulting from climate change. Because of the diversity of life found in these habitats created by corals, coral reefs are often called the "rainforests of the sea” and are important for sustaining community food security, tourism, and coastal protection in Fiji and globally.  Congratulations to Plantation Island Resort and C4C on this incredible project 💙 Fun Fact! BULA reef is 16 metres tall and 45 metres across, and the word is spelled out in elevated metal frame platforms installed by C4C and Plantation Island’s team. By comparison, the famous Hollywood sign in Los Angeles has letters just 13.7 meters tall and is 106 meters long. So, Bula is written in the biggest letters on earth, but the word is shorter.  BULA Reef off Plantation Island Resort’s coast is now the largest rescue reef of its kind in history, written in over a thousand heat-adapted “super corals” Glasshouse Communications #OceanDecade #WorldOceansDay #PlantationIslandResort #CoralsForConservation #TourismFiji #BULAReef

𝗔 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 : 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 At LivingSeas, we're committed to restoring vibrant coral reefs, and our choice of coral species reflects our dedication to 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. That's why we've chosen the Acropora coral for our planting initiatives. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘀𝗸? Because it's the fastest-growing coral species out there! With our goal of reviving reef ecosystems swiftly, staghorn corals are key to accelerating the process. By cultivating these corals, we aim to recreate thriving reefs, teeming with diverse marine life. In fact, our efforts have already shown promising signs. On our coral restoration sites, we've spotted 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 seeking refuge amidst the newly planted corals. These sightings are a testament to the success of our conservation endeavors. But we can't do it alone. Your support has been instrumental in driving our mission forward. Each coral planted brings us one step closer to our vision of a healthy and vibrant ocean ecosystem. Join us for our 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟰𝘁𝗵. Together, let's make a difference and create a brighter future for our oceans. Sign up here : https://lnkd.in/eyU8X5Ub and be part of the movement to protect our marine habitats. #LivingSeas #CoralRestoration #StaghornCoral #AcroporaCoral #ReefRegeneration #MarineConservation #OceanProtection

🌍 Coral Reefs: Critical and Vanishing 🌍 Coral reefs, though they cover less than 0.1% of our ocean, are home to 25% of its wildlife and support 850 million people in coastal communities worldwide. These ecosystems are vital to our planet's health and our communities' livelihoods. However, with rising ocean temperatures, coral reefs are disappearing at an alarming rate. Learn more about the Coral Reef Rescue Initiative, a collaborative effort to protect these crucial ecosystems and support the communities that depend on them. 📽️ Watch the video and join the effort to save our reefs! https://lnkd.in/g_t2gfKr #CoralReefRescueInitiative #OceanConservation #Sustainability #EnvironmentalProtection