Citizen science groups across the Great Barrier Reef are a powerful force, collecting important information on everything from mangroves to manta rays, and coral to coastal habitats. Volunteers help gather quality information and data, enhancing both community and Reef management decisions.

Citizen science projects come in all shapes, sizes and subjects - from mangroves to manta rays, and coral to coastal habitats. Join like-minded people for group activities, or collect data in your own time, in or out of the water. Volunteers produce real and tangible results, with the information and images used by professional scientists, reef managers, communities or conservation groups.

Citizen science provides an opportunity for everyone to work together to help protect the Reef.

Reef Citizen Science Alliance

The Reef Citizen Science Alliance is a network that fosters collaboration, capacity building, advancement and action for citizen science that benefits the Great Barrier Reef. 

Citizen science for the Reef in 2015

13


citizen science alliance members

353


events

500


locations

5,600


volunteers

40,000


hours

78,000


data points

Get involved

Sea fan coral

Volunteering

CoralWatch

CoralWatch integrates global monitoring of coral bleaching with education about coral reef conservation. They are active in more than 70 countries, and are based at The University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia

Whale shark

Volunteering

Eye on the Reef

Eye on the Reef is a powerful monitoring program managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority which enables anyone who visits the Great Barrier Reef to collect valuable information on its health.

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Volunteering

Fitzroy Partnership for River Health

Formed from a unique collective including mining, energy, agriculture, government, business and community organisations. Their vision is to provide a more complete picture of river health in the Fitzroy Basin.

Ocean Waves

Volunteering

Healthy Waterways

Healthy Waterways is working to protect and improve South East Queensland waterways for the benefit of society, the environment and a healthy economy.

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Volunteering

MangroveWatch

MangroveWatch is a community-science partnership and monitoring program aimed at addressing the urgent need to protect mangroves and shoreline habitat worldwide.

Manta Ray, Manta alfredi

Volunteering

Project Manta

Project Manta is a multidisciplinary study of the ecology and biology of manta rays around Australia. You can be part of the research by sharing your photos of manta rays.

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Volunteering

Redmap

Redmap stands for Range Extension Database and Mapping project. This project invites Australians to share sightings of marine species that are ‘uncommon’ to their local seas.

Rainbo Dixon photographs seaweed

Volunteering

Reef Check Australia

Reef Check Australia believes in protecting reefs and oceans by empowering people. They are an innovative environmental charity dedicated to engaging the community in hands-on reef research and education.

Beach clean-up

Volunteering

Tangaroa Blue Foundation

Tangaroa Blue Foundation coordinates the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) which is a network of volunteers and partners around the country monitoring the impacts of marine debris along our coastlines.

Seagrass

Volunteering

Wildlife Queensland Coastal Citizen Science

The health of our seagrass and mangroves are under constant threat from both natural and human impacts. By joining the Wildlife Queensland Coastal Citizen Science team of volunteers, you can be trained to contribute to the management of the Moreton Bay.

Want to contribute to a great cause and explore the wonders of this unique environment at the same time? 

Citizen science gives you the opportunity of a lifetime to experience the Great Barrier Reef and beyond - like never before.

Contact us to get involved

Jenn Loder- Project Director Community Stewardship & Reef Islands Projects

Partner