CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd

The Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (incorporated as CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd) is a knowledge-based partnership of coral reef managers, researchers and industry. CRC Reef provides research solutions to protect, conserve and restore the world's coral reefs by ensuring industries and management are sustainable and that ecosystem quality is maintained. The needs of end-users are incorporated into the design, instigation and progress of research.

Centrally located to the Indo-Pacific region, in Townsville in far northern Queensland, CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd and its partners are an internationally-recognised focus of expertise and experience in coral reef science, technology and management.

The CRC Reef Research Centre was established and is supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program.

CRC REEF RESEARCH PRIORITIES

The priorities for CRC Reef's research are determined by the Board in consultation with users of the research. The list of CRC Reef research tasks is available by clicking here. In addition, the CRC Reef is actively seeking resources and partners to pursue research in areas which are crucial to sustaining coral reefs around the globe.

Water quality

• Identifying causes of poor water quality (including terrestrial run-off)
• Quantifying effects of poor water quality
• Assessing solutions to stop decline in water quality
• Sustainable Aquaculture
• Impact of land use on the Great Barrier Reef

Coral bleaching

• Understanding the adaptability of corals
• Predicting ecosystem effects
• Developing remediation or reseeding methods
• Establishing monitoring networks
• Understanding the health of corals

Crown-of-thorns starfish

• Establishing the major causes or triggers for outbreaks
• Assessing the role of human activities (especially water quality and predator removal)
• Assessing impacts on tourism
• Developing effective control methods

Biodiversity (use & conservation)

• Mapping biodiversity at ecosystem, species and genetic levels
• Studies of vulnerable and threatened species
• Developing sustainable uses of biodiversity (non-extractive uses such as bioproducts)

Sustainable fisheries (commercial, recreational & traditional)

• Quantifying sustainable harvest levels
• Assessing environmental impacts
• Understanding the social and economic dimensions of fishing
• Developing new and more rapid assessment methods
• Reducing the mortality of released fish

Environmental sustainability of ports and shipping

Sustainable tourism

• Understanding the capacity of the region for tourism (including shore-based capacity)
• Assessing tourist perceptions and enhancing tourism experiences
• Assessing the effects of crowding on tourism (as it relates to management policies)
• How best to use the Great Barrier Reef sustainably