Research Programs

CRC Reef Research Centre coordinates research which delivers science, education and training to tourism and fisheries industries, and coral reef managers. Research within CRC Reef is divided into research programs. Each program is divided into research projects which, in turn, are split into research tasks.

Conserving World Heritage Values (Program A)

Program Leader: Prof Helene Marsh, JCU

The aim of this program is to enable policy makers and environmental managers to use all relevant information in decision making for the use and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef region in accordance with its World Heritage values. More details | Task List

Sustainable Industries (Program B)

Program Leader: Ms Anne Clarke, DPI&F

This program aims to provide critical information for and about the operations of the key uses of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area that are needed to manage those activities. More details | Task List

Maintaining Ecosystem Quality (Program C)

Program Leader: Dr Peter Doherty, AIMS

This program aims to generate critical information, relevant products and useful advice that will assist users, interested members of the Australian public, industry operators and natural resource managers to know the status and trends of marine ecosystems within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area through development of benchmarks and performance indicators. More details | Task List

Healthy Country Healthy Reef

Program leader: Ms Sheriden Morris, CSIRO

Water from catchments on land flows out to sea, so healthy catchments also mean healthy reefs, seagrass beds and coastal habitats for marine life such as dugongs and turtles. Improving the quality of water running from our rivers to the Great Barrier Reef is an effort that requires a collaborative approach between governments, scientists, land-owners and the community. This program aims to deliver the tools needed to improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef. Task list

Reef Futures (Program D)

Program Leader: Dr Britta Schaffelke, JCU and CRC Reef

This program aims to improve the management and use of information within CRC Reef, to catalyse and participate in integrative projects, and to facilitate knowledge transfer among CRC Reef’s members, and between CRC Reef and its key client groups. More details | Task List

Torres Strait (Program T)

Program Leader: Dr David Williams, CRC Reef

In 2003, CRC Reef received support from the Commonwealth ($3 million over three years) to establish a new research, education and extension program in Torres Strait. The program brings together the main resource management agencies, research institutions and stakeholders in Torres Strait as well as the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), representing the Torres Strait community. More details