Monitoring inshore reefs

Inshore reefs of the Great Barrier Reef cover only a small part of the World Heritage Area, but their health has high significance.

Because of their closeness to the land, inshore reefs are used extensively for recreational activities such as fishing. They are exposed to river runoff and sources of pollution from the adjacent catchment, coastal development and shipping and many are located where bleaching risk is potentially high.

AIMS has been surveying inshore reefs as part of the long-term reef monitoring program since 1992. The number of reefs surveyed was expanded in 2004 for a specific baseline assessment of the condition of GBR inshore reefs.

Since 2005, 28 inshore reefs have been routinely monitored under the Reef Plan Marine Monitoring Program. This monitoring includes assessments of sea floor ("benthic") cover of corals, soft corals and macroalgae, and the size-distribution and recruitment of corals.

Data describing trends in benthic cover, recruitment and demographics will be integrated with other research and water quality monitoring data to better understand the dynamics and resilience of these important reefs and to support the management of coastal resources..

March 17, 2008