Our staff and guests conduct regular reef monitoring under different programs.

Eye on the Reef

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort staff participate in the Eye on the Reef monitoring and assessment program run by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The program enables anyone who visits the Great Barrier Reef to contribute to its long-term protection by collecting valuable information about reef health, marine animals and incidents.

  1. Sightings monitoring: The simplest monitoring method is recording sightings. Guests can download the Eye on the Reef app and share photos of what you have seen out on the Reef.  This can be anything from wildlife (including protected species,) to pests like Crown- of- thorns starfish or marine pollution, to special events like coral spawning. LEIER staff also do Sightings monitoring.
  2. Reef health surveys: Our staff undertake reef health surveys. They use an underwater monitoring slate to record more specific keystone species and crucial Reef health observations. Staff must undertake a GBRMPA training course to complete these surveys.

For further information and to download the app, please visit the GBRMPA website.

Reef Check and REEFSearch

Our guests have the opportunity to become ‘Citizen Scientists’ and undertaken marine surveys. Guest snorkellers, reef walkers or SCUBA divers take out a REEFSearch underwater slate and record the type and size of marine life they see. Slates are available in the Education Centre for guests to use at their leisure and guests can upload their survey findings and photos into the REEFSearch Hub in the Education Centre or once they return home. This information forms part of the international Reef Check marine monitoring database.

Reef Check qualified guests can undertake more intensive monitoring at the 5 Reef Check monitoring sites around the Island. You can see information collected by their teams on the online RCA Reef Health Database.

CoralWatch

CoralWatch is a not-for-profit citizen science program based at The University of Queensland working with volunteers worldwide to increase understanding of coral reefs, coral bleaching and climate change.

The aim of coral watch is to assess coral health and determine if corals at key sites have bene impacted from bleaching. A Coral Health Chart is used to check for changes in coral colours, and therefore coral health. The colours on the Coral Health Chart are based on the actual colours of bleached and healthy corals

We ask that guests pick up a CoralWatch Coral Health Chart from the education centre before your next snorkel, scuba dive or reef walk. The chart is an easy-to-use tool that is so simple, and no prior training is needed. You can ask to enter your data in the education centre or alternatively download CoralWatch data entry app before you visit the island.

Visit the CoralWatch website www.coralwatch.org for more info about the program