Reefs are changing faster and at bigger spatial scales than ever before, challenging traditional monitoring resources. The Great Reef Census is an innovative citizen science-based approach designed to deliver new ways of capturing large-scale reconnaissance data from across large reef systems such as the Great Barrier Reef. It seeks to establish a broad snapshot of the Reef’s condition in a credible, scientifically sound way while also mobilising the Australian and global community in its ongoing protection. The Census further aims to complement on-going and more spatially detailed monitoring while providing a unique lens and capacity to provide timely gaps in knowledge that enables broader reef research, impactful management and conservation.
Specifically, the Great Reef Census activates a survey “flotilla” of boats from private and commercial sectors to collect geo-referenced reefscape photographs from prioritised reef locations during a targeted annual campaign across the entirety of the GBR — a ‘shared economy’ approach to building a billion-dollar research infrastructure. Survey information and photographs are uploaded to a digital platform for analysis and validation by a combination of a global virtual volunteer workforce, experts and AI. This talk will give an overview of the advancements over the first two years of the program from the in-water campaign and custom analysis platform. We will also provide a snapshot of year 1 results and how the information has been used to drive active management decisions on the Reef.