EYE ON THE REEF

Eye on the Reef is the official citizen science program for users on the Great Barrier Reef being largely designed around volunteers collecting and submitting data directly to GBRMPA (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority). 

Eye on the Reef Tourism Weekly Monitoring Surveys represents a successful partnership between the tourism industry, Marine Park managers and researchers. Like all GBRMPA survey methods, Tourism Weekly is focussed on the 4 major impacts to coral (Damage, Disease, Predation, Bleaching) but also for this survey 25 categories of life, being functional and iconic species or groups.

These major impacts and species groups are in fact the most beneficial information that volunteers can contribute and GBRMPA are always looking for more people to be trained in the different methods that record those variables.

The Rapid Monitoring tool is a widely applicable citizen science method that provides data on both reef impacts and functional groups as a concise snapshot of coral reef health at a site. Like GBRMPA's other survey methods, Rapid Monitoring can be learnt using their extensive online training course.

For all community members, no matter what their level of expertise, the Sightings Network including the smartphone app is the easiest method for reporting simple observations of anything important seen. It is currently the official method for all volunteers to instantly report on Crown-of-Thorns starfish. 

Eye on the Reef: 

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/eye-on-the-reef/f?p=150:LOGIN:10749271933387

https://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/our-work/eye-on-the-reef  

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/visit-the-reef/eye-on-the-reef/tourism-weekly-monitoring-surveys 

Rapid Monitoring:

https://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/265433/Eye-on-the-Reef-rapid-brochure.pdf

Sightings Network:

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/sightings-network/