New CSIRO survey of 900 Tasmanians shows strong love for the coast, but almost 70 percent worry about rapid change. Ocean warming, plastic waste, and biosecurity top the list. Scientists are the most trusted voices, with strong support for restoration work.

Originally trained as a microbiologist, Vera Möller lives just metres from the Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary in southern Victoria. Her art evolves from field observation, marine immersion drawing inspiration from the Great Southern Reef, greatsouthernreef.com/vera-moller

Hidden beneath Jurien Bay’s seaweed canopies lies a burst of life. From the mighty Turbo jourdani to bright nudibranchs, scientists and volunteers are revealing how rich these reefs are and how you can help protect them. Learn more: greatsouthernreef.com/jurien-bay

The Big Fish card game is finally here! This new game brings sustainable fishing to your table, balancing catch, conservation & chaos. Perfect for classrooms or game nights, every move means balancing catch, conservation & competition to keep your fishing spot thriving. bigfishcardgame.com

Seeds of the Sea is a new citizen science project focused on the flowering and fruiting of Posidonia australis, a long-lived seagrass that underpins healthy ecosystems across the Great Southern Reef. Learn how to spot flowering seagrass and report your sightings at seedsofthesea.org

Giant Australian cuttlefish are now hatching in South Australia’s Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park. To mitigate the risk from the harmful algal bloom, the State and Federal governments installed a bubble curtain to protect more than 50,000 eggs. Footage: DEW / Stefan Andrews

After months of loss, signs of resilience are emerging. Photos of live sand crabs, blue crabs and young reef fishes offer hope for recovery in areas impacted by SA's Harmful Algal Bloom. Read Janine Baker’s full Spring Situation update: greatsouthernreef.com/2025-sa-alga... Images: Troy Johnson

The extensive harmful algal bloom that wreaked havoc over thousands of kilometres of South Australia’s marine environment has continued into mid-spring in some areas. Read the full Spring Situation update by marine ecologist Janine Baker: greatsouthernreef.com/2025-sa-alga...

Eastern blue gropers are protected across NSW, with a full ban on fishing extended until at least 2028. By safeguarding large males, managers are protecting this iconic species and the ecological role it plays in holding back urchin numbers & keeping kelp forests intact. 🎥 by Maya Santangelo

In Jess Nguyen’s urchin tethering study, one striking result was the effect of predator diversity. “Finding that reefs with more predator species had faster urchin predation really showed the importance of predator diversity, not just abundance” Learn more: greatsouthernreef.com/urchin-preda...

New research from UNSW and the University of Tasmania reveals how predator size and diversity influence urchin predation on New South Wales reefs. Large male blue gropers were responsible for three-quarters of all urchin attacks. Learn more: greatsouthernreef.com/urchin-preda...

Sea Urchin documentary 'White Rock' will be screened at the NSW Parliament on 15 Oct. Guest speakers will lead a discussion on the ecological and cultural emergency facing NSW Sea Country. Limited number of free tickets available here: events.humanitix.com/whiterock-ns...

Scientists have developed a scalable “holdfast-graft” method to reseed Tasmania’s lost giant kelp forests. By binding hatchery kelp to other seaweed stubs, divers achieved 40× higher survival. Within a year, the grafted kelp began reproducing—kick-starting self-sustaining forests. #GreatSouthernReef

In addition to its striking appearance, what makes the longsnout boarfish stand out is its unusual feeding habits. Along with the worms you’d expect from a bottom-dwelling predator, it also preys on brittle stars.. a rare choice among fishes.

Pygmy Blue Whale sighting at Bussleton! Megan Wood who captured the encounter reflected on the experience “we are incredibly lucky to call this place home, and it is our responsibility to care for it and protect it"

Tonight: join marine ecologist Dr. Elodie Camprasse for an online session exploring the incredible life of Australia’s Great Southern Reef. Rego link: tinyurl.com/3vcu8rzr

New research reveals turban snails (Gugumbal), long harvested across Sea Country, are shifting south as ocean waters warm. The study modelled 3 Gugumbal species and show range contractions in southern Qld, and new populations appearing further south. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

GSR Research Partnership Members Prof. Thomas Wernberg & Prof. Sean Connell have been honoured with the 2025 ITRS Award for ‘Life-long Service & Contributions to Marine Science’. This recognition highlights their decades of leadership and lasting impact on temperate reef science globally.

Meet the humble ascidian, a.k.a. sea squirt. New research suggests one species could alter the role of reefs in a warming ocean. At Solitary Islands they increased 4x. The microbes within produce N₂O, a greenhouse gas about 300x more potent than carbon dioxide.

For Dominic Buyers, every dive begins long before he enters the water. From tides to topographical maps, preparation shapes every image he creates. He prefers diving between slack high and outgoing tide, when visibility improves and marine life appears more active.

The Hippolyte Rocks, off the Tasman Peninsula, is challenging to access due to rough weather, but when conditions align, the visibility, colours, and marine life are unmatched. Video by our latest feature creator Dominic Buyers.

Shaun de Bruyn is the CEO of the Tourism Industry Council of SA and was part of the GSR HAB delegation to Canberra. “From a scientific perspective, the GSR which supports $11.5 billion in jobs, seafood and tourism, deserves long-term funding to track ecosystem change on a level similar to the GBR”

The GSR HAB Delegation has returned from meeting with PM Albanese, federal ministers, senators & senior officials to call for enhanced & coordinated national action. The science ask was clear: an immediate $6M, 2yr investment to deliver the GSR’s first cross-state biodiversity health check.

New global review warns that marine heatwaves are becoming longer, stronger & more frequent, with far-reaching impacts. For the GSR, these findings highlight the urgency of coordinated monitoring to understand impacts & guide timely, effective management responses. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

New research published in Science warns that ocean-based climate interventions are moving faster than our ability to regulate, monitor, and evaluate them. One of their key messages is that monitoring must be comprehensive & connected. theconversation.com/marine-clima...

Giant Australian Cuttlefish are still gathering in large numbers and currently laying plenty of eggs, with the waters around Point Lowly remaining clean. Today, the SA Government is holding an emergency meeting to plan for risks from the harmful algal bloom spreading to the upper Spencer Gulf.

ABC News has highlighted our seven urgent actions to tackle SA’s toxic algal bloom and prepare for future climate-driven disasters. Priorities include cutting emissions, reducing pollution, monitoring the Great Southern Reef, and boosting research to prevent and recover from future crises.

“Labor questioned on funding for Great Southern Reef amid algal bloom in SA Rebekha Sharkie gets the next crossbench question, and asks whether the government will increase funding for the monitoring of Great Southern Reef, as the algal bloom affects South Australia.”

Scientists release 7 point action plan to tackle SA's catastrophic algal bloom, emphasising urgent, strategic responses. Among the key recommendations is establishing long-term monitoring for the Great Southern Reef. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...

Footage captured yesterday at Ardrossan, Yorke Peninsula, reveals more underwater impacts of SA's Harmful Algal Bloom. With neon green water, the seabed was littered with dead and dying animals. There were also hundreds, if not thousands, of garfish on the seabed, some still alive.

GSRRP Scientists have contacted the Federal Government, urging investment & offering to meet. Neither the funding request nor the meeting was acknowledged. Without a proper national monitoring program, our ability to prepare for, understand & respond to future marine heatwaves is extremely limited.

Mass Mollusc Deaths. Of great concern is the death of molluscs of all sizes & feeding strategies: filter-feeders, grazers, carnivores, scavengers & deposit feeders. Learn more about the HAB in the new article by Janine Baker greatsouthernreef.com/2025-algal-b...

South Australia's Harmful Algal Bloom Observations on Invertebrates. Marine invertebrates play a huge range of ecological roles. Some are essential food for many other marine species. Learn more in the new comprehensive article by Janine Baker : greatsouthernreef.com/2025-algal-b...

At least 24 species of sharks, rays, skates and stingarees have washed up during South Australia's Harmful Algal Bloom. Among them, thousands of Southern Fiddler Rays and hundreds of Smooth Rays. Learn more in the new article by Janine Baker: greatsouthernreef.com/2025-algal-b...

The SA Marine Mortality iNaturalist Project has now logged more than 6,500 observations across 380 species, reported by community members. Fishers suggest this is just the tip of the iceberg with most of the deaths are happening unseen, decomposing on the seafloor.

New comprehensive update on SA’s Harmful Algal Bloom. Underwater surveys have revealed the damage to reefs, with mass invertebrate deaths, fish declines & signs of stress. Scientists calling for urgent national reef monitoring as algal bloom impacts spread. greatsouthernreef.com/2025-algal-b...

The GSR Research Partnership have continued its long-term monitoring program, this time within the Jervis Bay Marine Park, conducting surveys at 22 sites around the bay. These monitoring efforts provide crucial data on the condition of the marine park & impact of stressors. 📸 Hunter Forbes

A powerful new commentary in Nature Ecology & Evolution challenges ecologists to step up in the face of accelerating biodiversity loss & climate disruption. Co-authored by a global team of researchers, the paper outlines 6 urgent actions ecologists can take to become more effective agents of change.

In celebration of #WordOceanDay and in partnership with Yakima Chief Hops, Deep South Brewing and MOO BREW we have brewed a special beer that will raise funds for the GSRF's conservation efforts & spotlight the importance of protecting marine biodiversity. Learn more greatsouthernreef.com/gsr-beer

A new paper has outlined a national roadmap to boost ocean literacy in Australia. The authors are urging the creation of a national ocean literacy strategy and a dedicated coalition to help turn knowledge into action for ocean sustainability. 📝 www.cogitatiopress.com/oceanandsoci...

Australian marine ecosystems are renowned for their diversity. Yet many species remain undervalued & understudied, largely due to gaps in monitoring & conservation assessments. A new study led by Olivia Johnson from IMAS highlights the scale of the problem. greatsouthernreef.com/hidden-losses

Eating urchin straight from the ocean!

Know your urchins. Professor Adriana Verges walks us through a few of the common species you’re likely to spot along the NSW coast. If you’re collecting urchins, make sure you have a recreational fishing licence.

Know your urchins. Professor Adriana Verges walks us through a few of the common species you’re likely to spot along the NSW coast. If you’re collecting urchins, make sure you have a recreational fishing licence.

Before / after the bloom at Edithburgh jetty. The impacts of SA's Harmful Algal Bloom have so far, only been recorded on our shorelines. But underwater, the full effects, remain unknown. Underwater monitoring is essential to fully understand what’s happening to our marine ecosystems.

We usually share beautiful underwater imagery from the Great Southern Reef. But as difficult as it is to watch, it’s important that people, especially those outside South Australia, understand the scale of this unfolding algae bloom crisis. Learn more greatsouthernreef.com/2025-algal-b...

Footage captured yesterday of the impacts of the Algal Bloom on Yorke Peninsula’s Edithburgh Jetty. These once colourful, diverse pylons are now a ghostly resemblance of what they once were. The filter-feeding species have died from filtering the toxic algal cells. youtu.be/3585Dea0jDA?...

An unprecedented algal bloom is sweeping across SA's coast - causing mass deaths of sharks, seadragons, and other marine life. This new article breaks down what we know so far about the bloom’s causes, its ecological toll & what’s being done to monitor it. greatsouthernreef.com/2025-algal-b...

I really enjoyed attending a community event in #Torquay yesterday to watch #WhiteRock, a documentary with information and real solutions to combat sea urchin barrens on the #GreatSouthernReef 🪸 thank you to @greatsouthernreef.bsky.social for all their incredible efforts! #marineecology #fishsky

What if a beer could spark meaningful conversations about ecology, culture, and climate change? That’s exactly the idea behind Uni – a bold, briny, lemon myrtle-infused beer brewed by Sailors Grave in partnership with the GSRF. greatsouthernreef.com/uni-beer