Search for Biodiversity

In November 2019 we went into our "Search for Biodiversity" expedition with an ambitious plan to examine reef health, biodiversity and storm damage along a 400km stretch of the Northern Great Barrier Reef. Our team certainly rose to the occasion, achieving an impressive number of surveys, citizen science programs and media projects. Here is a summary of all that was accomplished during our two-week expedition:

  • 70 sites assessed for coral cover, fish abundance and diversity, impacts, and overall aesthetic beauty
  • 20 manta tows, covering over 10km of reef
  • 20 360° degree video scenes to be used as new content in virtual reality experiences
  • 17 Reef Health and Impact Surveys (RHIS)
  • 17 significant or ecologically important species sightings, including 4 whale sharks, 3 pods of dolphins, 2 bryde's whales, 15 grey reef sharks, 1 tiger shark and 1 sailfish!
  • 7 microplastic tows, collected in collaboration with International Seakeepers Society.
  • 6 mangrove islands surveyed for mangrove health, conducted in partnership with Mangrove Watch
  • 5 Eye on the Reef Rapid surveys, a quantitative census of ecologically important fish species
  • 5 reef biodiversity surveys to determine the diversity of hard coral species within those sites, conducted by coral expert Dr. Charlie Veron
  • 4 underwater visual censuses of mobile predators, including observations of at least 6 species of sharks
  • 3 beach-clean ups, contributing to Tangaroa Blue's Reef Clean initiative.
  • 1 amazing expedition covering 1,200km!

This was the expedition that spawned the idea behind our Forever Reef Project. After witnessing the destruction at the 'Legacy Super Site', previously known as the most diverse hard coral site on the Great Barrier Reef, we headed further North to discover a new site, with even higher numbers of coral diversity! This got us thinking about the balance between these 'Hope Spots' of diversity and the fragility of the Reef. How can we store this biodiversity so that it is not lost to future generations? The Forever Reef Project.