TropWATER

Dugongs are culturally significant on both sides of the Coral Sea, but they are under pressure from ongoing threats across their range – and the communities who care for dugongs face their own unique challenges.

We are working with international partners to facilitate knowledge sharing between Australia and New Caledonia, connecting Traditional Owners and Kanak communities committed to caring for dugongs and Sea Country.

Building on the Dugong Connections project, this two-way cultural exchange will bring together Indigenous knowledge holders from both sides of the Coral Sea to share experiences, cultural practices and approaches to Indigenous-led stewardship of dugongs and their marine environments.

This project is a true partnership, with contributions by Indigenous organisations, conservation practitioners, researchers, and government partners from Australia and New Caledonia. Initial exchanges held in September and October this year are just the first step to building long-term relationships and creating opportunities for ongoing community collaborations across the Coral Sea.

Indigenous Leadership for Dugong Futures is co-funded by the French Embassy in Australia and a partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

More on this project: https://www.tropwater.com/projects/dugong-connections?utm_source=facebook

France in Australia - Ambassade de France en Australie Great Barrier Reef Foundation Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water JCU: James Cook University, Australia Gardiens Des Iles Sénat Coutumier de la Nouvelle-Calédonie Mandubarra Aboriginal Land & Sea Inc Girringun Aboriginal Corporation Agence néo-Calédonienne de la Biodiversité WWF Antenne Nouvelle-Calédonie

Funded by the Queensland Government’s Biosecurity Boost Grants Program announced this month, TropWATER scientists and TSRA Rangers will partner in a knowledge exchange for biosecurity.

Together, we’re weaving traditional and scientific knowledge together to monitor aquatic ecosystems using environmental DNA to support local biosecurity efforts in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait).

As a gateway to Australia, biosecurity in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) is nationally important due to the risk of invasive species from Papua New Guinea in the north and mainland Queensland in the south through freight pathways.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is transforming biosecurity monitoring. Extending on previous collaborative eDNA projects in the region, these workshops will help Rangers to build skills to use eDNA in local monitoring programs that value culture and science.

Read more about our eDNA lab here: https://www.tropwater.com/edna?utm_source=facebook

📷 Torres Strait Regional Authority and TropWATER

Torres Strait Regional Authority Biosecurity Queensland JCU: James Cook University, Australia

Happy National Science Week! We’ve been busy sharing science, with more events still to come 🌱

On Saturday, we celebrated the launch of Science Week at ‘STEM in the Tropics’ in Cairns. Our researchers spoke to hundreds of visitors about their work – including mapping seagrass with Rangers and counting coral recruits – with TropWATER’s own Dr Abbi Scott MCing the event.

Here’s what else is coming up this week:

🪸 Our researchers are part of Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation’s upcoming STEM Showcase for schools, with over 100 students expected to join in hands-on activities and research displays.

🧬 Hear about detecting invasive ants with eDNA from TropWATER’s Dr Cecilia Villacorta-Rath this Saturday (22 Aug) in the latest Royal Society of Queensland seminar, online and at JCU Brisbane. Register for free here: https://events.humanitix.com/fungi-drones-and-edna

🔬 Learn about the lives of stingrays from TropWATER’s Dr Jaelen Myers at the latest Bite-Sized Science event, hosted by Dr Abbi Scott this Friday (21 Aug) in Cairns at the JCU Ideas Lab. Register for free here: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/event/bite-sized-science-3/smithfield/

FNQ STEM Hub JCU: James Cook University, Australia Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub Inspiring Australia Queensland Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation The Royal Society of Queensland

From the lab to the field and everywhere in between, Brodie O’Breza had a busy five months as our first Indigenous Research Intern

Brodie worked on projects with researchers across TropWATER, and we asked her to share some insights into her experience in our latest blog.

“I saw so much of the diverse ecosystems across North Queensland and gained valuable insights into the practical challenges of environmental research,” Brodie says.

“What I'll value most are the connections I made.”

Read the full story: https://www.tropwater.com/news-1/from-the-lab-to-the-field-and-everywhere-in-between-with-brodie-obreza?utm_source=facebook

Connection, collaboration, and community were the key themes of our annual Reef Hub Round Up last week 🪸

This third year was our biggest Round Up so far, with almost 80 attendees joining us from the Reef Hub community. Rangers, researchers, tourism operators, educators, and government shared their successes and lessons learned across the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub network this year.

The Reef Hub brings together groups across our region to share knowledge, make connections, and work together to care for the Reef, now and into the future.

More about the Cairns-Port Douglas Reef Hub: https://www.tropwater.com/projects/cairns-port-douglas-reef-hub?utm_source=facebook

TropWATER's Dr Zoe Bainbridge - featured in this photo collection - is working with the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee on water quality research in this region. We'll share more on this work later in the year 💧

WEBINAR NEXT MONDAY 3 AUGUST: From the tropical waters of Western Australia to Queensland, we are supporting Rangers leading the way in seagrass monitoring – bringing together science with connection to Country.

Resources and training can support a consistent monitoring approach across northern Australia for the greatest conservation impact for Sea Country, as we’ll be sharing in our next webinar.

Join us on 3 August to hear first-hand experiences from Rangers and TropWATER researchers about creating practical resources and establishing Ranger-led marine monitoring programs across northern Australia.

And keep an eye out later this week – we’ll be launching new videos from this project on World Ranger Day.

WEBINAR: Monday 3 August, 1-2pm AEST. Rangers on Sea Country: Practical tools for habitat monitoring. Click here for more details and the webinar link: https://www.tropwater.com/event-details/episode-9-rangers-on-sea-country-practical-tools-for-habitat-monitoring?utm_source=facebook

JCU: James Cook University, Australia NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Karajarri Traditional Lands Association