Mars Coral Reef
Restoration

Location: Moore Reef, Australia

Status: Active

Reef Stars Deployed: 348

Reef Magic Cruises are a pioneering tourism operator in Australia. In 2019, Reef Magic marine biologists alongside Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Biology staff and Yirrganydji Land and Sea Country rangers were the first Australians to travel to Sulawesi, Indonesia to be trained in the implementation of the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System. Since then, Mars has been working in close partnership with Reef Magic to put the very first Reef Stars in Australian waters and in June 2020, the first 61 Reef Stars were installed. This installation was a collaboration with James Cook University and local Indigenous rangers. Since then, in partnership with Mars Sustainable Solutions, 287 more Reef Stars have been installed, representing 55 different species of coral. This will form part of a five-year scientific study with James Cook University to trial the system’s effectiveness in stabilizing coral rubble resulting from Cyclone Yasi in 2011. To learn more, click here!

In April 2022, Reef Magic launched its brand-new Outer Reef Pontoon, the newest and most technologically advanced pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef, with 18 solar panels and 3 wind turbines. The pontoon is equipped with a fully functional scientific laboratory for reef research and projects, an underwater observatory and a comprehensive snorkel and dive program.

A few months later, on World Ocean Day, 2022, Reef Magic, as part of GBR Biology, and Mars Sustainable Solutions joined forces with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, Yirrganydji Sea Rangers and James Cook University to form a world first conservation effort across the Great Barrier Reef: The Reef Cooperative. The Reef Cooperative is a collective of some of the brightest minds working collaboratively on innovative ways to protect and conserve the reef. To learn more, please click here!