Monitoring the aesthetic, natural beauty and values of a reef has the potential to provide information on the health of the reef, particularly in areas where ecological monitoring is not possible. A recent project from the Tropical Water Quality Hub looked at what makes a reef aesthetically valuable and recently presented on how this information could be used to design a long-term monitoring program. The project engaged with Reef Managers, scientists, citizen scientists and the broader community on the Great Barrier Reef to ensure the design protocols integrated and aligned with the Reef 2050 Plan, as well as existing scientific and citizen science monitoring efforts. By monitoring aesthetic values, greater engagement can be created via initiatives that restore and maintain the Outstanding Universal Values within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Photo: Matt Curnock