GreatBarrierReefShowcase

[CSIRO logo appears on a white screen]

[Image changes to show small tropical fish swimming around a large coral plant on the ocean floor]

Narrator: The Great Barrier Reef is a global icon, a treasured national asset that Australians value and want to see preserved into the future.

[Image changes to show an aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef and the camera pans around in a clockwise direction]

Comprising about 3,000 reefs it extends 2,300 km along the Queensland coast.

[Image changes to show an animation image of a thermometer in the middle of a scene of tropical fish swimming past coral and then the camera zooms out to show pictures of problems for the Reef]

The Reef is a complex and delicately balanced eco-system under threat from human activities through the effects of climate change and coral bleaching, as well as pollution, pest outbreaks, ocean acidification, fishing and coastal development.

[Camera zooms in on the animation image of tropical fish swimming around the Reef again and the image shows a discarded carton drifting down the screen to settle on the ocean floor]

These have led to dramatic reductions in coral, reduced bio-diversity, increased presence of pest and risk to local tourism.

[Image shows the colouring in the Reef gradually losing its vibrancy]

Many areas of the GBR show resilience.

[Animation image changes to show a diver bringing a tray of brightly coloured marine plants to the floor of the ocean]

We must act now while there is still enough diversity to preserve and restore.

[Animation image changes to show the CSIRO logo inside a life buoy and then the camera zooms out to show the life buoy joined by dotted lines to other life buoys displaying CSIRO’s partner names]

The magnitude of challenges facing the Great Barrier Reef cannot be met by any single organisation.

[Image changes to show a blue screen displaying a time line and text appearing at one end of the time line: Australian Institute of Marine Science + James Cook University Australia]

Partnering is paramount.

[Image shows the time line moving to the left of the screen and text appearing at points along the time line next to encircled brochures: Major Improvement Projects, Reef 2050 Plan, Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, Reef Trust Partnership]

Some recent highlights of how we partner is the work we did with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and Australian universities to provide advice, assist with the Reef 2050 Plan, and help design the world leading Reef Restoration and Adaptation programme.

[Image changes to show an aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef and the camera pans in a clockwise direction]

Now, we stand ready to support the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, deliver the Australian Government’s $443 million Reef Trust Partnership.

[Inset photographs appear of the Crown of Thorns Starfish, a group of four males, a group of three male workers in conversation, a male worker operating machinery, and coral beneath the sea]

On the ground, we are already addressing Crown of Thorns Starfish, landscape and wetland repair, pollution reduction, engagement with traditional owners, and coral restoration.

[Image changes to show the CSIRO logo on a white screen and text appears: We imagine, We collaborate, We innovate]

At CSIRO we imagine, we collaborate, we innovate.