Woppaburra Coral Project

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To undertake research within Woppaburra sea Country (the Keppel Islands, southern Great Barrier Reef) to understand the drivers of growth and survival during a young coral's first year of life.
To build capacity of the Woppaburra Traditonal Use of Marine Resource Agreement for reef research and particularly reef restoration activities.
Function
Place-based
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partner/s

Woppaburra Traditonal Use of Marine Resource Agreement (TUMRA) Aboriginal Corporation

Government agency partner
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Priority reform
Priority Reform One
Outcome
Outcome 06
Outcome 15
Partnership timeframes
5 year project to December 2024
Response agreed by both parties
Yes
Strong partnership elements - Clause 32
A
32 A(i)
Met
32 A(ii)
Met
32 A(iii)
Met
B
32 B(i)
Met
32 B(ii)
Met
32 B(iv)
Met
C
32 C(i)
Met
32 C(ii)
Met
32 C(iii)
Met
32 C(iv)
Met
32 C(v)
Met
32 C(vi)
Met
32 C(vii)
Met
Strong partnership elements - Clause 33
33
Met
Achievements over the last 12 months

November 2022 Traditional Owners and researchers worked together at an on-Country spawning workshop held on Konomie (north Keppel Is) to collect coral spawn, culture larvae, direct larval settlement, and cryopreserve material in a biobank. Woppaburra elders led the joint creation of contemporary cultural elements including a major ochre art piece, a musical song about the project, and further developed the choreography for the Woppaburra coral dance based on observed larval behaviour. Three Woppaburra people received formal training in coral larval restoration methods

March 2023, the first cohort of Indigenous trainees at Australian Institute of Marine Science received their Certificate III in aquaculture (coral propagation).  Two of these trainees were funded by this project.

Partnership elements strengthened

New in 2023.