Restoring nature's connections

By Lucy Stafford

A new CQUniversity-led research project will investigate whether restoring connected coastal habitats together can unlock better outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef than restoring individual ecosystems in isolation.

The Shoal Bay Seascape Restoration Project has commenced at Shoal Bay on Facing Island near Gladstone, bringing together researchers, Traditional Owners, community organisations and restoration partners to investigate how seagrass meadows, oyster reefs and mangroves work together to build healthier, more resilient coastal ecosystems.

The three-year collaborative project (2026 – 2028) is led by CQUniversity's Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC), in partnership with Great Barrier Reef Foundation, OzFish Unlimited, Griffith University, Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Port Curtis Coral Coast Traditional Owners.

CQUniversity Principal Research Fellow Associate Professor Carolyn Lundquist said the project would explore a new approach to coastal restoration by focusing on the natural connections between key marine habitats.

"Seagrass meadows, oyster reefs and mangroves each play an important role in keeping our coastal ecosystems healthy, but we still have much to learn about how they support one another," Assoc Prof Lundquist said.

"Oysters filter and clarify the water, seagrasses stabilise sediments and recycle nutrients, and mangroves reduce wave energy and trap sediments.

"When these habitats work together, they create healthier, more resilient ecosystems. 

“This project will help us understand how restoring these natural connections can deliver stronger, longer-lasting environmental outcomes."

Researchers will restore seagrass and oyster habitats while studying how they interact with surrounding mangroves, helping develop practical restoration methods that can be applied across the Great Barrier Reef and other coastal regions.

Assoc Prof Lundquist said the project would combine scientific research with Traditional Owner knowledge, community participation and hands-on restoration activities.

"Healthy coastal ecosystems support healthy communities," she said.

"By bringing together science, Traditional Owner knowledge and community action, we're developing practical solutions that can strengthen coastal resilience, support marine biodiversity and help protect these important environments for future generations."

Executive Director of Impact at the Great Barrier Reef Foundation Theresa Fyffe said the project could help reshape how we think about coastal restoration.

“Nature doesn’t work in isolation. Seagrass meadows, oyster reefs and mangroves are all connected, so it makes sense to ask whether restoring them together could achieve more than working on each habitat separately,” Ms Fyffe said. 

“That’s what makes this project so exciting. We’re testing a more connected approach to restoration and building the evidence to understand what works, what lasts and what could be applied more broadly across the Great Barrier Reef.

“The lessons we learn at Shoal Bay could help inform how we restore coastal ecosystems at much greater scale in the future.”

Community members will also have opportunities to get involved through seagrass flower collection, oyster reef construction, volunteer restoration activities and training programs.

The Shoal Bay Seascape Restoration Project is part of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's ten-year Reef Islands Initiative, supported through funding from the Australian Government, Queensland Government and industry partners.