Seagrass Flower Collection

Microscope view of seagrass flowers
Seagrass meadows are vital components of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) ecosystem, providing essential functions such as filtering nutrients andsediment, serving as nursery grounds for fish and shellfish, and sequestering carbon as blue carbon.

As home to the world’s largest seagrass ecosystem, the GBR’s meadows provide nurseries and food sources for endangered species like turtles and dugongs whilst acting as natural filters by removing pollutants such as fine sediment and excess nutrients from the water.

A smalll group of seagrass flower collection volunteers squating down on a seagrass meadow with CMERC director Emma Jackson

Multiple pressures affect the health of seagrass ecosystems, which may result in the decline and fragmentation of seagrasses across a meadow. The SeaGrow nurseries are innovative nurseries using aquaria to grow seagrass plants and collect seeds to help restore damaged seagrass meadows. With help from the local community, we collect seagrass flowers between August and November, store them in our nurseries, and wait for the seeds to naturally drop out. These seeds are then used to restore areas of the bay where seagrass is struggling to recover.
 

We will be collecting seagrass flowers to obtain seagrass seeds for:

  • Experiments aimed at optimising seed transition into resilient adult plants;
  • Increasing seagrass abundance and genetic variability in our SeaGrow nurseries;
  • Conducting restoration experiments to investigate how to upscale and increase the effectiveness of current seagrass restoration methods.

Community Volunteers Needed

CMERC’s seagrass flower collections are in collaboration with Reef Catchments, OzFish, Santos, and the Gidarjil Development Corporation. CMERC’s SeaGrow research programme is funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Join us in making a difference to progress global seagrass research and to restore your local seagrass meadow at Pioneer Bay, Cannonvale or Pelican Banks, Gladstone. To find dates for your local collection and to register as a volunteer or for more information, visit the event information below.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Meeting time is 7:30am at the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre. The ferry will depart at 8:00am taking us to South End of Curtis Island.
  • You’ll come back on the afternoon ferry service, departing Curtis Island at 3:30pm, arriving back in Gladstone around 4:30pm.
  • The Ferry ticket is free!
  • We ask you to register, but we understand things change, especially the weather! If you need to cancel, please cancel your registration through the link provided on your ticket confirmation.
  • This is a full day on the island, so be sure to bring:
  • Long sleeve shirt and pants,
  • Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses),
  • Water bottle, snacks and lunch if you want,
  • Shoes/wet suit boots that can get wet (and muddy), and
  • Your best flower spotters

We have to wait for the tide to go out so we can access where the meadows grow, so there is time on the island to explore, pack a picnic for lunch if you wish, or just hang out by the beach.

Head on down to the meeting point at our marina front campus – 213 Alf O’Rourke Drive, Callemondah. CMERC staff will be there to meet you.

We will head next door to the ferry and on the way over to Curtis Island, our CQUniversityCMERC team of scientists will deliver a talk and give you an introduction to seagrass and flower collection. Numbers are limited on the ferry, so please be sure to register.

When you arrive at Curtis Island, take some time to look around Curtis Island, grab a bite to eat and prepare for the picking!

Our CMERC team of scientists will meet back up with you at the designated time and will be on-hand throughout the day to answer any of your questions. When the tide is right, we'll go get picking!

When we’re done, we will board the ferry (it departs at 3:30pm so don’t be late!) and come on back to Gladstone.
Please note: This activity involves moderate physical effort in a tidal environment. It can be hot and wet work and you will get a little muddy. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us.

Events

Gladstone Seagrass Flower Collection

Want to help out?  Register for one of our collection events using the links below. Places are limited so be sure to register today!

25
Sep
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26
Gladstone Seagrass Flower Collection
Gladstone
09
Oct
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10
Gladstone Seagrass Flower Collection
Gladstone
23
Oct
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24
Gladstone Seagrass Flower Collection
Gladstone

Learn More About CMERC

Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC)

CMERC has been established to work with coastal industries and communities to develop practical and sustainable solutions for our unique coast and marine environments.

CMERC Team

Learn more about the members of the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre

CMERC Facilities and Equipment

CMERC’s greatest research facilities – the unique ecosystems, industries and communities of the Queensland coast – is right on our doorstep.