SDG 14 Life Below Water

Freshwater

• CQUniversity’s Female Farmers of the Future (FFoF) program is an educational initiative that empowers local farmers with skills and technologies to enhance water management and conservation, vital for drought resilience. Through hands-on workshops, participants showcase agri-tech tools like soil moisture sensors that optimize water use and irrigation, directly impacting sustainable practices in agriculture. These workshops educate communities on efficient water utilization and conservation techniques, promoting long-term environmental sustainability of fresh-water ecosystems. FFoF's outreach strengthens local knowledge and positions participants as conservation leaders in water resource management and ecosystem resilience.
• CQUniversity actively supports freshwater ecosystem conservation and water management education as a partner in the Fitzroy Partnership for River Health (FPRH). This initiative empowers citizens, schools, and community groups in Queensland's Fitzroy Basin to monitor water quality across over 20,000 kilometers of waterways. Participants receive training and monitoring kits to assess river health through chemical, biological, and ecological testing, contributing valuable ecosystem data.
  The FPRH’s Fitzroy Waterwatch program, a network of citizen scientists, enhances understanding of freshwater ecosystems by providing resources, including water monitoring kits, an interactive board game to teach about ecosystem impacts, and activities promoting water stewardship. Through these resources and hands-on involvement, CQUniversity and FPRH foster local engagement in water conservation efforts, promoting sustainable water practices and community stewardship.

Sustainable Fisheries and Overfishing

• Seafood Positive- CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) has partnered with Seafood Positive to enhance the restoration of fish habitats in Australian waters, supporting sustainable fisheries and promoting ecosystem health. Through this collaboration, CMERC provides scientific research and technical expertise to help protect and restore critical habitats essential for fisheries. Seafood Positive complements these efforts with public education on the impacts of overfishing and the importance of sustainable practices. Their social media campaigns and educational content engage a broad audience, raising awareness about responsible fishing and how individual choices contribute to the conservation of marine environments. Together, CMERC and Seafood Positive are driving a community-focused approach to fostering a sustainable seafood industry that balances ecological needs with economic interests.
• Mud Crab Research and Fisheries Sustainability: The Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) at CQUniversity includes a focus on sustainable fisheries, including mud crab species, to develop practices that support ecological balance and local economies. Research aims to enhance sustainable fishing practices, protect mud crab populations, and aid the livelihoods of communities relying on this industry by optimizing aquaculture methods.
• Prawn Farmers Digital Skills Hub- The Prawn Farmers Digital Skills Hub will provide the Australian prawn farming industry with access to education and training in the digital skills required to accelerate the adoption of current and emerging technologies. The Prawn Farmers Digital Skills Hub is a co-funded project by Program APFA, FRDC, CQUniversity and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries through the Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grant. This is a self-paced course, with no formal assessment, CPD hours or Certificate of Completion allocated. 
  This online resource provides digital skills development in a number of areas identified by Australian Prawn Farmers as being key to business success and workforce development. These include knowledge and skills relating to digital literacy, technology operation, data management, monitoring, analysis, & interpretation, digital communication, and incident management in the prawn farming context. 
•  Black Jewfish sustainability project- CQUniversity collaborates with Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC), the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and James Cook University on a significant marine research project focused on tracking black jewfish. This initiative, central to understanding marine sustainability, involves tagging and monitoring fish to assess movement, habitat preferences, and aggregation patterns. Acoustic receivers placed in Gladstone’s waters and across Queensland enable data collection that contributes to Queensland’s Sustainable Fisheries Strategy, supporting long-term conservation strategies through insights into stock health, potential vulnerabilities, and migration patterns. The research aids in managing fishing limits to prevent overfishing of black jewfish, a species previously affected by population declines. CQUniversity’s involvement in this project reflects its dedication to promoting environmental sustainability and contributing valuable data that supports local ecosystems, fisheries, and regional economic stability, enhancing knowledge on effective water conservation and marine biodiversity practices. 

Conservation and Stewardship

• CQUniversity’s Buraligim Weiber program brought over 100 primary students from Gladstone West State School to Quoin Island for a hands-on STEM excursion focused on marine conservation. With partners like the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership and Tangaroa Blue Foundation, students explored marine ecosystems, learned about the impacts of marine debris, and contributed to a beach cleanup, collecting over 16 kg of waste. Highlights included interactive sessions on local marine life, such as the work at the Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, inspiring students to engage with sustainable ocean stewardship.
• Seagrass Restoration and Outreach: The Seagrass Restoration program, including flower collection events in collaboration with community partners like the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, promotes active conservation and engages the public. These events educate community members about the ecological significance of seagrass, encouraging stewardship while collecting essential materials for habitat restoration projects.
• STEM-Tacular Girls Camp Participation: CMERC students participated in the Boyne Island Environmental Education Centre’s STEM-Tacular Girls Camp, where they led activities focused on environmental science, sparking interest among young female students. This event promotes scientific careers and empowers girls to engage with conservation topics, particularly in coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Junior Indigenous Rangers Workshop: In collaboration with Woorabinda Rangers, Greening Australia, and Birdlife Capricornia, CQUniversity facilitated a workshop focusing on water quality and ecosystem preservation. This hands-on program combines Indigenous knowledge with environmental science, giving young participants insights into sustainable water management.
• Gladstone Ecofest: At this large-scale community event, CQUniversity hosted an interactive booth on seaweed mariculture and seagrass restoration, drawing over 5,000 visitors. This outreach demonstrates CMERC’s research while engaging the public in ocean conservation, offering an accessible way to learn about marine ecosystem preservation.
• Konomie Island Visit: CQUniversity staff and students joined Woppaburra Traditional Owners on Konomie Island for a Welcome to Country ceremony and a seagrass collection activity. This collaboration fosters cross-cultural understanding of marine conservation, blending traditional knowledge with scientific practices for effective ecosystem restoration.

• Professor Emma Jackson and PhD students Najeen Rula and Emma Theobald presented at the International Seaweed Symposium.
• Dr Angela Capper presented on plastic pollution for Queensland Virtual STEM Academy. 
• Dr Angela Capper presented at QVSA STEM Academy on the topic of microplastics research and potential impacts.
• Professor Emma Jackson presented a plan for upscaling seagrass restoration nurseries to The Nature Conservancy Australia Directors.
• Professor Emma Jackson and Dr Chris Aiken presented at the Australia Seaweed Institute Biofilters project Independent Science Panel meeting.
• CMERC staff and students presented their research and represented CQU with Campus admin staff and Luke Sinclair at the Bundaberg OceanFest 2023 Burnett Heads.

A number of presentations were conducted by CQUniversity researchers at the Australian Coastal Restoration Network symposium at Townsville in June 2023 including:

• Scaling up coastal restoration: creating multiple habitats in an industrial living seawall on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef  by Rory Mulloy, Dr Christopher Aiken, and Professor Emma Jackson
• Domesticating Australian seagrass for restoration: Do we need seagrass nurseries? By Professor Emma Jackson
• Spatiotemporal variability of Zostera muelleri flowering in subtropical intertidal meadows by Manuja Lekammudiyanse, Professor Nicole Flint, Associate Professor Andrew Irving and Professor Emma Jackson

A number of presentations were conducted by CQUniversity researchers at the Australian Marine Science Association Annual Conference at the Gold Coast in July 2023 including:

• Assessing techniques to improve germination of Zosteraceae species in seagrass restoration by Professor Emma Jackson
• Lessons Learned from Trialling Methods for Zostera Restoration in the Intertidal Zone by Professor Emma Jackson
• Spatiotemporal variability of Zostera muelleri flowering in subtropical intertidal meadows by Manuja Lekammudiyanse, Professor Nicole Flint, Associate Professor Andrew Irving and Professor Emma Jackson

The Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) has built on existing research partnerships at various levels. The below shows a sample of these partnerships:

Local 

• Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership
• Fitzroy Partnership for River Health
• Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre
• Gladstone Ports Corporation
• Reef Catchments
• Burnett Mary Regional Group
• Fitzroy Basin Association
• PCIMP

State 

• Great Barrier Reef Foundation

National 

• Tangarora Blue
• Conservation Volunteers Australia
• Australian Seaweed Institute
• FutureFeed

First Nations

• Gidarjil Development Corporation- Gidarjil's vessel is docked at a pontoon at CMERC and adds to Gidarjil’s existing fleet of four boats that help the Gidarjil Development Corporation Gladstone/Bundaberg Sea Ranger team tackle important environmental issues, land and sea country management and help manage significant cultural heritage sites. CMERC Director Dr Emma Jackson said the integration of modern science and traditional knowledge was a vital component for successful coastal marine ecosystems management.
• SeaGrow is a programme of research and collaboration funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to examine the scalng up of seagrass restoration supported by seagrass nurseries in the GBR. CMERC works with three First Nations Groups Gidargil Development Corporation Sea Rangers in the Port Curtis Coral Coast TUMRA region (Gladstone); Ngaro/Gia Peoples  in the Whitsunday Region; and the Woppaburra TUMRA on Konomie Island. The projects in partnership with the Coles group, Coral Sea Marina Resort, Fitzroy Basin association and Monsoon Aquatics involves research, vocational training and citizen science components. 
  CQUniversity also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Woorabinda to continue with the establishment of an Education, Enterprise and Research Hub in the community, signed in 2020. CMERC researchers contribute to Junior Ranger training and education in water quality testing and wetland health assessment.

Global

• Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ)
• Global Seagrass Nursery Network

As outlined in the Procurement and Policy and Procedure, we are committed to protecting the environment and doing business with ethical and sustainably responsible suppliers during all stages of the procurement process. Referring to Clause 4.6 under the Sustainable, Social and Indigenous-focused procurement, the policy outlines the key environmental issues that need to be considered including waste management, water use and impacts on natural habitats. Buyers must plan, identify, and integrate the practice of sustainability into the procurement of goods and/or services. Preference should be given to environmentally preferable goods and services that have a lower impact on the environment over the life cycle of the good or service, when compared with competing goods or services serving the same purpose.

Sustainability remains a key priority as we look to an increasingly complex future. Our Sustainability Annual Report provides an open account of our sustainability performance. It also demonstrates our support, commitment, and progress against the principles of the United Nations Global Development Goals.

Part of our Sustainability goals revolve around the efficient use of water and minimising any wastage as one of our most precious resources.

Our Sustainability Framework outlines the short and long term goals to achieve our Sustainability Goals. These are broken into nine elements with the following elements relating to SDG 14 Life Below Water:

• Research (Page 11)
• Waste (Page 16)
• Water (Page 18)
• Biodiversity (Page 21)

In 2019, the Fitzroy Basin Association commissioned a review of the previously written Fitzroy Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP:2015) reports ensuring the plan utilises the best available science and data. The update ensures the Fitzroy Region’s project management continues to maximise the public benefits of investment and maximise the reduction of both sediment and nutrient runoff to the Reef.

The WQIP:2015 shows how we can improve regional water quality to protect our waterways and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef. WQIP:2015 sets out the priorities for improving water quality, including describing the coastal and marine ecosystems and species that are at risk from poor water quality; identifying catchment ‘hot spots’ of soil erosion and nutrient run-off that are the source of water quality problems; understanding how land management practices and habitat restoration can reduce the risk of water quality problems; and finding the most cost-effective ways to reduce water quality risks.

Our university was a Delivery Partner/Consultant in the following studies for the WQIP.

Status of catchment, coastal and marine ecosystems

• State of the coastal and marine environment review

Scoping and risk assessment of water quality issues

• Synthesis of water quality influences in ports of the Fitzroy region, Queensland

Regional Prioritisation

• Bioeconomic modelling and Neighbourhood Catchments prioritisation
• Synthesis of science for future prioritisation approaches in the Fitzroy Basin
• Extension and Impact

Our University is also an accredited institution under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulation 1983.  All research undertaken by our researchers in the Great Barrier Reef must be approved by the University.

Our accreditation allows limited impact research (extractive and non-extractive) to be undertaken by researchers affiliated with the University, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulation 1983, our Codes of Conduct and any Environmental Management Plan for the Scientific Research Zone around research stations. The accreditation removes the need for researchers to obtain a research permit from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority if they are conducting limited impact research.  

Applicants must familiarise themselves with the Memorandum of Understanding, the University's Code of Conduct for Research in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the University's Code of Conduct for Research, the tourism/recreation/best-environmental practice and Responsible Reef Practices. Authorisation must be sought from the Vice-President, Research BEFORE the project commences.

Policies and procedures

• CQUniversity Code of Conduct for Research
• CQUniversity Research in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Policies and Procedure
• Memorandum of Understanding

Useful links

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
• Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• GBRMPA Policies
• GBRMPA Zoning Maps

The Contractor Occupational Health and Safety Management Procedure outlines the determinants all individuals must take to minimise environmental harm associated with all activities they undertake including the potential pollution actions may incur (Refer Clause 3.8). This outlines that all individuals must take reasonable steps to minimise environmental harm associated with all activities they undertake. To determine what measures should be taken, a person should consider:

• the nature of any potential pollution
• the sensitivity of the environment where the pollution may end up
• financial implications of the actions
• the current technology available
• the likelihood of success of the implemented actions.