Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy
The Great Barrier Reef is vital for the environment, culture, economy and communities
The Great Barrier Reef (the Reef) is one of the world’s natural wonders. It is home to unique marine and coral life, supports thousands of jobs, and is a major drawcard for tourism. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Reef holds deep cultural and spiritual significance.
However, the Reef is under increasing threat from a range of pressures including climate change, poor water quality, extreme weather events and mass coral bleaching. Protecting the Reef and its values, now and into the future, requires urgent action.
About the Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy
This website is your guide to the Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy, a joint commitment of the Australian and Queensland governments. The Strategy aims to improve the quality of water flowing from Reef catchments to the Great Barrier Reef. It is part of the broader Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan which provides a roadmap for protecting the Reef.
The Strategy’s vision is: Healthy catchment for a healthy Reef and healthy people. To achieve this, the Strategy focuses on three outcomes:
- Healthy waterways: Clean water flowing from catchments to the Reef.
- Resilient landscapes: Sustainable land and water use that supports ecosystems and adapts to changing climate
- Community stewardship: Empowering people to care for their local environments.
The Strategy enables communities to take action that are tailored to their local areas. These actions aim to improve water quality, protect coral and seagrass, and support the resilience of ecosystems and livelihoods that depend on the Reef.
Building on more than 20 years of work, the Strategy takes a whole-of-catchment approach and relies on collaboration between governments, industries, Traditional Owners, and local communities. It is guided by independent and peer-reviewed science and is supported by the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting program, which tracks progress and ensures accountability.
Measuring success
The impact of our efforts will be measured through targets and indicators that show how the whole system works together. These targets and indicators are based on the best available science and knowledge, including
- The 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement.
- The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan Review.
- The 2026 Scientific Report on the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Targets.
Progress is tracked through the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program in addition to information from funding program monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement frameworks. Results will be reported through the Reef water quality report card, regional report cards, and annual reports.
