Q&A with Professor Peter Mumby

Meet the UQ researcher working to restore the Great Barrier Reef

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Blue and yellow illustration of coral.

Influential UQ marine expert Professor Peter Mumby is on a mission to safeguard one of the seven wonders of the natural world – the Great Barrier Reef.

The Brisbane-based professor spoke to Research News about his contribution to an international research initiative working to protect coral reefs.


What is the Reef Restoration and Adaption Program (RRAP)?

It’s probably the world’s largest ever collaborative research initiative on coral reefs. We know that coral reefs face an uncertain future because of climate change and there is mounting interest in the role of restoration as part of the local solution. But it’s unclear how this would best be done, at what scale this is feasible, what it could deliver and what it would cost?

This is the purpose of RRAP. Essentially to do the research and development (R&D) to advise government and industry on the contribution restoration could make to helping manage the reef in future.

Potential interventions are being rigorously tested and risk-assessed. RRAP aims to provide reef managers with a suite of options to intervene at scale on the reef, to enhance its resilience and adaptation to climate change.

Professor Peter Mumby with a large trevally fish on the Great Barrier Reef.

Professor Peter Mumby with a large trevally fish on the Great Barrier Reef. (Image: supplied).

Professor Peter Mumby with a large trevally fish on the Great Barrier Reef. (Image: supplied).

The RRAP released the Concept Feasibility Study in 2018. What was this study about?

This was a fairly extensive analysis of what might be feasible, including modelling the degree to which restoration could boost coral resilience in future. We considered the probable costs of restoration against the economic value the reefs provide.

Based on this we anticipated that there was a significant opportunity to explore. But we also threw out many possible restoration methods as lacking the scalability to be useful more broadly.

The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program on how we can help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

What is next for the RRAP?

The research teams, which include hundreds of scientists and students, have started their work and it's hugely diverse. So what are we looking at?

First, there are the interventions themselves, which include attempting to brighten existing clouds to reduce sea temperature at critical times of year, collecting coral spawn – much of which is usually lost at sea – to move millions of new corals where they can be useful, and stabilising rubble that rolls around reefs and slows coral recovery.

Second, there’s supporting research to help understand what benefits these methods could have, which includes modelling coral reef futures and the scope for coral evolution to help cope with a warmer world.

Third, there are critical social science elements that include hearing and addressing people's concerns about restoration and working with regulators to figure out the policy and management implications of restoration.

And very importantly, we are forging new and stronger relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in pursuing the question of what role restoration should have for the reef and Sea Country.

A marine ecologist diving on the reef, taking notes while looking at coral.

What is the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef today?

Incredibly, climate change is already the biggest threat and has had the biggest impact on the reef in recent years. Many people think of climate change as something we’ll experience in the future. But it’s here already and has caused multiple mass coral bleaching events in the last five years.

Having said that, there is still much we can improve – and must improve – in how we manage reefs locally. I’m talking about improving the cleanliness of the water flowing out of rivers and controlling plagues of crown-of-thorns starfish.

Blue and yellow illustration of coral.

Which aspects of the RRAP excite you most?

I think for me it’s the opportunity to work out how best can we improve the reef through local interventions. Right now it’s hard to justify even greater investment in protecting the reef because we can’t estimate what that investment would buy us.

But within a few years, we’ll be able to put credible price tags on how to improve the reef – alongside action on reducing carbon emissions – and this opens up new possibilities to justify firm action. This is a question I’ve wanted to contribute to for years.

Coral on the Great Barrier Reef.

Who can get involved with the RRAP R&D Program? And how can they get started?

There will be opportunities to express your opinions on restoration and learn more about it as the project develops, so continue to check the project website. We’re also hoping to work further with industry in trialling some of these methods.

There are other ways for people to contribute to reef protection and I’m particularly excited to direct people to The Great Reef Census that started late last year and will occur again later this year. See Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef.

What inspires you to do this research?

I always get a feeling of euphoria when I’m diving on a reef. They’re such beautiful and exciting ecosystems. That’s why I wanted to become a marine biologist and that’s why my research aims to help us protect coral reefs effectively.

Professor Peter Mumby speaks about his research on modelling for reef restoration and adaptation.

Finally, what do you wish people knew about you, your research, or the Great Barrier Reef more broadly?

I think the biggest thing is that people need to understand that the reef is not dead and greater local protection is essential as part of delivering a healthy reef in the future. So while action on climate change is vital, we mustn’t lose sight of the importance of local action. Our science is clear – it really matters.

"The reef is not dead and greater local protection is essential as part of delivering a healthy reef in the future."

There are many ways to engage in helping the reef and I’m excited about how the Great Reef Census is developing, which allows people to help either by going into the field with their camera or helping to process reef photos from the comfort of their armchair.

As for me personally, I’m always happy to talk to people about the reef and I hope to see more people in the water in future.

Blue and yellow illustration of coral.

The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program is a partnership between the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Great Barrier Reef FoundationCSIRO, The University of Queensland, QUT, Southern Cross University and James Cook University. The program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. 

Professor Peter Mumby

Professorial Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science

Email: p.j.mumby@uq.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3365 1686
Web: researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/2387

Professor Peter Mumby sitting on a boat, smiling directly at the camera. It is a sunny day and the ocean is in the background.