1. Coastal and Marine Restoration

Interest in the science and practice of marine ecosystem management and restoration is rapidly increasing in Australia. This is driven by increasing degradation of marine ecosystems from overfishing, increasing coastal development and emerging ocean warming, acidification and sea level rises associated with climate change.

See Australasian Coastal Restoration network’s database here: https://www.acrn.org.au/database

On this page
1. Marine waters
2. Improving connectivity
3. Coral and shellfish reefs
4. Seagrasses
5. Kelp forests
6. Saltmarshes
7. Mudflats
8. Mangroves

1. Marine Waters

1a. Ghost nets, Northern Territory (removing threats)
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2019/10/20/addressing-ghost-nets-in-australia-and-beyond-update-of-emr-feature/

ALSO SEE
https://oceanearthfoundation.org.au/ghostnets-australia/

AND
https://australianmarineparks.gov.au/management/partnerships/ghost-nets-and-marine-debris-initiative/

1b. Great Barrier Reef ‘No take’ zones, Queensland (enabling recovery through natural recovery processes)
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2016/03/05/conserving-and-restoring-biodiversity-of-the-great-barrier-reef-through-the-representative-areas-program-rap/

2. Improving Connectivity (also see 11. Rivers, Streams and Floodplain Wetlands)

2a. Removing fish barriers, Queensland coast
https://reefcatchments.com.au/projects/beyond-barriers-mackay-and-isaac-coastal-wetland-rehabilitation/

2b. Reconnecting tidal flows, South Australia
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2026/09/21/blue-carbon-restoration-reconnecting-tidal-flows-at-webb-beach-sa-australia/

3. Coral and Shellfish Reefs

3a. Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2016/03/05/conserving-and-restoring-biodiversity-of-the-great-barrier-reef-through-the-representative-areas-program-rap/

3b. Reef Builder – 13 projects across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland (expanding earlier shellfish reef restoration work undertaken by TNC and partners since 2015).
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2026/09/30/reef-builder-a-national-program-to-rebuild-australias-lost-shellfish-reefs/

3c. A decade of shellfish reef restoration in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2026/09/30/a-decade-of-shellfish-reef-restoration-in-port-phillip-bay-victoria-australia-update-of-emr-summary-restoring-the-lost-shellfish-reefs-of-port-phillip-bay/

ALSO SEE
Restoring the Lost Shellfish Reefs of Port Phillip Bay
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/case-study-restoring-the-lost-shellfish-reefs-of-port-phillip-bay/

4. Seagrasses

4a. Adelaide coast, South Australia
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/coasts/explore-and-learn/seagrass-restoration-in-sa

4b. Adelaide coast seagrass restoration, South Australia
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2019/08/25/seagrass-restoration-off-the-adelaide-coast-using-seeds-and-seedlings-update-of-emr-feature/

4c. Cockburn Sound seagrass transplanting, Western Australia
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/seagrass-rehabilitation-and-restoration-cockburn-sound-wa/

AND
Cockburn Sounds seagrass meadow restoration, Western Australia
https://emrprojects.wordpr ess.com/2013/03/08/seagrass-meadow-restoration-trial-using-transplants-cockburn-sound-western-australia/

5. Kelp Forests

5a. Kelp forest restoration, Sydney coast, New South Wales (see image below)
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/restoring-sydneys-underwater-forests-crayweed-transplant-success/

5b. Restoring Golden Kelp, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria
https://emrprojects.wordpress.com/2026/09/18/restoring-golden-kelp-in-port-phillip-bay-victoria/

6. Saltmarshes