One of the most biologically rich ecosystems in the world, the Great Barrier Reef is threatened by marine heatwaves, water pollution and unsustainable fishing.
Australians must unite and fight for our Reef.
We know what we need to do. Together, we must call on our leaders to protect our global icon for future generations.
The Great Barrier Reef needs:
Our leaders have a legal and moral responsibility to protect our Reef and together we will hold them to it.
The Reef is so large it can be seen from space. Stretching 2,300 kilometres along the Queensland coast, its also vital to Far North Queensland’s economy and way of life, supporting 64,000 jobs, international tourism, fisheries, and cultural heritage.
But it’s future is threatened. The mining and burning of fossil fuels is heating our planet, causing devastating marine heatwaves and coral bleaching. After an unprecedented five mass coral bleaching events in the last eight years, the Great Barrier Reef is bearing the brunt of climate change.
Simultaneously, pollution from land-based activities flows into waterways after rainfall and flooding and finds its way into Reef waters. Poor land-use practices like land clearing and fertiliser overuse causes an increase in sediment and nutrients in the Reef waters, which can result in algal blooms and sediment loads that reduce light and smother seagrasses and corals. We need to restore our Reef’s inshore waterways and limit the amount of chemicals used on the land.
Our Reef’s ecosystem is also feeling the pressures of commercial and recreational fishing. The removal of top predators like sharks can throw the delicate ecosystem out of balance. Many people are not aware that damaging fishing practices like trawl fisheries operate in our Reef. These fisheries can impact fragile habitats and are responsible for the bycatch of endangered species.
Thousands of people are already taking action to Fight For Our Reef by signing our petitions, writing and talking to leaders, and attending public rallies and community events. Join us!
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The Australian Parliament delivered long-awaited reforms to national nature laws at the end of 2025, providing stronger protections for our ocean, reefs and coastal ecosystems. AMCS played a leading role over many years, setting out the reforms needed. When the critical moment came, Fight For Our Reef supporters and volunteers helped build the public pressure that pushed the Labor Government to close loopholes that had been allowing land clearing in Great Barrier Reef catchments. This is a major win for the Reef, but the work isn't done. We'll keep pushing alongside our allies to strengthen the EPBC Act further.
The Federal Environment Minister rejected the Central Queensland Coal mine proposed only 10km from the Reef in February 2023. After a six-year community-driven campaign that highlighted the mine's risks, the government agreed with independent scientific modelling that sediment from the mine may have increased water pollution and threatened turtle and dugong strongholds.
In 2023, the Queensland and Australian governments committed to remove gillnets from the Great Barrier Reef, with a complete phase-out by 2027, and to improve fisheries transparency to protect some of Australia's iconic species. Threatened hammerhead sharks can no longer be taken and new net-free zones will prioritise critical dugong habitat as part of this commitment.
Thanks to thousands of AMCS supporters supporting our campaign to reduce water pollution flowing into the Reef, the LNP Queensland government committed to new regulations to limit pollution from agricultural, urban and industrial activities. In 2025, the Australian government committed $50 million to wetland restoration, and in 2026, the Queensland government invested $330.5 million in their five-year Reef Water Quality Program. Despite this, our governments have repeatedly missed their targets and extended deadlines, and water pollution remains a chronic problem on the Reef. Governments must be transparent with their plans to deliver real outcomes and significantly reduce water pollution to boost the health of the Reef in the face of climate change.
The Queensland Government developed the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy in 2017 as a result of hard campaigning. As part of this strategy, fisheries management is set to be modernised and fish stocks returned to healthy levels. In 2020 we also celebrated an end to a loophole that allowed sharks to be finned on the Reef.
The natural beauty of our stunning Reef draws thousands of people every year. Help ensure the Reef is here for generations to come. Whether you become an online ambassador or join us to talk with community members at presentations, stalls or doorknocks, we need all hands on deck.
Our World Heritage listed Reef and the 9000 species that call it home are irreplaceable.
An expert scientific report contains 22 solutions to protect our Reef and there's no time to lose.
Wetlands play a huge role in coastal protection.
They protect our coastlines by reducing the impacts of floods and cyclones.
Coral bleaching is threatening the future of our coral reefs and their sea turtles & colourful fish
The longer we wait, the worse it gets. We have to act now.
Hundreds of coal ships plough through Great Barrier Reef waters every year, shipping coal globally.
Just one collision, one mistake, or one spill could result in an environmental catastrophe.