At Great Keppel (Woppa) Island, First Nations rangers are actively engaged in gathering coral larvae samples. This initiative, captured by SBS News’ Jesmine Cheong, highlights the intersection of cultural heritage and scientific endeavor.

Leading this important restoration project is Jordan Ivey, the Indigenous Futures coordinator at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. This initiative is a collaborative effort that brings together First Nations rangers and marine scientists to work in harmony.

“We’ve encountered some weather challenges on this trip,” Ivey noted, “but despite that, our progress has been quite promising.”

While millions of coral spawn are released naturally every year, researchers estimate that only around one in a million will actually develop into coral.

With several consecutive mass bleaching events, this intervention — known as “coral IVF” — is a crucial part of restoration work to bolster the reef’s future survival under the rising threat of climate change.

Millions of coral larvae released

They collect spawn from slicks and place them into pools to develop into larvae for five to seven days.

Corals develop egg and sperm bundles that turn pink before spawning. Credit: Australian Institute of Marine Science/ Makeely Blandford

Millions of larvae are then settled onto about 15,000 small ceramic devices, which are then deployed onto selected reefs.

“We’re trying to help that process along by collecting some of the spawn that would often get washed out to sea and not make it back to the reef.”

These ceramic devices carrying coral larvae are deployed onto selected reefs off the Keppel Islands. Credit: Australian Institute of Marine Science

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is not only home to a vast array of wildlife but contributes more than $9 billion to the Australian economy each year and supports about 77,000 jobs, according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee raised its “utmost concern” in July over the deterioration, adding that the reef’s long-term outlook remained “very poor”.

Photo of reefs around Keppel Islands prior to coral spawning in 2025. Credit: Australian Institute of Marine Science/ Makeely Blandford

“If the reef disappears, a lot of species that are connected to the reef also disappear and that means we’ll lose our sense of identity and connection to culture and cultural practices,” Ivey says.

‘It’s part of our DNA’

The Keppel Islands, off Queensland’s Capricorn Coast, are culturally significant areas for the Woppaburra people.

Woppaburra are from a wider Whale Dreaming Indigenous Community, spanning coastal parts of Australia, and hold a special connection to their saltwater totem Mugga Mugga (the humpback whale).

Woppaburra woman Tshinta Barney is part of one of the largest restoration trials to date. Source: SBS News / Jesmine Cheong

Woppaburra land and sea ranger Tshinta Barney tells SBS News she’s proud to be part of the Indigenous Futures initiative.

“For me, it was most important to get into this, not just to better myself, but to better my community, my mob, and be the lead for future generations.”

Rangers learning larvae restoration and mapping work in classrooms. Source: SBS News / Jesmine Cheong

While reef restoration is the focus of the program, Barney admits that being involved has been healing for her.

“You can’t just pull us out of the water. We love being out there.”

Taribelang Bunda man Kelvin Rowe says he’s hoping to continue passing down the stories of his grandmother. Source: SBS News / Jesmine Cheong

This need to preserve the world’s biggest reef is echoed by Taribelang Bunda man Kelvin Rowe.

“Our culture, our songlines, everything that we have, our way of how we used to live.”

Bridging traditional knowledge and modern science

First Nations rangers participating in the program gain a Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, learning cultural mapping in classrooms and how to use reef monitoring technology on boats.

Rangers helped deploy millions of coral larvae onto reefs off Great Keppel (Woppa) Island. Source: SBS News / Jesmine Cheong

Rowe says it’s inspiring to see the younger generation getting involved in restoration work.

“Seeing young rangers makes me wish that I had the same opportunity when I was younger to do it,” he says.

There are 20 rangers from six Traditional Owner groups participating in the initiative. Source: SBS News / Jesmine Cheong

“If I would’ve seen things like this when I was younger, I might’ve given it a go and [not] steer myself in a bad direction.

“And it also helps the younger ones stay on path to their own culture and keeps them with their families and then they can teach their kids as they grow up.”

Rangers are learning larvae restoration and mapping work in classrooms. Source: SBS News / Jesmine Cheong

Eastern Kuku Yalanji woman Natalie Friday believes First Nations rangers can act as a bridge between traditional knowledge and modern science.

A key objective of the recent United Nations climate summit — COP30 — was to build on efforts to preserve and restore ocean ecosystems.

Eastern Kuku Yalanji woman Natalie Friday says traditional knowledge and modern science can learn from each other. Source: SBS News / Jesmine Cheong

The hope of the program is to eventually implement reef restoration techniques on a wider scale, including both First Nations rangers, reef operators and the other members of the coral collection industry.

“We want to see Traditional Owners come to the front lines and help manage what they know to manage,” he says.

This program is in its third year following training in the Whitsundays and Heron Island. Source: SBS News / Jesmine Cheong

“It’s their inherent rights and responsibilities to look after sea country.