United Nations Sustainable Development
Goal 14: Life below water
Programs towards good aquatic stewardship practices. Develop and support programmes and incentives that encourage and maintain good aquatic stewardship practices. Ad hoc, on-going.
UniSC has developed programs that encourage and maintain aquatic stewardship through its citizen science work with communities and through its scientific training programs with Traditional Owners along the Queensland coastline.
An ongoing partnership between UniSC, EOMAP, The University of Queensland, and Noosa Council, aims to protect Queensland’s coast using advanced technology. The project combines satellite imagery and drone surveys to monitor coastal areas, providing real-time data on the shifting sands and sea floor. This data helps predict erosion events and supports the Noosa Council’s Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan. By integrating cutting-edge technology with local aquatic stewardship practices, the initiative aims to enhance the resilience of coastal ecosystems against climate change and erosion.
A program being developed by the Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with researchers at UniSC aims to actively engaged in the restoration of coastal wetlands within the lower reaches of the Maroochy River catchment area which is referred to as the Blue Heart. This area lies west of Coolum and Mudjimba beaches and is part of an ancient estuarine system. The Blue Heart is under increasing pressure from flooding as more freshwater and marine flooding is expected in the coming decades due to climate change. If wetlands are not established, this area is likely to be flooded and become a permanent estuarine lagoon system.
UniSC works directly with industry to establish the cause of a parasitic infection in Swordfish. A PhD student on the project won an award at a recent national conference for using ecological modelling techniques.
UniSC developed a free online course "Life Below Water: Conservation, Current Issues, Possible Solutions" on the Future Learn platform. It has had over 1,900 people enrol since 2021 and is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by user reviews. Topics include marine biodiversity, aquatic ecology and stewardship practices.
UniSC offers ongoing courses and workshops on water conservation and aquatic ecosystem health, engaging the local community and fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship.
Summary
By integrating the above practices and programs at UniSC, we can ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our local & global community aquatic ecosystems, benefiting both the environment and human communities.