A new monitoring program design for Great Barrier Reef aesthetic values

The aesthetic values of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are an important part of its World Heritage status, and are a key driver for recreational and tourist visitation. However, monitoring and assessment of such values has been a long-standing challenge, with no consistent framework or metrics available, until now. This presentation will outline the key findings and outcomes from NESP TWQ Project 5.6, which engaged 46 GBR managers, scientists and potential end-users in identifying program delivery requirements, and developed metrics and protocols to enable long-term scalable monitoring of GBR aesthetic values across its diverse habitats. Cost- effective implementation of this monitoring can be achieved through the adoption of minor add-ons by existing scientific and citizen science monitoring programs, while AI/ML algorithms (e.g. as developed by NESP TWQ Project 5.5; with appropriate training and benchmarking) offer analytical capability for large-scale and historic photographic archives. An important feature of this project was its action-oriented research design, which resulted in effective, targeted engagement among a diverse and industrious group of participants. Transferable lessons from this engagement process will be outlined, as well as the next steps for monitoring implementation and its end-uses.