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Posted by Max Berry
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6 November, 2025
NORTH Queensland Bulks Ports Corporation has built on its partnership with James Cook University to advance marine science in North Queensland by investing $7.5 million in a new program based on the Great Barrier Reef covering monitoring, research, environmental management and education.
Announced on 4 November, the 5-year agreement extends the 20-year partnership between the port authority and Cairns-based JCU and will include marine habitat restoration and engagement with Traditional Owners across NQBP’s ports of Mackay, Hay Point, Abbot Point and Weipa. All but Weipa are located in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
The partnership will expand into new areas such as marine habitat restoration research, studies of marine animal such as dugongs and turtles and increasing Traditional Owner engagement in a collaboration led by JCU’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER).
NQBP CEO Brendan Webb said the new program affirms NQBP’s long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and collaboration.
“As the only port authority managing three ports within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, we take our environmental and social responsibilities in these iconic surroundings seriously,” Mr Webb said.
“This partnership represents the gold standard for how industry and research institutions can work together to protect and understand the environment.”
Professor Michael Rasheed, JCU’s co-director of the program said at its core the partnership supports world class research and monitoring, including one of the world’s longest continuous running seagrass monitoring program.
“These programs have led to breakthrough knowledge on how coastal ecosystems function including developing tools for their effective management and approaches to restoration of seagrass meadows that can be applied throughout tropical Queensland and the Indo-Pacific,” Professor Rasheed said.
