Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC)

Our Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) works with coastal industries and communities to develop practical and sustainable solutions for our unique coast and marine environments.

CMERC is the only research facility in Central Queensland focused on the southern Great Barrier Reef. Our work provides sustainable solutions to protect the reef, support Australia’s blue economy, aid agricultural communities, and collaborate with local communities. There is strong demand for innovation and evidence-based best practices, especially in verifying environmental offset projects. CMERC’s applied research addresses these needs.

Our Vision

To undertake research that works with nature to build an economically and environmentally sustainable future to enrich our coastal communities.

To achieve our vision, CMERC is taking a holistic approach that recognises the place of the communities and industries that live and work along our coastlines. This means our work entails far more than just monitoring the condition of our environments – CMERC is undertaking proactive applied research from coastal catchments to sea to develop practical solutions to the challenges facing coastal and marine ecosystems.

Practical solutions require multidisciplinary approaches and our researchers include:

ecologists
economists
biologists
chemists
engineers
social scientists.

This ensures our work accounts for all aspects of the interaction of the community and industry with coastal and marine ecosystems. We pride ourselves on conducting our research where it matters most by living and working in the communities we serve.

Our activities are also supporting the education of students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science and Environment, which features a research-led teaching model to expose graduates to the expertise and innovation of CMERC’s world-class scientists.

Sustainable Development Goal Icons, 4 Quality Education, 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, 9 Indistry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 Climate Action, 14 Life Below Water and 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Working With Nature: Investigations for Seawall Designs in the Port of Gladstone

Coastal structures can be more ecologically sustainable when strategies design for the inclusion and creation of local habitats.

Sea Flowers Growing Community Engagement for Seagrass Restoration

The project's goal is to engage community members in taking an active role in protecting the health of their coastal waterways by collecting seagrass flowers and seeds for use in habitat restoration programs.

Seagrass Enhancement via Aerial Drones (SEAD)

Seagrass loss often occurs through a process of gradual fragmentation to a critical threshold.

Prioritising Seagrass Restoration in the Whitsunday Islands

The program aims to develop a scientific, data-driven basis to support resilience-based management and to guide restoration activities for seagrass.

Restoring the 'Kidneys' of the Great Barrier Reef

CQUniversity’s seagrass restoration research program continues to explore ways to restore and grow seagrass meadows.

Integrated Habitat Restoration for the Discovery Coast

This represents a unique opportunity to research novel coastal management engineering projects and work with local communities and resource managers.

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Seaweed Biofilters for Water Quality Improvement and Reef Protection

This project proposes to take advantage of seaweeds’ highly efficient nutrient uptake capacity to promote their use to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Knowledge to Improve the Assessment and Management of Giant Mud Crabs

Researchers are collaborating on a Fisheries Research and Development (FRDC) co-funded research project on mud crab populations in Queensland.

Future-proofing the Aquaculture Industry

The project encompasses engagement with education and training providers.

Solving the Aquaculture Bottleneck

Learn more about research into solving the aquaculture bottleneck - reducing nutrients and repurposing waste to produce energy and bioproducts

Seaweed Farming on Low-Carbon Substrates

CQUniversity researchers to pioneer the use of a low-carbon concrete alternative in seaweed farming.

Protoplast-based Mariculture Solutions for Scalable Seaweed Farming

The project, Protoplast-based mariculture solutions for scalable Asparagopsis farming addressed these challenges by pioneering two new methods of seaweed cultivation.

EcoSea: Turning seaweed into food packaging for a greener Indonesia

CQUniversity researchers are partnering with an Indonesian agricultural company to develop a seaweed-based plastic alternative for food packaging.

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All Roads Flow to the Sea Capturing Road-based Plastic Pollution

Mismanaged plastic waste, predominantly from land-based sources, accumulates in the marine environment causing harm to many species.

Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program (PCIMP)

Discover more about The Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Programme (PCIMP), a consortium of Gladstone-based portside industries and government.

Protecting and Enhancing High Value Fish Habitats Across Central QLD's Coast

The project is working to restore seagrass communities, considered to be critical fish habitat, that are declining due to habitat loss and degradation.

Where Does the Plastic Go? Microplastic Loading in Seagrass vs Mangroves

Plastic pollution from anthropogenic activities on land and sea is a ubiquitous global issue.

Waterway Health Reporting for River Health

The purpose of this project is to provide technical scientific advice and coordination through the Fitzroy Partnership for River Health.

Microalgal Removal

Learn about our research into microalgal removal.

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Be part of a CQUniversity-led science projects. Volunteer at your local seagrass flower collection event alongside Reef Catchments, CMERC, OzFish, and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) by visiting the event information below. Or, get in contact to find out about opportunities to support work at our SeaGrow Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre facility.

Seagrass Flower Collection

The SeaGrow nurseries are innovative nurseries using aquaria to grow seagrass plants and collect seeds to help restore damaged seagrass meadows.

SeaGrow Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre

CMERC Seagrass Nursery is the first stage in developing evidence-based, innovative research solutions to shape sustainable coastal futures.

SeaGrow Coral Sea Marina Resort

As part of a program to protect the Great Barrier Reef we’ve established a floating seagrass nursery, right on the Coral Sea Marina.

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Find Out More

Meet our Research Students

CMERC hosts Phd and Master’s research students across a range of our key programs.

CMERC Team

Learn more about the members of the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre

CMERC Facilities and Equipment

CMERC’s greatest research facilities – the unique ecosystems, industries and communities of the Queensland coast – is right on our doorstep.

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Contacts

Headquartered on the shoreline of the Gladstone marina, CMERC is the only coastal and marine research facility based in Central Queensland and features world-class research equipment and laboratories with access to cutting-edge analytical capabilities.