What you can do
- Make a donation – this goes towards training an Indigenous COTS diver to join one of the dive teams!
- Learn about the COTS Control Program – so you can tell others why it’s so important
- Get your friends, relatives, school or workplace to donate & become a citizen – when we work together everything is possible.
You can help control the crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak
The Issue
Found throughout the Indo-Pacific, the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are responsible for almost half of all coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef over the last 30 years. The Reef is in the middle of a major outbreak and corals are being overwhelmed as each starfish must be culled individually by divers. Since its inception in 2012, the Program has eradicated over 600,000 COTS from over 80 reefs, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
The big picture
When starfish numbers are low, healthy coral can easily recover from their small-scale attacks, but outbreaks pose a severe threat to the Reef. As the Reef is already suffering immensely from the impacts of climate change, we can’t afford to lose any healthy coral, making the outbreak even more serious.
Our impact
By sponsoring the training of an Indigenous COTS diver, you’re supporting direct action to protect the Reef. We need to raise $33,000 to do this, and your contribution will count towards restoring the reef ecosystem into balance.
Spread the word
We would love to see what you’re doing, so don’t forget to #citizensGBR and #uniteforthereef alongside the snap of your favourite Reef friend. Posting about your efforts isn't bragging – you’re helping to grow our community and champion positive impact for the Reef.