Tourism Industry Activation and Reef Protection Initiative

Protecting the Reef Through Partnership

At Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom, we believe that every Great Barrier Reef experience should leave a positive impact—not only on our guests, but also on the Reef itself.

Since 2021, we have proudly participated in the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI), a federally funded partnership between the Australian Government, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and High Standard Great Barrier Reef tourism operators.

Originally established as part of Australia’s COVID-19 Recovery Program, the initiative recognised the unique role that experienced tourism operators could play in supporting the ongoing protection, monitoring and management of the Great Barrier Reef. As operators who spend almost every day on the Reef, we are uniquely positioned to collect valuable reef health information while continuing to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Today, the program has evolved well beyond its original purpose and continues to provide GBRMPA and marine scientists with invaluable long-term reef health data and active corallivore management across many of the Great Barrier Reef’s most significant tourism sites.

More Than 30 Years of Reef Stewardship

Although our formal involvement with TRPI began in 2021, caring for our reef sites has always been part of who we are.

For more than three decades, our crew have developed an intimate knowledge of the reefs we visit each day. TRPI has strengthened that commitment by providing advanced scientific training, allowing our crew to contribute directly to the long-term understanding and protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

Our trained team members now regularly undertake:

• Reef Health and Impact Surveys (RHIS)
• Tourism Weekly Monitoring (TW)
• Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) control
• Drupella (corallivore) surveys and removal
• Eye on the Reef monitoring
• Photo Point Enhancement monitoring
• Ongoing reef stewardship and data collection

Every survey contributes valuable scientific information used by GBRMPA to monitor reef condition and support evidence-based management across the Marine Park.

Building Knowledge Through Every Program

Each successive TRPI program has enabled Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom to expand both our stewardship activities and our educational capability.

Through TRPI we have:

• Successfully trained multiple crew members through GBRMPA’s Eye on the Reef Program.
• Collected hundreds of Reef Health and Tourism Weekly Monitoring surveys.
• Conducted extensive Crown-of-Thorns Starfish and Drupella control across Upolu Reef, Green Island and Briggs Reef.
• Contributed Photo Point Enhancement monitoring to support long-term scientific research.
• Developed comprehensive fish identification, coral identification and interpretive resources for guests and crew.
• Enhanced educational material for snorkelling, diving and glass bottom boat experiences.
• Developed and implemented our own company Stewardship Plan.
• Continued supporting complementary conservation initiatives including the Coral Nurture Program.

Beyond the scientific outcomes, the program has strengthened our team’s knowledge, confidence and passion for sharing the Great Barrier Reef with our guests in meaningful and engaging ways.

Continuing into TRPI Version 5

We successfully completed TRPI Version 4 on 30 June 2026, contributing another year of high-quality reef monitoring, corallivore control and stewardship activities.

We are proud to have once again been selected by GBRMPA to continue this important work through TRPI Version 5, running from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.

Our continued involvement reflects the consistency, quality and professionalism of our team’s contribution and demonstrates the important role responsible tourism operators play in helping protect one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

Every Guest Makes a Difference

When you travel with Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom, your visit becomes part of something much bigger than a day on the Reef.

Every tour helps support a local family business committed to protecting the Great Barrier Reef through active stewardship, scientific collaboration, environmental education and continuous improvement.

Positive Experiences • Positive Feelings • Positive Change

Our continued philosophy: To provide the most personal, responsible, customer-oriented Great Barrier Reef experience and truly “connect” our guests to this amazing natural icon, with the knowledge that once they have had this surreal experience, they will naturally want to protect it and make little changes in their everyday lives.

Click here to view Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom TIARPI Project One