Blog

SeaLink Whitsundays, is proud to announce that Red Cat Adventures has secured another year of funding under the Australian Government’s Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI). The extension enables the award-winning tour operator to continue its leading role in reef stewardship and conservation across the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Administered by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority), the TRPI empowers tourism operators to safeguard high-value reef sites through hands-on protection, research, and education. Red Cat Adventures has been a key contributor since the program’s inception and will now continue into Phase 3 (2025–2026).

Stretching over 2,300 kilometres, the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth and one of Australia’s most iconic natural treasures. However, it faces mounting pressures from climate change, coral bleaching, pollution, and outbreaks of coral predators. The continued health of the reef depends on both large-scale science programs, and localised efforts like those delivered through the TRPI, which mobilises tourism operators to protect and monitor key reef sites in real time.

“As a local operator, we are incredibly honoured to be entrusted with another year of this important work,” said Asher Telford, General Manager, SeaLink Whitsundays.

Protecting the reef is part of who we are, and this funding allows us to build on the achievements of the past year while continuing to give our guests a deeper connection to this remarkable ecosystem,” Mr Telford continued.

Over the past 12 months, Red Cat Adventures has delivered tangible results for reef health and community engagement, including:

• Conducting 1,182 Eye on the Reef surveys to monitor reef condition and provide early-warning data for marine park managers. These surveys help identify impacts and changes over time at critical tourism sites.
• Uploading over 11,000 reef images to the ReefCloud database, an AI-powered platform run by the Australian Institute of Marine Science. These photo contributions support real-time reef analysis and long-term monitoring.
• Removing more than 9,200 coral predators, including Crown-of-thorns starfish and Drupella snails, both of which can severely damage coral ecosystems. Red Cat’s team is specially trained to detect and manage outbreaks.
• Supporting 64 Traditional Owner On Country visits, helping strengthen cultural and environmental ties to sea Country, particularly for the Ngaro and Gia people, through guided stewardship activities.

Donna Gauci, CEO, SeaLink Marine & Tourism added: “Red Cat Adventures is leading the way in showing how the tourism industry can play an active role in marine conservation and specifically the Great Barrier Reef protection.”

The team at Red Cat Adventures is doing a brilliant job helping to protect the reef while giving guests a deeper appreciation and understanding of its significance, and why it must be preserved and protected for generations to come,” Ms Gauci said.

These conservation efforts are seamlessly integrated into Red Cat Adventures’ award-winning tours, including the high-speed Thundercat snorkelling experience and the immersive Ride to Paradise overnight escape. Guests can explore the reef, whilst also learning about its ecology, threats, and the role they can play in its protection.

In addition to Red Cat Adventures, Whitsunday Jet Ski Tours also plays an important role in the ongoing protection of the reef and surrounding ecosystems. As an eco-accredited operator, the team contributes to reef health monitoring, marine debris clean-ups, and seagrass replanting initiatives that are essential for marine biodiversity and turtle habitats. Their guided tours offer more than just high-adrenaline adventure — they provide guests with the opportunity to better understand the Whitsundays’ fragile environment and the importance of long-term reef stewardship.

Red Cat Adventures Achievements HERE!