Sydney Athletes Dive into Seaweed Restoration at Coogee Beach

Seaweed restoration in Coogee
Photo Credit: The Gemba Group

Top Sydney athletes braved the winter chill to participate in the Ultimate Recovery Session at Coogee Beach, planting seaweed to support Operation Crayweed’s marine habitat restoration efforts.



The event took place on Wednesday, 14 August 2024, bringing together athletes from various sports codes to learn about and contribute to the restoration of Sydney’s underwater forests. 

This initiative aimed to raise awareness and funds for Operation Crayweed, an environmental project focused on restoring vital seaweed habitats along Sydney’s coastline.

Athlete Involvement

Stars from AFL, AFLW, soccer, rugby league, netball, and surfing joined forces for this environmental initiative. 

Participants included Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene, Tarni Evans, Izzy Huntington, and Nicola Barr from GWS GIANTS; Lisa Steane from Sydney Swans; Teigan Collister and Margaux Chauvet from Sydney FC; Jasmine Strange, Samantha Economos, and Brydie Parker from the Roosters NRLW team; Teigan O’Shannassy from Sydney Swifts; and WSL surfers Tully White and Ace Buchan.

Seaweed restoration in Coogee
Photo Credit: Gemba Group/Instagram

The athletes got hands-on experience in underwater gardening, learning to sex the seaweed and prepare ‘cray-babies’ (juvenile specimens) for planting. This practical involvement aimed to raise awareness about the importance of seaweed habitats in Sydney’s marine ecosystem.

Boyd Hicklin, Creative Director at Gemba, the company that organised the event, expressed enthusiasm about the athletes’ participation. He noted the importance of giving back to Sydney’s coastline and praised Operation Crayweed’s impact on the environment.

Operation Crayweed’s Mission

Professor Adriana Vergés from Operation Crayweed explained that the organisation’s work is crucial for Sydney’s coastline. The project uses world-first technology developed in Sydney to re-establish crayweed populations along 70 kilometres of coastline.

Vergés highlighted the significance of crayweed forests, stating that they provide essential food and habitat for diverse marine life, aid biodiversity, and even help in carbon sequestration. She compared the importance of seaweeds to Sydney reefs to that of corals in the Great Barrier Reef.

The professor expressed gratitude for the athletes’ involvement, saying it was wonderful to engage with these enthusiastic individuals and involve them in the marine restoration project. She emphasised that by reintroducing crayweed to Sydney’s reefs, they are bringing back one species and rebuilding an entire ecological community.

Seaweed restoration in Coogee
Photo Credit: Gemba Group/Instagram

Community Impact

The Ultimate Recovery Session aimed to restore seaweed habitats and educate and involve the community in environmental conservation. 

Nicola Barr from FrontRunners and GWS Giants emphasised the connection between climate change and sports. She noted that athletes are increasingly concerned about how a warming planet will affect the future of their sports and coming generations. Barr pointed out that with millions of passionate fans and followers, athletes and sports organisations have a unique opportunity to drive significant climate action.



The event demonstrated a growing trend of athletes using their platforms to drive significant climate action and engage their fan bases in environmental causes. It also highlighted the importance of community involvement in environmental restoration projects.

Published 26-Aug-2024

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