Reef-scale AI · human judgement

Turn reef imagery into trusted evidence.

COTSpotter connects AI analysis, human validation and integrated reef data to help people see crown-of-thorns starfish sooner and act with greater confidence.

Follow the evidence Log in to COTSpotter

ObserveAnalyse ValidateDecide

Begin the dive

01 / NATIVE PREDATOR

The challenge

Native to the Reef.
Destructive at outbreak scale.

Crown-of-thorns starfish naturally feed on coral. The management problem begins when their abundance reaches outbreak levels and coral loss outpaces recovery.

Cryptic Often hidden within complex reef structure

Mobile Pressure moves across connected reef systems

Manageable One major reef pressure we can act on directly

From balance to outbreak

Drag or scroll across the reef to see the pressure build.

Illustrated reef continuum from ecological balance to crown-of-thorns outbreak

Three complementary views

Each method sees the Reef differently.

COTSpotter does not replace established field methods. It brings their distinct evidence into one traceable decision layer.

Manta tow, ReefScan image survey and crown-of-thorns culling methods

01 Manta tow Broadscale human observation

02 ReefScan imagery Repeatable, reviewable coverage

03 Cull operations Targeted action and direct evidence

Different purpose. Different resolution. Different effort. One shared reef context.

The COTSpotter workflow

Machines review the volume.
People provide the judgement.

Every result remains connected to its source survey, AI run, review decisions and certification status.

Upload & QAC

Field imagery, metadata and provenance checked at trip scale.

RAW EVIDENCE

AI detection

Candidate observations connected into reviewable tracks.

MACHINE ASSISTED

Human validation

People confirm, reject or flag uncertain candidate tracks.

REVIEWED

Integrated products

Certified evidence returns as maps, reports, data and APIs.

DECISION READY

Quality loop Every correction improves the next model.

Candidate

Confirmed

Certified

Evidence across scales

Where surveys overlap, the signals align.

Image-derived detections show promising spatial agreement with established manta tow and cull evidence. The comparison is encouraging—and still needs more matched data.

Image detections compared with manta tow evidence at reef scale — Image detections compared with manta tow evidence

Image detections compared with broad cull evidence

Detailed reef-scale alignment between image detections and cull evidence — Closer reef-scale image and cull comparison

Cull, manta tow and image-derived evidence aligned on the same reef — Cull, manta tow and image evidence in one reef context

Read with care: blank areas are often gaps in effort or timing—not evidence that methods disagree. Robust calibration requires surveys matched in both space and time.

The current constraint

The platform can scale. The evidence footprint must catch up.

In the June 2026 workshop snapshot, image surveys covered about one-tenth the measured distance of the established manta tow record. The smaller image-derived evidence base is an expected consequence of lower deployment effort—not a test of method quality.

Measured survey distance 9.04× gap

Manta tow8,184 km

Image survey905 km

8,184 km ÷ 905 km = 9.04

Provisional June 2026 workshop snapshot. Definitions and public release scope require final review.
Method	COTS evidence	Survey / records	Effort	What it contributes
Cull	125,405	~28,000	1,444 days	Direct control evidence and a large operational record
Manta tow	2,875	~41,000	8,184 km	Long-running, broadscale visual surveillance
Image	251 certified tracks	618 surveys	905 km	Persistent, reviewable, high-detail evidence

What comes next

Scale image collection by roughly an order of magnitude—and deliberately match surveys in space and time—to move from promising detections toward calibrated density and confidence.

Built through collaboration

Every partner closes a different gap.

Field operations, management, monitoring platforms, science, funding, AI and cloud infrastructure must work as one delivery system.

GBRF

Funding, COTS Control Innovation leadership and coordination.

GBRMPA + QPWS

Management context, RJFMP field operations and workflow collaboration.

AIMS

ReefScan platforms, image generation, provenance and edge AI.

Google

TensorFlow/Kaggle origins, field-data support and cloud technology.

CSIRO

AI research, integration, validation, analytics and data products.

A conversation still to begin

Could better COTS information support people looking after Sea Country?

That question has not yet been discussed with potentially relevant Traditional Custodians. Initial engagement is planned for the coming months. The current fact sheet is a conversation starter—not evidence of endorsement, participation or co-design.

Download the project fact sheet

The workflow is built

Now scale the evidence.

Help expand matched image collection, calibration and operational adoption for the people protecting the Reef.

Start a conversation Log in to COTSpotter