A giant inflatable turtle the size of a house has been installed in Australia's Sydney Harbour to mark the launch of an underwater art exhibition at the city’s aquarium.

The 15m (49ft) long turtle is covered in a black and white coral reef pattern, with organisers looking to raise awareness of the Great Barrier Reef, which is deteriorating at a rapid rate thanks to a combination of pollution and seabed dredging.

The huge plastic creature isn’t the first to pop up in Sydney’s harbour, with a giant inflatable duck of a similar size floating in last year as part of another art installation.

This year, the Undersea Art Exhibition – held at the waterside Sea Life Sydney Aquarium – will display a collection of paintings by Australian artist BJ Price, who last year held an underwater art exhibition in the Great Barrier Reef, with this year’s installation running until 11 September.

The not-for-profit arm of Sea Life, which actively campaigns for protecting the world’s waters, will receive 10 per cent of proceeds raised from art sales, which will go to conservation in marine environments.

"Art is an effective engagement tool, creating time and space for personal reflection,” said Sea Life Trust manager Claudette Rechitorik. “We hope that people take that opportunity to reflect on the beauty of what lies under the ocean, the species that call the ocean home, and to support actions to protect and conserve them into the future".

Sydney is currently seeing returns on the commitment it’s made to public art in recent years, announcing details of three prestigious works to launch by Japanese architect Junya Ishigami, British artist Tracey Emin and Australian artist Hany Armanious through the City Centre Public Art Plan.