Page 30 - The World About Us

Agincourt Reef
1.1.1
2.1.5

How is the Great Barrier Reef managed sustainably?

The Great Barrier Marine Park
Authority (GBRMPA) is responsible for
ensuring the reef and its associated
habitats are protected for the future.
The Reef is a World Heritage site,
indica ng its global significance. The
GBRMPA has managed the area for
over 40 years. In 2014 it published a 25
year management plan to direct the
authori es' work in the coming
decades. The plan covers areas of work
including increasing compliance with
reef zoning, managing threats to the
reef, and the development of a reef
recovery programme.
Reef Zoning
The en re reef is zoned into
different areas which set out what is
and is not allowed in each zone. 33% of
the reef is given to na onal marine fig.81 Extract from GBR zoning map: the colours denote different permi ed ac vi es.
park status where fishing and collec ng outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. The GBRMPA coordinated the Raine
are prohibited. In the short term, an immediate Island Recovery Project. This reshaped
The GBRMPA publishes 19 zoning response to an outbreak is a emp ng the beach profile and raised the nes ng
maps that show which areas are to control numbers by culling. Divers sand above the level of the highest
designated for ac vi es, such as inject adult starfish with a salt solu on. des. New fences have also prevented
commercial or recrea onal fishing. This kills the starfish without poisoning deaths of adult females being stranded
There are fines for people who are the reef. The GBRMPA is conduc ng a er falling down sand cliffs.
caught not following the zoning rules. research with universi es across
Australia to find a more long term Fishing
There are seven different types of
zone ranging from general use zones, solu on to the problem of these coral The GBRMPA limits the total annual
where most ac vi es are allowed killers. catch to just over 3,000 tonnes for
(some mes with a permit), to commercial fishers. Recrea onal fishers
preserva on zones, where only take another es mated 2,500 tonnes.
scien fic studies are allowed. There In waters between the reef and the
are special management areas with con nental shore, net fishers operate
different restric ons to help various 300 vessels and catch 2,000 tonnes of
species such as turtles, dugongs, fish, valued at over £9 million per year.
nes ng birds and spawning fish. With 67% of the reef system open
to fishing, the GBRMPA and
Managing threats Queensland Fisheries (a government
The GBRMPA has to manage several body) set total allowable catches for all
threats to the reef. One big problem is fig.82 Turtle nes ng beaches protected. the commercial fisheries in the marine
park. The number of operators are
fig.83 Dugongs have protected status. Turtle protec on restricted, as well as the loca ons for
fishing and the fishing gear used.
A recent five year project, cos ng
the equivalent of £5 million, at Raine The Reef Guardian Stewardship
Island has helped reduce mortality programme brings together farmers
amongst some of the reef's turtles. from Queensland, with reef fishers,
60,000 green turtles lay their eggs on local councils and schools to share
Raine Island each year but higher des informa on and good prac ce to help
were resul ng in the loss of thousands improve the “health and resources” of
of turtle eggs. the reef.

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Biodiverse ecosystems are under threat from human activity.