The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is the largest coral reef ecosystem on Earth, home to an amazing diversity of plants, animals and habitats, from shallow inshore fringing reefs and seagrass beds to deep oceanic waters. The multiple-use Great Barrier Reef Marine Park extends more than 2,300 km along the Queensland coast and covers 344,400 km2. In 1981 it was listed as a World Heritage property for its outstanding universal value.

The Great Barrier Reef is also critical to the economic and social well-being of more than 1 million Australians. The Great Barrier Reef and adjacent catchments support diverse industries that generate more than $A 50 billion annually. Around 2 million tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef each year; the tourist industry generates approximately $A 5 billion annually and supports over 50,000 jobs. Shipping is vital; most of Queensland’s $A 17 billion per annum commodity exports are shipped through 10 major ports along the Great Barrier Reef coast. Ten commercial fisheries operate in the Great Barrier Reef, contributing around $A 140 million to the economy each year.

Sustainably managing the Great Barrier Reef requires balancing human use with the maintenance of the area’s natural and cultural integrity. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning plan provides high levels of protection in key areas, while allowing a variety of other sustainable uses (including many types of fishing) in other zones. “No- take” zones (i.e., no-fishing zones) cover 33 per cent (115,000 km2) of the park. The federal marine park and zoning plan is complemented by an adjacent state marine park and national parks declared over many of the islands in the Great Barrier Reef, all managed as part of a single programme.

Additional management approaches are in place to maintain water quality; reduce nutrient and sediment runoff; protect vegetation in the catchment; protect high-value wetlands and other significant ecological areas; reduce ship groundings; and involve traditional owners in the management and use of the marine parks. These measures ensure that the Great Barrier Reef is passed on to future generations as one of the iconic marine protected areas in the world.

Source: Government of Australia.