Who is responsible for great barrier reef

The Federal and Queensland governments have begun talks about ways in which the area can be made safer for ships. The report highlights risks that are common in the reef and its surrounding waters. These are only a few ways in which the Australian government is looking to protect the Great Barrier Reef and its surroundings, bringing together numerous initiatives and creating campaigns that resonate with tourists as well as locals.

The Question is could we be doing more, and the answer is undoubtedly YES!! Long-Term Sustainability Plan For the reef to flourish for many more years, the government must ensure it has laid out a long-term plan. Dugong and Turtle Protection Plan Along with the many coral varieties and islands that dot the Great Barrier Reef, plans have been put in place to protect and conserve the vibrant marine life. The Tourism Management Action Strategy outlines how tourism on the Great Barrier Reef will be managed, and how the Authority will support tourism, whilst protecting the Reef, into the future.

The joint strategy with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service was developed after targeted and public consultation and released in September It covers both the Commonwealth and State Marine Parks and provides overarching guidance on the management of Reef tourism out to This supports transformational, world-leading visitor experiences on the Great Barrier Reef.

The strategy supports best-practice high standard tourism. It encourages presentation of the environment, biodiversity and heritage values of the Marine Parks, including appropriate recognition, respect and participation of Traditional Owners of sea country. It sets out specific actions to achieve the outcomes and objectives, over the short, medium or long term. The Marine Park Authority uses a range of tools, including on-ground management, policies, partnerships and regulation to maintain the delicate balance between protecting and enable sustainable use.

Regulatory tools — such as our Zoning Plan , plans of management , permits and policies — enable us to manage activities that take place in the multiple-use Marine Park which extends over 99 per cent of the World Heritage Area. The entire Marine Park is covered by a zoning plan. This operates similar to a town plan, by identifying where particular activities can and cannot occur.

Protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef region is a partnership between many government agencies, stakeholders and the public. For example, the Authority and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service operate a joint field management program of education, compliance and enforcement to support rules aimed at protecting the ecosystem, and Fisheries Queensland undertakes much of the fisheries management within the Marine Park.

In addition, the Federal Environment Department is responsible for implementing the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act ; Maritime Border Command provides aerial surveillance of the region; and the Australian Institute of Marine Science undertakes research.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has a long history of working collaboratively with science and knowledge providers and basing our management on the best available science. Every few years we reflect on our knowledge gaps, particularly following our five yearly Outlook Reports, and identify priority needs. Scientific information is a critical part of evidence-based decision making and reporting.

An increasing knowledge base about the Great Barrier Reef is supported by a wide range of science and knowledge providers including research institutions, government agencies, universities, Traditional Owners, industry and the Reef community.

Establishing effective and meaningful partnerships with Traditional Owners is essential to protect cultural and heritage values, conserve biodiversity and enhance the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. We are working in partnership with Traditional Owner groups to develop Sea Country management arrangements including Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements , which are co-designed and co-managed by the Traditional Owners, the Authority and the Queensland Government.

The strategy is a significant step in honouring the knowledge and value of Traditional Owner connections to the Reef and sets a path for greater co-management of the Reef. The Great Barrier Reef tourism industry, including through the Master Reef Guides program , plays a vital role in presenting the values of the World Heritage Area to millions of visitors annually. Through targeted education and stewardship programs, including our national educational centre Reef HQ Aquarium , we ensure the community and stakeholders have a clear understanding of the value of the Great Barrier Reef, the threats to its sustainable future and their role in protecting it.

Our Reef Guardian program and Local Marine Advisory Committees help facilitate education programs with schools, and actions with regional councils and fishers, and the community to help protect the Reef. Global collaboration is imperative for the health of the Reef. We are committed to sharing our expertise and success stories and promoting leading practice coral reef management with our international partners, including through the International Coral Reef Initiative , an informal partnership between nations and organisations that strives to preserve coral reefs and associated ecosystems around the world.

Given the extensive size of the Great Barrier Reef Region, its condition is variable. Many areas continue to support beautiful corals and abundant marine life and the Reef remains an extraordinary experience for visitors.

The Reef has shown the ability to recover from impacts, if disturbance-free periods are long-enough. Mitigating threats like climate change and poor water quality, coupled with resilience-based management, are essential to boosting Reef health so it can recover from major disturbances.

Sea temperature increase and extremes, such as marine heat waves, are the most immediate threats to the Reef as a whole and pose the highest risk.

The strongest and fastest possible global action on climate change is critical, and everyone can contribute and make a difference. While the challenge is big, it is achievable.