GBRMPA Policies
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is established under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 as a Commonwealth Statutory Authority. The Authority works in the policy framework of the Australian Government and is the principal advisor on the control, care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Policy and administrative procedures provide guidance for managers and the public on practical application of the legislation. GBRMPA's Board approves all policy. New policies are developed following the process in the diagram below.
GBRMPA Policy Development Process

Approved Policies
- Cruise Shipping Policy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 113KB] - Dredging and Spoil Disposal Policy
[Adobe Acrobat Format 525KB] - Environmental Impact Management Policy
[Adobe Acrobat Format 900KB] - Managing Tourism Permissions to Operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (including Allocation, Latency & Tenure)
- Policy on Moorings in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 487KB] - Policy on Managing Bareboat Operations in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 530KB] - Policy on Managing Scientific Research in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 650KB] - Policy on Managing Activities That Include the Direct Take of a Protected Species From the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- Sewage Discharges From Marine Outfalls To The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 107KB] - Structures Policy
[Adobe Acrobat Format 500KB] - Operational Policy on Whale and Dolphin Conservation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 450KB]
Draft Policies for Comment
nil
GBRMPA Position Statements and Guidelines
Position statements and guidelines establish what the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority considers as appropriate management of particular activities in the Marine Park. They are intended to complement policies. The Chairman approves all position statements and guidelines.
Approved Position Statements and Guidelines
- Position Statement - Management of tourist flights in the vicinity of Magnetic Island
[Adobe Acrobat Format 200KB] - Position Statement on Aquaculture within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 200KB] - Position Statement on the Conservation of Dugongs in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 170KB] - Position Statement on Indigenous Participation in Tourism and its Management
[Adobe Acrobat Format 710KB] - Position Statement on Managing access to the Restricted Access Special Management Areas surrounding Raine Island, Moulter Cay and MacLennan Cay
[Adobe Acrobat Format 35KB] - Position Statement on Management of memorials within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format KB] - Position Statement on Protected Species in the East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery
[Adobe Acrobat Format 330KB] - Position Statement on Regional Management Issues in the East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery
[Adobe Acrobat Format 125KB] - Position Statement on Sharks and Rays in the East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery
[Adobe Acrobat Format 215KB] - Position Statement on the Translocation of Species in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
[Adobe Acrobat Format 215KB] - Position Statement on No Strucutres Sub-zones
[Adobe Acrobat Format 1092.97KB] - Position Statement on Management of Commercial Jet Ski Operations around Magnetic Island
[Adobe Acrobat Format 89.6KB] - Guidelines on Coral Transplantation
- Guidelines for the Emergency Disposal of Foreign Fishing Vessels
- Guidelines for the Management of Artificial Reefs in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- Guidelines for Managing Visitation to Seabird Breeding Islands