Many reefs and islands within the Great Barrier Reef have a number of different names, some share the same name. To avoid confusion, there is a reef numbering system that clearly identifies the position of reefs and islands using a unique identifying number.
Please check the name and Reef Identification Number of the location you visit before completing your Environmental Management Charge logbook. There is an alphabetical list covering:
1. Far North Index Index of Reef Names and Reef ID Numbers - 88.7 kb
2. Cooktown / Cairns Index Index of Reef Names and Reef ID Numbers - 77.6 kb
3. Hinchinbrook / Townsville / Whitsundays Index Index of Reef Names and Reef ID Numbers - 128.9 kb
4. Mackay/Capricorn Index Index of Reef Names and Reef ID Numbers - 103.8 kb
What is the Reef Identification Number?
Reef Identification (Reef ID) Number consist of five digits in the following sequence YY-XXX.
- The first two digits (YY) refer to the degree in latitude, commencing at 10° in the north, and finishing at 24° in the south.
- The last three digits (XXX) give a unique number to each individual feature for that one-degree latitudinal strip. Generally, the features are numbered from north-west to south-east.
Where complex reefs have been subdivided, the Reef ID Number is used along with an appended letter referring to each subunit (e.g. a, b, c).
Whenever a new reef is discovered, it is assigned a number commencing at YY-800.
Reef ID Numbers are marked on the 1:250 000 scale zoning maps.
