One of the many thrills that a Reef visit brings, comes from discovering its remarkable, unique animal and plant life.
Many visitors understandably want to keep a memento of their unforgettable trip but they could be pocketing a creature's 'home' or, in worst cases, taking a live animal from its neighbourhood.
As one of the Reef's protectors, your help is needed make sure that its natural treasures are left behind for others to enjoy. Please encourage your clients to collect memories and take photos rather than these limited edition natural 'trophies'.
Responsible Reef Practices
- Brief your passengers on the correct collecting limits and the zones where you may collect.
- Provide on-site interpretation and species identification.
- Encourage your passengers to:
- 'Look but don't touch'
- Take only what they need
- Collect dead shells only
- Check the shells for live animals that may be living on or inside them. If there are any, return the shells to where they were found.
Marine Parks Legal Requirements
- You must abide by the collecting requirements in the Zoning Plan.
- Collecting is allowed in General Use Zone (light blue), Habitat Protection Zone (dark blue) and Conservation Park Zone (yellow). Limits on number and frequency apply (generally no more than 5 specimens at a time).
- Collecting is not allowed in the Buffer Zone (olive green), Scientific Research Zone (orange), Marine National Park Zone (green) or Preservation Zone (pink).
- You must not damage, collect or otherwise 'take' coral, including dead coral, and protected shell species (e.g. triton snail, giant clam) in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park unless you have a Marine Parks permit.
Note: 'Take' includes removing, gathering, killing or interfering with, or attempting to take. There may be special arrangements for Traditional Owners. - You must not collect within the No Anchoring Areas at Bait Reef and Manta Ray Bay in the Whitsunday Planning Area.
