Marine Parks permits are granted to a 'permittee'. The name of the permittee is stated on the first page of your permit. This may be a company, institution or individual(s). As a permittee you are ultimately responsible for ensuring that your tourism operation complies with your permit.
What must I comply with?
When you are operating in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, you must comply with all the legal requirements contained in Acts, Regulations, Zoning Plans, Plans of Management, and your permit. You should be familiar with all the requirements that relate to your activities in the area you are visiting and for your style of operation. Remember you are also responsible for collecting and remitting any Environmental Managment Charge relating to the permit.
Although not mandatory, the GBRMPA encourages responsible reef practices in all your activities.
Can someone else use my permit?
As a permit holder, you may enter into an agent agreement in relation to your permit, authorising another person to operate your permit. An agent agreement is a legally recognized arrangement, where the agent conducts the permitted activities on behalf of the permit holder. However, regardless of who is conducting the tourism operation, you as the permit holder remains responsible at all times for ensuring compliance with the permit.
What happens if I don't comply?
Your permit can be suspended or revoked if you fail to comply with a permit condition or fail to pay any Environmental Management Charge due.
You may also be fined if you contravene the conditions of a permit. For the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the maximum penalties (as at October 2005) are:
- for a natural person - $22 000; or
- for a body corporate - $110 000.
For contravening, or failing to comply with, a provision of the Queensland Marine Parks Act, and thereby committing an offence against the Act the maximum penalties for a natural person (as at October 2005) are:
- a penalty of $7500 (100 penalty units); and, in addition
- a daily penalty of $1500 (20 penalty units), where the offence is a continuing one.
