In preparing this Outlook Report, opinions and issues regarding potential threats to the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem were gathered from a broad range of sources, including reef scientists, stakeholders, industry partners and the local community. Seventy coral reef scientists participated in an online survey to identify and rank threats. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s 11 regionally based Local Marine Advisory Committees and four issues-based Reef Advisory Committees participated in a more detailed process to identify and rank threats to the ecosystem. Broader community views were gauged through an attitudinal survey.

All groups expressed similar views on the most serious threats to the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. Of primary concern were climate change, rural and agricultural development and catchment runoff, urban and industrial development and runoff, and fishing pressure.

The consultation processes with the Local Marine Advisory Committees and Reef Advisory Committees identified more than 400 individual issues; these were consolidated into a final set of 41 threats to the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, which are the basis of this assessment. These threats very closely reflect the factors identified in Chapter 5.

The threats that the committees identified relating to management resources and governance are broadly considered in Chapter 6.

• Community view on threats facing the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem 

• Threats to the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem

• Assessing threats