Outlook Online 2009

Impacts of tourism and recreational use on the Great Barrier Reef

Harriot, 2002:
"The best studied of tourism impacts are those associated with pontoons, anchoring and diving. A series of extensive impact assessments has found that impacts of pontoons on the surrounding reef areas are minimal, apart from the 'footprint' under the pontoon and its moorings.

Anchoring of both tourist and recreational boats is a significant issue in heavily visited sites in the Marine Park. Anchors and anchor chains are capable of breaking multiple coral colonies on each drop. Management of anchoring impacts includes installation of both private and public moorings, 'no-anchor' areas in heavily used places such as some of the Whitsunday Islands, and an education program for boaters, promoting codes-of-practice."

Citation and/or URL

Harriott, V.J. 2002, Marine tourism impacts and their management on the Great Barrier Reef. CRC Reef Technical Report 46, CRC Reef, Townsville, Australia 

Spatial Coverage

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Temporal Coverage

1985 to 2002

Update Frequency

Not applicable

Other Information

None 

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