Technical Information Sheet #16

Published 2002

This page contains background and history of the Representative Areas Program.

• View current Zoning information.

Aquaculture in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is implementing the Representative Areas Program to help ensure better protection of the Marine Park’s biodiversity. This will involve a review of the existing zoning throughout the Marine Park. This information sheet is part of a package of materials that help explain various elements of the Representative Areas Program and the zoning review.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) recognises there is increasing interest in aquaculture within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park). In assessing the impact or likely impact of aquaculture, a fundamental concern of the GBRMPA is the maintenance of natural systems. In order to address this concern the GBRMPAmust, where possible, ensure that ecological risk is minimised.

The GBRMPA will assess two basic types of aquaculture operations in the Marine Park:

• Extensive aquaculture that does not include the addition of feed; and
• Intensive aquaculture that does include the addition of feed.

Major environmental issues associated with aquaculture include:

• Nutrient enrichment of the water column and benthos
• Potential impacts on wild fish populations:

a) introduction of diseases and parasites; and/or

b) genetic pollution of wild stocks by non-local escapees and organisms associated with them

• Attraction of predators
• Amenity impacts.

In relation to aquaculture, three related activities also pose threats to the natural systems of the Marine Park. These are: cage culture, restocking or reseeding, and artificial habitat development associated with aquaculture.

Proponents of such activities must demonstrate that the operational procedures and technologies employed substantially mitigate ecological risk.

Proposed management framework for Aquaculture in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

To ensure a consistent, reef-wide approach to the management of aquaculture, the GBRMPA is proposing that:

• Extensive aquaculture be allowed only with permission in General Use (light blue) and Habitat Protection (dark blue) Zones
• Intensive aquaculture be allowed only with permission in General Use (light blue) Zones if the applicant can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the GBRMPA, that there have been operational and technological advances that substantially mitigate ecological risk
• Aquaculture is likely to be restricted in certain areas designated for Dugong Management purposes (see Dugong Management Areas information sheet for further information).

Aquaculture operations are not allowed to occur in the area encompassed by the Whitsundays Plan of Management.