Technical Information Sheet #26

Published 2002

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

• View current Zoning information.

Scientific Research in The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

This information sheet outlines the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) approach to managing research, as proposed in the Draft Zoning Plan for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park).

The GBRMPA supports research in the Marine Park and recognises the important role that research has played, and continues to play, in providing a scientific basis for management and contributing to our understanding of the Great Barrier Reef.  This includes all fields of study that are relevant to the Marine Park, including biological, physical, social, cultural and economic research.  The GBRMPA, as a management agency, has chosen to obtain this information primarily from external research agencies, consultants and institutions.

Proposed Management Framework for Research in the GBRMP

The Draft Zoning Plan provides generally for the management of research in the Marine Park, including a system of Scientific Research Zones (SRZs)to facilitate research around scientific research stations and other areas of high research activity.   Unlike SRZs in previous Zoning Plans, the use and entry provisions proposed in the Draft Zoning Plan allow public access and activities in a SRZ similar to a Marine National Park (Green) Zone.

Zoning for Recognised Areas of High Research Activity 

To ensure a consistent, reef-wide approach to managing research, the GBRMPA is proposing to:

• Designate the waters adjacent to the research institutions in the Marine Park as SRZs;
• Revise the provisions of the SRZs to ensure that such zones may be used for limited impact research (both extractive and non-extractive research) without a permit;
• Continue to restrict access around One Tree Island Research Station and AIMS to allow for places in the Marine Park where research can be carried out without the possibility of disturbance by other users; and
• Use the Regulations to define such aspects as minor research aids as well as the species and limits which may be taken for limited impact research.

Zoning Provisions

The Draft Zoning Plan provides for a new system of permitting research to be implemented in the Marine Park.  As part of this system, research permits will only be required in situations where the activity may impact on the Marine Park, or where the activity involves extractive research in a zone that generally prohibits other forms of extractive use.  Research activities that represent an insignificant risk to the Marine Park and that are consistent with the objectives of the zone, will generally be considered ‘as of right’ and will not require a permit. 

Research activities conducted in highly protected zones (Buffer Zone, Marine National Park Zone and Preservation Zone) must be:

• relevant to, and/or a priority for, the management of the Marine Park, and/or
• unable to be reasonably carried out elsewhere.

All of these requirements must be satisfied for research in the Preservation Zone.

Table 1. Research permit requirements for each Zone.

Permit Policy

In conjunction with the new zoning provisions, the following policy changes are also proposed:

• Permits may be granted to cover the range of activities undertaken by a research institution (institutional permits), or research programs led by a senior researcher (umbrella permits).

• To ensure consistency with other permitted activities in the Marine Park, permit assessment fees may be introduced for research permits in the future.

• The GBRMPA may issue permits for a research program for the period of the research to a maximum of six years.   Pilot studies, the use of new research techniques, or research that may present a risk to the Marine Park may be limited to a lesser period.

It is anticipated that this new system will result in a streamlined and more consistent research permit process that will be beneficial to both researchers and the GBRMPA, and will reduce number of research activities, particularly minor or low-impact projects, that require permits.

Native Title Notification is required prior to granting any permits in the GBRMP.  The GBRMPA will continue to encourage researchers to contact relevant Traditional Owners if conducting research in the Marine Park that does not require a permit.

Bioaccess

Research activities involving access to biological resources will be managed in a manner consistent with Australia’s international obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity.  The GBRMPA will continue to manage the environmental impacts of access to these resources, whilst Environment Australia (on behalf of the Commonwealth Government) and the Queensland Government will have the capacity to negotiate benefit-sharing agreements.