Tuesday 25 October 2005

The report card is in: aquaculture regulations introduced five years ago have improved environmental performance in the Great Barrier Marine Park.

The historic Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Aquaculture) Regulations 2000 for the first time directly regulated land-based pollutant inputs into the marine park.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Aquaculture Manager Leigh Gray said there were only positive results after the first five years of the regulation.

“The regulations followed increasing community concern about the rapid development of a new aquaculture industry adjacent to the Marine Park,” Mr Gray said.

“The good news is ongoing assessment and compliance auditing provides reassurance this new industry can co-exist with other activities without causing significant environmental harm.

“There has been a significant improvement since the legislation came into affect.”

This improvement was achieved through the cooperative actions of various government agencies, the aquaculture industry, and wider community.