The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem and one of just a few World Heritage Areas that includes marine and coastal values that meet all four natural World Heritage criteria. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) is also the world’s largest marine protected area (344 400 m²; more than 2000 km in length and several hundred kilometres wide in some parts). The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park incorporates a large number of different habitats (e.g. more than 2900 reefs and about 900 islands and coral cays comprising 30 reef and 40 non-reef bioregions) because of its size. This size underlies the vast diversity of marine life occurring in the region and the region’s proximity to the global centre of marine biodiversity. About 99.3 per cent of the World Heritage Area is within the GBRMP, the remaining 0.7 per cent being Queensland waters and islands, most of which is contained within a complementary system of marine parks managed by the Queensland Government.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act also established the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (‘the Authority’). The Authority's Goal is:

‘To provide for the protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef in perpetuity through the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’.

The stated Aims of the Authority include protecting the natural qualities of the Great Barrier Reef while providing for reasonable use of the Reef Region, and minimising regulation of, and interference in, human activities, consistent with meeting the Goal and other Aims of the Authority. Consistent with these obligations, the Authority is responsible for conserving species of high conservation value (e.g. rare, threatened) in the GBRMP. This is achieved through managing human activities and associated impacts occurring in the GBRMP, including both current activities and predicted future activities. To the extent that it is consistent with protecting the natural values of the Great Barrier Reef, the Authority provides for ecologically sustainable use of the Marine Park.

Purpose of this Report

The way in which the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) manages for the conservation of species in the GBRMP is determined mainly by legislative instruments and policy decisions, which are supported by education and enforcement. Given the migratory nature of many species, the GBRMPA works closely with other Australian and Queensland Government agencies to ensure complementary management approaches as far as possible. This Report is a compendium of information on the fauna and flora of the GBRWHA and explains the rationale behind the work priorities of the Species Conservation Program of the GBRMPA, which focuses on the management of threatened species. The Report will be reviewed and updated as additional information becomes available and in the light of changes to conservation priorities.

Figure 1. Map of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Boundaries

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