The Species Conservation Program is presently focused on initiatives to enhance conservation of dugongs, turtles and cetaceans. The Program has a lesser involvement with seabirds and a ‘watching brief’ and involvement as necessary with issues concerning other species. There is, however, flexibility in the Program to address emerging issues on an as-needs basis.

Dugongs are likely to remain a high work priority in the foreseeable future as an accepted conservation imperative and in view of the high level of scientific, public and political concern. The GBRMPA has provided considerable funding since the 1980s to research Great Barrier Reef dugong populations. However, whilst there is an improved understanding of the species and its habitat requirements within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA), there is also a need to regularly review research and monitoring priorities to address management issues.

Turtles are likely to remain a high work priority in the foreseeable future as an accepted conservation imperative and in view of the high level of scientific, public and political concern. Because of extraordinary research since the 1970s, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has acquired a large database on the turtles of Queensland, which is being used as a basis for management decisions. There is scientific evidence that the Queensland populations of at least three turtle species are in trouble and all six species are threatened.

Whale and dolphin policy issues have been addressed in the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Policy (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2000). However, certain management issues are still to be addressed such as the response to risks facing inshore dolphins of the Great Barrier Reef.

Seabirds are likely to remain a lower work priority.

The involvement of the Species Conservation Program with other species will be considered as reports and new information become available, and as requirements dictate and resources permit. The conservation status of most other groups of species and/or taxons is not known with any certainty on the Great Barrier Reef or elsewhere. As information becomes available and measures for high profile species and/or taxons can be developed, management actions specific to those species will be considered.

The vast majority of Great Barrier Reef species/taxa will continue to depend, as in the past, upon the conservation of ecological communities through management tools such as zoning and management plans, and permits. The GBRMPA’s Representative Areas Program has been implemented and will assist immeasurably the efficacy of such conservation through a new network of zoning within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

A variety of other activities is occurring within the GBR Marine Park that are part of the conservation of ecological communities. These include the:

• East Coast Trawl Fishery Management Audit
• Permit Allocation, Latency and Tenure for Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef
• Water Quality Action Plan
• Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 

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