Management Concern: High    

Adequacy of Information: Low

Summary extracts from Outlook Report 2009

• Tourism makes a significant contribution to the presentation, management and economic value of the Great Barrier Reef.
  
• The impact of catchment run-off on inshore areas is expected to continue to affect the economic value of associated Reef-based industries.
  
• Tourism activities are mainly focused on nature appreciation, especially of coral reef habitats. A decline in inshore habitats will have social implications for coastal communities.

What do we know?

Relevant pages from Outlook Online include:

• Scientific consensus statement on water quality in the Great Barrier Reef
  
• Reef exposure to river contaminants ecosystem risk index
  
• Catchment influence on the Great Barrier Reef
  
• Visitor satisfaction with tourism visits
• Development intensification and water quality pressures on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystems

Existing policies and management actions

• Policies and guidelines for managing tourism and recreational use
  
• Environmental Impact Management Policy [900KB]
  
• Sewage discharges from marine outfalls to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
  
• Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program
  
• Eye on the Reef Program
  
• Improving water quality
• Coastal ecosystem protection
• Water quality guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
• Regional water quality improvement plans

Future management requirements

• Future management requirements in this area are being guided by ongoing assessment of emerging research outcomes and issues identified by the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009.

Defined research questions

• There are currently no defined research questions for this topic. Research questions will be developed, giving priority to interactions/issues that are of most concern to management.

Related Information

• Current Research and Monitoring