Management Concern: High     Adequacy of Information: Moderate

Summary extracts from Outlook Report 2009

• Only a small proportion of non-commercial fish species are monitored. For most species that are monitored, the populations appear stable. Exceptions may include groups of species that are influenced by decreases in predator numbers and groups of species influenced by the effects of declining water quality.
• Illegal fishing is a threat to the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. Incidents detected include incursion of foreign fishing vessels, fishing in zones closed to fishing, and use of fishing equipment or methods in zones where they are not permitted.
• Increasing coastal development is resulting in the loss of both coastal habitats that support the Great Barrier Reef and connectivity between habitats.
• Information on the state and trends of target fish populations in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is very limited, with formal stock assessment for only a few species.
  
• Only limited information is available about the impact of climate change on the function and behaviour of reef fishes.
• There is now a range of mandatory and voluntary management arrangements that minimise the impact of commercial marine tourism operations in the Great Barrier Reef, such that impacts associated with tourism activities are seen as minor.
• Much of the research activity on the Great Barrier Reef is confined to areas surrounding the six island research stations. With ongoing management, any impacts of research are likely to be small and localised in the immediate area of study.
• Traditional use, mainly hunting, fishing, collecting, involves a range of marine species (some of conservation concern), but levels of take are unknown. Poaching by non-Traditional Owners is a concern for Traditional Owners and management agencies.

What do we know? (relevant pages from Outlook Online)

• Increased ocean acidification may also affect the olfactory discrimination and homing ability of marine fish
  
• Impact of ocean acidification on fish abundance and survivorship
  
• Impact of ocean acidification on larval fish development
  
• Effects of CO2 on marine fish: larvae and adults
  
• Fish diversity in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park 
• Effects of line fishing on the Great Barrier Reef
  
• Fishing catch from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
  
• East coast fin fish fishery independent review 
   
  
• The effects of marine reserve protection on trophic relationships
  
• Abundance patterns of predatory fishes
  
• Effects of rezoning on biomass of coral trout
  
• Concern for grey mackerel and garfish [0.4Mb]
  
• Australian Institute of Marine Science Long Term Monitoring Program: fish [30Mb]
  
• Reef fish species richness and abundance  (generated from Australian Institute of Marine Science data)
  
• e-ATLAS: Fish communities of the Great Barrier Reef - AIMS LTMP data
  
• Vulnerability of Great Barrier Reef fisheries to climate change
• Marine tourism impacts on the Great Barrier Reef
• Impacts of tourism and recreational use on the Great Barrier Reef
• Impacts of fish feeding at tourist pontoons
  
• The national recreational and indigenous fishing survey
  
• Limited quantitative data for Indigenous harvest of marine species
• Perceived threat to reef from indigenous use
• Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements boundary maps
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owner groups with interests in the Great Barrier Reef
• 'Traditional use' utilises a range of marine resources
• Aboriginal fish traps and weirs of Queensland
• Fish traps of Hinchinbrook Island
• Marine and intertidal cultural heritage sites in the Great Barrier Reef
• Queensland's coast: managing its future
• Catchment land uses
• Land-sourced pollutants and their impacts on water quality
• Land use and pollutant losses
• Development intensification and water quality pressures on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystems
• Population and recreational vessel registration growth

Existing policies and management actions

• Queensland Fisheries Strategy 2009-2014
• Queensland Fisheries Policies and Legislation
• Permit conditions for specific activities
  
• Fisheries: legislative management arrangements
  
• Queensland Fisheries monitoring
  
• Queensland Management of Commercial Fisheries
  
• Queensland Management of Recreational Fisheries
  
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan
  
• Australian Government policy on climate change
• Queensland Government climate change policies and strategies
• Climate Change Action Plan 2007-2012
• High standard tourism operations 
• Ecocertification of Marine Park operators
• Policies and guidelines for managing tourism and recreational use
• Responsible Reef Practices 
• Scientific Research Stations
• Major research and information programs
• Sustainable Traditional use of marine resources
• A Reef-wide framework for managing traditional use of marine resources in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park  [368KB]
  
• Management of 'Traditional use' 1
  
• Management of 'Traditional use' 2
  
• 'Traditional use', management and contemporary relationships
• Cape York rangers 
• GBRMPA involvement in coastal development planning and assessment
  
• Environmental Impact Management Policy [900KB]
  
• Reef Guardian Councils
  
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
  
• State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971
  
• Department of Infrastructure and Planning
  
• State Coastal Management Plan 2002
• Regional coastal management plans 
• Coastal ecosystem protection

Future management requirements

• Draft Queensland Coastal Management Plan
• Incorporation of fishing in Traditional Use Marine Resource Agreements
  
• Biodiversity strategy
• Overarching Great Barrier Reef Tourism Strategy
• Great Barrier Reef Recreation Strategy

Defined research questions

• How will changes in sea temperature and pH affect the function and behaviour of reef fishes?
  
• What is the adaptation potential of fish to the predicted impacts of climate change?

Current Research and Monitoring