Management Concern: Low     Adequacy of Information: Good

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.
  
• 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.

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

• Fish diversity in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
  
• 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
  

Existing policies and management actions

• Permit conditions for specific activities
  
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan
  
• Scientific Research Stations
• Major research and information programs

Future management requirements

• Biodiversity strategy
  

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.

Current Research and Monitoring