Management Concern: Low    

Adequacy of Information: Moderate

Summary extracts from Outlook Report 2009

• Twenty-two species of seabird breed on the Great Barrier Reef with serious declines in some populations.
• 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 include:

• Status of Queensland seabirds
  
• Status of seabirds: evidence from State of the Reef Report
  
• Trends in seabird populations at Raine Island
  
• Birds of Michaelmas Cay
  
• Trends in seabird populations in the Swain Reefs
  
• Capricorn Bunker Group shearwaters and noddies
  

Existing policies and management actions

• Seabirds in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
  
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
  
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
  
• Guidelines for Managing Visitation to Seabird Breeding Islands
  
• Coastal Bird Monitoring Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area [860KB]
  
• Threat Abatement Plan for the Incidental Catch (or by-catch) of Seabirds During Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations
  
• Australia is a party to two migratory bird agreements, one with Japan and one with China
  
• Site specific management - Raine Island, Moulter Cay and MacLennan Cay
  
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan
• Scientific Research Stations
• Major research and information programs
• Research permits

Future management requirements

• Biodiversity strategy
• Draft Queensland Coastal Management Plan 

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