Assessing Marine Park management

The strategic assessment will assess the plans, policies and programs that are used to manage the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This will include legislation, zoning, permits, agreements with Traditional Owners, stewardship programs and compliance. These management arrangements may be referred to in the strategic assessment as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's (GBRMPA) 'Program'.

The Program will provide a description of:

  • activities that occur under GBRMPA's management arrangements
  • the type and level of protection afforded by current management arrangements
  • how priority issues identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 and more recent emerging issues are managed
  • outcomes that will be achieved in relation to the protection of matters of national environmental significance
  • commitments that will be implemented to achieve these outcomes.

As the Great Barrier Reef is so large, its users so diverse and the environmental impacts come from many sources, the GBRMPA management arrangements are equally diverse.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Management Arrangements

Legislation
 The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983, govern the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef Region. Provides for the Zoning Plan and Plans of Management.
Zoning plans
 The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 provides spatial control of use (predominantly extractive use) and, to a lesser extent, access within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.  Establishes the need for permits for some uses in the Marine Park including tourism and research activities.
Management plans
 Set out specific arrangements for areas, species ecological communities or activities. Some are legally binding such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Plans of Management, others are policy based. Complement zoning and permit arrangements.
Permits
 Permits facilitate opportunities for use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Permits are issued mainly for marine tourism, research, harvest fisheries and infrastructure (e.g. marinas, pipelines) and include detailed environmental assessment.
Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRAs) are formal agreements describing how Traditional Owner groups work with Australian and Queensland Governments to manage traditional use activities in sea country.
Site management
 On ground management arrangements for an individual site, including moorings and no anchoring areas.
Policy, position statements and guidelines
 Specific arrangements that guide decision makers and the public on the practical application of the legislation, for example in relation to the management of moorings.
Research and monitoring
 Undertaken by a number of research institutions, community groups and government bodies to better inform decisions of protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef.
Partnerships and stewardship programs
 Voluntary arrangements with stakeholders and the community that provide opportunities for contributions to the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef, for example through the adoption of best environmental practice or codes of conduct via Reef Guardian Stewardship Program or eco-certification.
Education and community awareness
 Programs such as the Reef Guardian Schools Program and Reef HQ Aquarium that inform and motivate members of the community about protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef.
Compliance
 Activities that encourage adherence with legal requirements, both through education and enforcement.
Reporting
 Undertaken by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority annually and five yearly.

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