Humpback whale
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority works closely with international, national, state and local agencies in the conservation and protection of biodiversity.
A protected species is a plant or animal that is protected by law and needs special management. Species may be protected at an international, national, state or local level:
- International level: species that are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered under IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red Data Book.
- National level: species that are a listed threatened species, a listed migratory species or a listed marine species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- State level: species of marine mammal, bird or reptile that are prescribed as endangered, vulnerable, near threatened or of least concern under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 of Queensland
- Local level: species mentioned in Section 30 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 2019.
In addition, protected species in the Great Barrier Reef are classified as either threatened, iconic or at risk:
- A protected species is classified as 'threatened' if its population has declined within and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef
- A protected species is classified as 'iconic' if it is one of Australia’s most well-known plants or animals and requires special management in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- A protected species is classified as 'at risk' if it faces pressure from human-related activities within and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef.
Dugong mother and calf
The list of protected species for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park includes:
- Some shells - helmet shells, triton shells, tridacnid clams
- Some fish - seahorses, pipefish, sea dragons, potato cod, Queensland grouper, barramundi cod, Maori wrasse, all groupers (Epinephelus) more than 100 cm
- Some sharks - whale shark, grey nurse shark, great white shark, freshwater and green sawfish
- Sea snakes
- Crocodiles
- Marine turtles
- Birds
- Seals
- Whales and dolphins
- Dugong
There is a list of protected species for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003, you need the permission of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) to intentionally take any of these species.
Protected species are:
- Any species that is a listed threatened species, a listed migratory species or a listed marine species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Any species of marine mammal, bird or reptile prescribed as endangered, vulnerable, near-threatened or least concern under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 of Queensland
- Any species mentioned in Table 29 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983
- An individual of a species of the genus Epinephelus (cods and groupers other than E. tukula or E. lanceolatus) that is more than 1000 millimetres long.
The following activity matrix gives an indication of:
- The protected species and types of activities for which GBRMPA anticipates receiving applications
- Whether GBRMPA is likely to grant its permission
- The assessment guidelines used by GBMRPA to make decisions on such applications.
Protected species activity matrix
| in situ activities¹,² Ñ# (e.g. filming) | Filming removal³ | Public display for educ- ation | Tourism related (e.g. touch and tell, tank)* | Research** | Brood- stock collection for aquaculture | |
| Helmet shells | L | L | L | L | L | U |
| Triton shells | L | L | L | L | L | U |
| Giant clam | L | L | L | Dead only (for shell display) | L | L |
| Seahorses, pipefish, sea dragons | L | L | L | U | L | L |
| Potato cod | L | U | L | U | L | U |
| Queensland grouper | L | U | L | U | L | U |
| Cods and groupers (Epinephelus) >100cm | L | U | L | U | L | U |
| Barramundi cod | L | U | L | U | L | L |
| Maori wrasse | L | U | L | U | L | U |
| Freshwater sawfish | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Whale shark | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Grey nurse shark | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Great white shark | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Sea snakes | L | L | L | U | L | U |
| Crocodiles | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Flatback turtle | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Green turtle | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Hawksbill turtle | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Leatherback turtle | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Loggerhead turtle | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Olive ridley turtle | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Birds | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Seals | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Dugong | L | U | U | U | L | U |
| Whales and dolphins | L | U | U | U | L | U |
¹ Permission only required if activity constitutes ‘take’ as defined in the Zoning Plan.
² Research requires a permission for this activity regardless of whether take occurs
³ Temporary removal or holding, one-off events.
* Does not include fish feeding activities.
** Non-lethal research only, lethal research would require substantial justification.
GBRMPA's approach is outlined in the policy on managing activities that include the direct take of a protected species from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
If you want to take a protected species, conduct an activity that is not covered by the matrix, or find out how to obtain a GBRMPA permit, including permit application forms, please contact GBRMPA on 1800 990 177 or email assessments@gbrmpa.gov.au.