Protection and management of the Reef is driven by strong partnerships between Commonwealth, State and local governments, Traditional Owners, industry, researchers and community groups. These partnerships are critical for protection and management efforts to enable decisions and actions in response to threats and impacts on the Reef.
Management of the Reef focuses on three key areas:
- managing direct use,
- managing external factors such as climate change, coastal development and land-based runoff, and
- managing to protect the Region’s values.
Management is enacted through environmental regulation with statutory tools such as Acts and regulations and zoning plans, engagement through working with stakeholders across all levels and involvement in decision making processes, and knowledge, integration and innovation through creation and application of knowledge, research and monitoring, and reporting and evaluation of Reef management. These approaches ensure a coordinated, transparent and evidence-based effort to protection and management of the Reef.
Relevant resources
Reef Geohub
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships – Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)