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Science for
management
of
the
Great Barrier Reef
PREFACE
The
world's
largest marine
Heritage Area
was established
in 1981 |
The Great Barrier Reef off the Queensland coast of Australia is managed with
a goal of maintaining and enhancing those qualities which made it the world's
first (1981) and largest (348,700 km2) marine World Heritage Area
while keeping it accessible for multiple uses, notably tourism, fishing and
shipping.
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|
|
Basic and strategic research, ranging from the Great Barrier Reef
Expedition of 1928 to the present, have provided a substantial knowledge base on
the nature and function of the Reef. |
Two initiatives
have combined
to give scientists
opportunities
to
become more
responsive to the
needs of users
and managers
|
Most recently, two initiatives have combined to give scientists opportunities
to become more responsive to the needs of users and managers: the development of
the Twenty-five Year Strategic Plan for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage
Area, and the establishment of the Co-operative Research Centre for the
Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Great
Barrier Reef. The completed Plan includes a vision,
principles, objectives and strategies based on the
cumulative insights coming from all parties.
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Three issues of widespread concern have become major foci of research -
-
the
sustainable limits to commercial and recreational fishing,
-
the effects of runoff
of silt, nutrients and contaminants from the land,
and
-
the provision of highly
protected areas for biodiversity protection.
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|
