• Management of the Area as a multi-use marine park
• Meeting obligations under World Heritage Convention to ensure protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations
• Ecologically sustainable use as a corner-stone of planning process
• Recognizing natural variability in the ecosystems
• Responsibility for health, longevity and care of ecosystem
• Adoption of the precautionary principle
• Recognition of special situation and rights of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders
• Commitment by all stakeholders to planning and implementation process
• Equitable opportunities for multiple use and enjoyment - this and future generations
• Limits on natural resource use based on ability of environment to sustain such use
• Financial analysis alone not sufficient basis for cost-benefit analyses
• Recognition that financial and opportunity costs of all use and preservation should be met equitably
• Recognition of a wide range of values in making balanced resource allocation decisions.

In the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, in 2020 there will be:

• A healthy environment
• Sustainable multiple use
• Maintenance and enhancement of values
• Integrated management
• Knowledge-based but cautious decision-making in the absence of information
• An informed, involved community.

1. Conservation
2. Resource management
3. Education, communication, consultation and commitment
4. Research and monitoring
5. Integrated planning
6. Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interests
7. Management processes
8. Legislation

Source:
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (1994)¹¹.