The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is located on the northeastern coast of Australia spanning over 2300 Kilometers of coast, covering over 14 degrees latitude, and expanding from 60 Kilometers to 250 Kilometers from the coast line. The park covers 344,400 km2 in area with the average depth of 35 meters, and its deepest depth to be over 2000 meters, see the below map from MPAtlas for more geographical information. The Great Barrier Reef is known to be the largest living structure on the planet with thousands of different species it makes it one of the most complex natural ecosystems in the world. There are 14 coastal ecosystems that are important to the function of the Reef: coral reefs, lagoon floor, islands, open water, seagrasses, coastline, estuaries, freshwater wetlands, forested floodplain, heath and shrublands, grass and sedgelands, woodlands, forests and rainforests. These coastal ecosystems provide the interconnections that support the physical, biological and biogeochemical process that underpin the ecosystem health of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage. For an in-depth look into the history of the Great Barrier Reef click here.

Scientific Basis 

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) became a Marine Protected Area for several reasons. The GBRMP is home to thousands of different marine species which are depleting, threatened, rare or endangered species and populations. This is to ensure the long-term viability and maintaining the genetic diversity of the marine populations of the Great Barrier Reef.

Endangered and Protected Species:

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has classified many of the protected species into four levels based on the requirements or nature of the species. These levels are: 

• International Level – this is the group of species which are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered under the IUCN (World Conservation Union). 
• National Level – this is the group of species that are listed as threatened species, a listed migratory species or a listed marine species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 
• State Level - this group of species that are prescribed as endangered, vulnerable, near threatened and least concern under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 of Queensland. 
• Local Level – this group of species are listed Local level: species mentioned in Table 29 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983.

Some of the protected species in the Great Barrier Marine Park include:

• Triton shells
• Seahorses
• Sea dragons
• Great white shark
• Crocodiles
• Marine turtles
• Seals
• Dolphins 

For a complete list of protected species click here and jump to page 13. The following video outlines some of the unique biodiversity found within the Great Barrier Reef. For more information on ecosystems click here.

Management and Authorities

The GBRMPA is responsible for ensuring the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park — one of the world's greatest natural treasures — is protected for the future. (GBRMPA, 2016). As a World Heritage Area, the Reef is recognized internationally for its outstanding universal value. The GBMPA has a 25 year management plan which outlines a mix of on-ground work, policies, strategies and engagement. This plan includes: increasing compliance focus to ensure zoning rules are followed controlling crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks; ensuring cumulative impacts are considered when assessing development proposals; setting clear targets for action and measuring our success; monitoring the health of the ecosystem on a Reef-wide scale; implementing a Reef Recovery program to restore sites of high environmental value in regional areas. The plan also recognizes the variability of the Reef over such a large area and the variability of the issues and interests of communities and industries in each area. (UNESCO, 2015). 

For more information on management and legal authorities please visit the GBRMPA website.

Conflicts and Status

Recent Developments 

The Australian and Queensland governments’ have been developing the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan which provides an overarching strategy for managing the Great Barrier Reef and coordinate the actions and guides towards the adaptation of the 2050 management plan. (GBRMPA, 2016) The plan has been developed in close consultation with partners, including Traditional Owners and the resources, ports, fishing, agriculture, local government, and research and conservation sectors. The plan even included public input occurred through a six-week consultation period, with more than 6000 submissions received. The plan responds to the challenges facing the Reef and presents actions to protect its values, health and resilience while allowing ecologically sustainable use. It addresses the findings of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Outlook Report 2014 and builds on the comprehensive strategic environmental assessment.

Click here for the management plan for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park!