AnnualAnnual ReportReport — year in review SNAPSHOTSNAPSHOT OFOF SUCCESSSUCCESS
Blueprint for resilience Together we can secure the future of the Great Barrier Reef — but we need to try harder, do more and act now. That was the message from the Great Barrier Reef Summit in May 2017. As an action from the Reef Summit, The Great Barrier Reef blueprint for resilience waswas releasedreleased inin DecemberDecember 20172017 withwith 1010 keykey actionsactions to tostrengthen strengthen Reef Reef resilience resilience in thein the face face of ofa changing a changing climate. climate. The The blueprint blueprint signals signals a change a change in thein the future future management of the Great Barrier Reef. The Authority is working with partners to implement the blueprint.
Designing a Reef knowledge system Our work to better understand the state of the Reef is becoming more sophisticated. The Reef 2050 DesigningIntegrated Monitoring a Reef and knowledge Reporting Program system is a massive, ambitious undertaking to develop a new Ourknowledge work to systembetter understandthat brings togetherthe state aroundof the Reef 100 ismonitoring becoming programsmore sophisticated. across seven The themes: Reef 2050 ecosystem Integratedhealth, biodiversity, Monitoring water and quality,Reporting heritage, Program community is a massive, bene ts ambitious and governance. undertaking This to develop important a new work will knowledgebe used to track system our that progress brings in together achieving around our Reef 100 protection monitoring goals programs under acrossthe Reef seven 2050 themes: Plan. ecosystem health, biodiversity, water quality, heritage, community benefits and governance. This important work will be used to track our progress in achieving our Reef protection goals under the Reef 2050 Plan.
Reeling in illegal shers A series of intensive blitzes targeting anglers shing illegally in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park restricted zones were part of a broad no-tolerance stance against poachers. The message was, ‘ sh in a green zone you will get caught and risk a $2100 ne’. ReelingDuring the six-week in illegal Christmas fishers period, which included a dedicated education campaign in the Townsville Aarea, series 54 ofo ences intensive were blitzes detected targeting across anglers the Reef. fishing A second illegally recreational in Great shingBarrier blitzReef launchedMarine Park in Gladstonerestricted zonesduring were March–April part of a resultedbroad no-tolerance in 21 o ences stance detected. against poachers. The message was, ‘fish in a green zone you will get caught and risk a $2100 fine’. During the six-week Christmas period, which included a dedicated education campaign in the Townsville area, 54 offences were detected across the Reef. A second recreational fishing blitz launched in Gladstone during March–April resulted in 21 offences detected. Streamlining permissions in the Marine Park In 2017–18, we released a new Permits Online system for commercial operators, resulting in more e cient permissions management for both the Authority and applicants. This was one of a number of enhancements to our permission system, which included Regulation amendments and a new service charter, to increase transparency and consistency in assessing permit Streamliningapplications and support permissions our commitment in tothe improving Marine permission Park management. In 2017–18, we released a new Permits Online system for commercial operators, resulting in more efficient permissions management for both the Authority and applicants. This was one of a number of enhancements to our permission system, which included Regulation amendments and a new service charter, to increase transparency and consistency in assessing permit applications and support our commitment to improving permission management. AnnualAnnual Report — yearyear inin reviewreview SNAPSHOTSNAPSHOT OFOF SUCCESSSUCCESS
ProtectingBlueprint for cultural resilience and historic heritage DevelopedTogether we in can partnership secure the with future more of the than Great 20 TraditionalBarrier Reef Owner — but groups, we need the to draft try harder, Aboriginal do more and and Torres act now. StraitThat wasIslander the messageHeritage Strategyfrom the for Great the BarrierGreat Barrier Reef Summit Reef Marine in May Park 2017. was As released an action for frompublic the consultation Reef in February,Summit, Thewith Great responses Barrier providing Reef blueprint broad for support resilience for wasits approach. released inThe December strategy sets2017 out with how 10 the key Authority actions to willstrengthen work with Reef Aboriginal resilience and in the Torres face Strait of a changing Islander people climate. to The protect blueprint and promote signals a their change heritage in the values. future Lastmanagement December, of the the Authority Great Barrier published Reef. The its Great Authority Barrier is workingReef Marine with Park partners Commonwealth to implement Heritage the blueprint. Listed Places and Properties Heritage Strategy 2018–21 following approval by the Australian Heritage Council and Minister’s delegate.
EducatingDesigning anda Reef fostering knowledge stewardship system Our work to better understand the state of the Reef is becoming more sophisticated. The Reef 2050 Through programs such as Reef Guardians, Local Marine Advisory Committees, and our national education Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program is a massive, ambitious undertaking to develop a new centre, Reef HQ Aquarium, the Authority seeks to raise awareness, influence best practice and empower knowledge system that brings together around 100 monitoring programs across seven themes: ecosystem stewardship actions that improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef. health, biodiversity, water quality, heritage, community bene ts and governance. This important work will Reefbe used Guardian to track program our progress activities in achieving focus primarily our Reef on protection schools, local goals government under the Reef(councils) 2050 andPlan. fishers. During the year, the Reef Guardian Councils program welcomed its first Aboriginal Shire Council, while almost 130,000 students across 300 Reef Guardian Schools celebrated International Year of the Reef pledging action to help protect the Reef. More than 150 Reef Guardian Action Plans are contributing to the environmental sustainability of the Marine Park. Reeling in illegal shers EyeA series on of the intensive Reef blitzes targeting anglers shing illegally in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park restricted zones were part of a broad no-tolerance stance against poachers. The message was, ‘ sh in a green zone Theyou Eyewill on get the caught Reef programand risk a and $2100 its associated ne’. data management and reporting system currently stores more than 37,600 surveys of reef health and 17,250 records of protected species and significant event During the six-week Christmas period, which included a dedicated education campaign in the Townsville sightings. Since its expansion in 2009, more than 600 people have been trained in Eye on the Reef methods. area, 54 o ences were detected across the Reef. A second recreational shing blitz launched in Gladstone In 2017–18 more than 4400 surveys of Reef health and almost 1550 sightings of protected species and during March–April resulted in 21 o ences detected. significant events were received.
Reef HQ Aquarium energy efficiency ReefStreamlining HQ Aquarium continues permissions to build a strongin the reputation Marine for sustainabilityPark and has now achieved an overall 51.1 per cent reduction (in comparison to the 2006 baseline) in energy consumption throughout the year. In 2017–18, we released a new Permits Online system for commercial operators, resulting in more e cient Duringpermissions 2017–18 management the aquarium for both saved the an Authority additional and 31,369 applicants. kilowatt hours from the previous year. Reef HQThis Aquarium’s was one of solar a number power of station enhancements produced to a totalour permission of 317 megawatt-hours, system, which andincluded continued Regulation to achieve a totalamendments offset of andenergy a new in excessservice of charter, 21 per tocent. increase This wastransparency a notable achievementand consistency considering in assessing the largestpermit solar inverterapplications was offlineand support for a our number commitment of months. to improving permission management. AnnualAnnual Report — yearyear inin reviewreview SNAPSHOTSNAPSHOT OFOF SUCCESSSUCCESS
InnovationBlueprint for to resilienceprotect the Reef TheTogether Authority we can is partneringsecure the future with and of the enabling Great Barrier a number Reef of— habitat but we restoration need to try projects harder, do that more trial and new act now. technologiesThat was the andmessage mobilise from community the Great Barrier efforts Reef to help Summit reefs inbetter May 2017.withstand As an and action recover from from the Reefdisturbances. ForSummit, example The the Great Authority Barrier Reefis collaborating blueprint for with resilience the Australian was released Institute in December of Marine 2017 Science, with CSIRO10 key and actions to thestrengthen Great Barrier Reef resilienceReef Foundation in the face on a of feasibility a changing study climate. as part The of blueprint the Reef Restorationsignals a change and Adaptation in the future Program,management another of the initiative Great Barrier outlined Reef. in the The Authority’s Authority is blueprint, working withthat willpartners inform to longer-termimplement the research blueprint. and development on coral reef restoration techniques.
Stepping up control of starfish pest Designing a Reef knowledge system Culling to reduce the severity of these starfish outbreaks to protect live coral is a priority for the Authority. Our work to better understand the state of the Reef is becoming more sophisticated. The Reef 2050 To date, the crown-of-thorns starfish control program has successfully protected coral on a network of high Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program is a massive, ambitious undertaking to develop a new value reefs by maintaining starfish densities below critical thresholds needed for coral growth. knowledge system that brings together around 100 monitoring programs across seven themes: ecosystem Thehealth, Authority biodiversity, received water $10.4 quality, million heritage, over two community years, commencing bene ts and in January governance. 2018, This to expand important the program,work will triplingbe used the to track number our ofprogress starfish in controlachieving vessels our Reefand protectionproviding resources goals under for theadditional Reef 2050 surveillance. Plan. A panel of suppliers will deliver this expanded program.
International Year of the Reef InternationalReeling in Year illegal of the Reef shers was celebrated in 2018. The Authority worked with communities to recognise andA series educate of intensive people aboutblitzes the targeting value of anglers coral reefs shing worldwide. illegally inDuring Great the Barrier year Reef thousands Marine of Park people restricted across communitieszones were part from of Bundaberga broad no-tolerance to Cape York stance pledged against their poachers. commitment The message to #LovetheReef was, ‘ sh by in taking a green action zone to reduceyou will environmental get caught and impacts risk a $2100 on the ne’. Great Barrier Reef. During the six-week Christmas period, which included a dedicated education campaign in the Townsville area, 54 o ences were detected across the Reef. A second recreational shing blitz launched in Gladstone during March–April resulted in 21 o ences detected.
Streamlining permissions in the Marine Park In 2017–18, we released a new Permits Online system for commercial operators, resulting in more e cient permissions management for both the Authority and applicants. This was one of a number of enhancements to our permission system, which included Regulation amendments and a new service charter, to increase transparency and consistency in assessing permit applications and support our commitment to improving permission management.