Protecting the Great Barrier Reef

1. Protecting the Great Barrier Reef The Representative Areas Program

2. The GBR is a huge asset – underpinned by its remarkable biodiversity • An Australian & international icon • The world’s largest coral reef ecosystem • Amazing biological diversity & scenic values

3. The GBR is diverse and complex • It is more than just coral reefs – it includesseagrass beds, mangroves, sponge gardens, soft sediments, deep water areas, etc • All these habitats are as equally important as coral reefs and we need to protect all habitats on which species depend • High level of ‘inter-connectivity’ between marine habitats

4. The GBR, and its catchment, are also an ‘economic powerhouse’ (Source:Productivity Commission 2003)

5. Everyone wants to protect the GBR • Over 90% of Australians want greater protection for the Great Barrier Reef* • 64% thought that more than 30% of the GBR should be protected in ‘no-take’ zones. • 79% thought some loss of usage was acceptable to protect the GBR. *AEC Research – 2003 telephone survey including the GBR coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne

6. The Great Barrier Reef is ‘under pressure’ • Downstream effects of land use (water quality issues) • Coral bleaching • Coastal developments • Increasing fishing effort and impacts • Shipping & pollution incidents • Increasing tourism and recreation

7. Trends in regional biodiversity are of concern • Dugong: >90% decline since 1960’s in southern GBR • Loggerhead turtles: 70-90% decline in last 30 years • Coral bleaching: events increasing in frequency & severity • Fishing: anecdotal evidence of localised declines (eg inshore reefs) • Trends for most species unknown

8. The GBR is not isolated from world trends • 10% of the world’s reefs already destroyed or severely degraded • 58% of world’s reefs potentially threatened • 70% reefs already degraded in Indonesia & Philippines • On current trends, 70% of the world’s reefs will be gone in 40 years

9. Historical Photograph: 1890

10. Same site: 1994

11. What is being done to protect the GBR? • Protecting biodiversity (RAP) • Improving water quality (Reef Water Quality Protection Plan) • Promoting sustainable fisheries (Queensland Fisheries Management Plans) • Informing national and international policy on climate change effects on reefs

12. Aims of the Representative Areas Program A new and effective network of ‘no-take’ areas representative of all bioregions will help to: • maintain biological diversity • maintain ecological processes and systems • provide an ecological safety margin, and if necessary, enable species and habitats to recover • ensure viable and sustainable industries

13. The rezoning is based on key principles • There are 11 biophysical principles; for example: • Minimum of 20% per habitat type within no-take areas • Represent diversity of plants and animals across: • northern to southern reef • inshore to offshore • Protect biophysically special or unique places

14. A healthy GBR depends on its connected habitats The Red Emperor spends different stages of its life cycle utilising different habitats (Source: R Kelly, ACRS)

15. The Reef is made up of many distinctive types of habitat 30 different Reef habitats 40 different non-Reef habitats A total of 70 different habitat types

16. A healthy Reef benefits everyone in the long term • The Australian community • Local Reef-dependent communities • Tourism industry & tourists • Non-extractive recreational users • Recreational fishers • Commercial fishers • Shipping • The short, medium & long term • economy

17. Extensive Public Consultation • Two major public consultations with over 31,500 submissions and more than 500 community meetings • Revised boundaries discussed with key stakeholders • 50,000 submission brochures & 10,000 information packages distributed • 35,000 hits onthe GBRMPA web • Positive community stakeholder responses

18. Zoning – Activity Matrix

19. Major zoning changes have occurred • The following maps show how the zoning has changed from: • Pre RAP (ie existing zoning) • The Draft Zoning Plan (released 2002) • The revised Zoning Plan (as at Nov 2003) Use the direction arrows on your keyboard ( and ) to ‘toggle’ forwards and backwards to see the changes between maps

20. Pre-RAP Zoning

21. Draft Zoning Plan

22. Revised Zoning Plan Revised Zoning Plan

23. Lizard Island Pre-RAP Zoning

24. Lizard Island Draft Zoning Plan

25. Lizard Island Revised Zoning Plan

26. Hinchinbrook Is Pre-RAP Zoning Whitsundays

27. Hinchinbrook Is Draft Zoning Plan Whitsundays

28. Hinchinbrook Is Revised Zoning Plan Whitsundays

29. Pre-Rap Zoning

30. Draft Zoning Plan

31. Revised Zoning Plan

32. Pre-Rap Zoning Pe-RAP Zoning

33. Draft Zoning Plan

34. Revised Zoning Plan

35. What happens next? • The Zoning Plan has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament where it must remain for a minimum of 15 sitting days. • If, during tabling, there is no motion for disallowance, the Minister will determine a date for the Zoning Plan to come into effect. • The commencement date for the new plan will be well-advertised, but until that date (tentatively mid 2004), the current zoning plans remain in force.

36. How critical is RAP? RAP alone will not save the GBR…. but it is a fundamental component, essential for conserving habitats and ecosystem processes, to ensure the Great Barrier Reef remains GREAT for the future.

37. Want more information? • Visit the GBRMPA website <http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au> • Phone GBRMPA staff on freecall 1800 990 177 • Email <rap@gbrmpa.gov.au> The Great Barrier Reef - Keeping it Great