The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) is an Australian Government agency tasked with the management of a vast network of protected places. A core function of the Reef Authority is the assessment of permissions to operate within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Marine Park), work conducted by the Environmental Assessment and Protection (EAP) section.
Research is a permitted use of the Marine Park and drives improvements in the adaptive management approach used the Reef Authority. The EAP is tasked with balancing the requirement to ensure that the Marine Park values are upheld, while allowing for ecologically sustainable use. Importantly, scientific outcomes and lessons learned from research conducted within the Marine Park directly informs how permits are assessed and conditioned.
In this presentation, we clarify how the risks and opportunities represented by research programs are considered and demonstrate how the EAP incorporates and utilises scientific outcomes to constantly refine the permissions approach. We highlight key stumbling blocks for applicants and the mechanisms for assessing and conditioning activities to mitigate risk. We also provide examples of how improvements in knowledge create real world improvements in both the management of the Marine Park, and the assessment of permissions.