How It All Began

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established in 1975 to protect the Reef’s unique and fragile environment from increasing threats such as coastal development, overfishing, and pollution. It was one of the first large-scale marine parks in the world, setting a global benchmark for marine conservation.

Who Looks After It?

The Marine Park is jointly managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (The Reef Authority) and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).

Central to this management is a strong partnership with Traditional Owners, who have cared for Sea Country for thousands of years. Their knowledge, cultural practices, and leadership play a vital role alongside scientists, government agencies, industries, and local communities to protect and care for the Reef.

About the Marine Park

The Marine Park spans over 344,000 square kilometres, making it larger than Italy. It includes:

• Around 3,000 individual coral reefs
• Over 900 islands and coral cays
• Over 30 distinct habitat types, including:
  • Coral reefs
  • Sandy lagoon floors
  • Seagrass meadows
  • Mangroves
  • Estuaries
  • Deep ocean canyons

The Marine Park forms part of the broader Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, which recognises the Reef’s Outstanding Universal Value and the vital connection between land and sea ecosystems.