Managing a Massive Marine Park

The Marine Park covers over 344,000 km² – that’s bigger than Italy. It’s a multi-use marine park, meaning some areas are strictly protected, while others allow activities like tourism, research, and fishing. The Zoning Plan is the main tool used to balance conservation and sustainable human use.

What is the Zoning Plan?

The Reef is divided into zones, each with rules based on how much impact an activity might have. The current Zoning Plan has been in place since 2004 – over 20 years.

Colour	Zone	Description
Pink	Preservation	No access except by permit for scientific research
Green	No-Take	No fishing or collecting allowed
Dark Blue	Habitat Protection	No trawling, but other fishing allowed
Light Blue	General Use	Activities including fishing are allowed
Yellow	Conservation	Limited fishing allowed
Olive Green	Buffer	Trolling of pelagic fish allowed
Orange	Scientific Research	Research-focused access
Brown	Estuarine Conservation	Protects estuarine areas
Cream	Commonwealth Islands	Covers land components of the marine park

More Than Just Zoning

Zoning is just one layer of how the Reef is managed. It’s supported by:

• Plans of Management: Local rules for high-use or sensitive areas.
• Permits: Required for all tourism, research, and commercial use. They:
  • Set clear conditions to ensure activities are ecologically sustainable
  • Limit overcrowding and avoid environmental damage
  • Ensure operators meet high environmental standards
• Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRAs): Led by First Nations groups.
• Other Regulations: Special rules for vulnerable habitats and wildlife.

Together, these layers of management help keep the Reef resilient – now and into the future.