Editing Great Barrier Reef (section)

==Human use==
The Great Barrier Reef has long been known to and used by the [[Aboriginal Australian]] and [[Torres Strait Islander]] peoples. Aboriginal Australians have been living in the area for at least 40,000 years,<ref>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |year=2006 |title=Fact Sheet No. 4 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and the Great Barrier Reef. Region |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/2142/Fact_Sheet_04_IPLU.pdf |access-date=28 May 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614223725/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/2142/Fact_Sheet_04_IPLU.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2007 }}</ref> and Torres Strait Islanders since about 10,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |title=reefED – GBR Traditional Owners |url=http://www.reefed.edu.au/home/explorer/hot_topics/gbr_traditional_owners |access-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410055400/http://www.reefed.edu.au/home/explorer/hot_topics/gbr_traditional_owners |archive-date=10 April 2013 }}</ref> For these 70 or so [[clan group]]s, the reef is also an important cultural feature.<ref name= traditionalfishing>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation/natural_values/indigenous |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928021214/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation/natural_values/indigenous |archive-date=28 September 2007 |title=Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Culture & Dugongs and Turtles |access-date=23 May 2007 }}</ref>

In 1768, [[Louis de Bougainville]] encountered the reef, but did not explore it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/reflib/af25/af25y-01.html |title=A history of exploration and research on the Great Barrier Reef |last=Bell |first=Peter |publisher=Australian Institute of Marine Science |access-date=11 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016034528/http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/reflib/af25/af25y-01.html |archive-date=16 October 2009 }}</ref> On 11 June 1770, {{ship|HM Bark|Endeavour}}, captained by explorer [[James Cook]], ran [[wikt:aground|aground]] on the Great Barrier Reef, sustaining considerable damage. Lightening the ship and re-floating it during an incoming tide eventually saved it.<ref name="cook">{{Gutenberg|no=8106|name=Captain Cook's Journal During the First Voyage Round the World }}</ref> One of the most famous wrecks was {{HMS|Pandora|1779|6}}, which sank on 29 August 1791, killing 35 men. The [[Queensland Museum]] has led archaeological digs to wreck of ''Pandora'' since 1983.<ref>{{cite web |author=Queensland Museum |title=HMS Pandora |url=http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/pandora/pandora.asp |access-date=12 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829085428/http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/pandora/pandora.asp |archive-date=29 August 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Because the reef had no atolls, it was largely unstudied in the 19th century.<ref name="HopleySmithers2007"/>{{rp|7}} During this time, some of the reef's islands were mined for deposits of [[guano]], and lighthouses were built as beacons throughout the system.<ref name="HopleySmithers2007"/>{{rp|452}} as in [[Raine Island]], the earliest example.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/coast_and_oceans/great_barrier_reef/raine_island_corporation/ |title=Raine Island Corporation |access-date=20 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102095426/http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/coast_and_oceans/great_barrier_reef/raine_island_corporation/ |archive-date=2 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1922, the Great Barrier Reef Committee began carrying out much of the early research on the reef.<ref name="HopleySmithers2007"/>{{rp|9}}

===Management===
{{main|Great Barrier Reef Marine Park}}
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[[File:Map of The Great Barrier Reef Region, World Heritage Area and Marine Park, 2014.tif|thumb|upright=1.4|Map of The Great Barrier Reef Region, World Heritage Area and Marine Park, 2014]]
Royal Commissions disallowed oil drilling in the Great Barrier Reef, in 1975 the [[Government of Australia]] created the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and prohibited various activities.<ref>{{cite web |author=Commonwealth of Australia |year=1975 |title=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/gbrmpa1975257/index.html |access-date=30 August 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110223170056/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/gbrmpa1975257/index.html |archive-date=23 February 2011  }}</ref> The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park does not include the entire Great Barrier Reef Province.<ref name="map">{{cite web |url=http://www.reefed.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/18783/SDC2004120620Sept200420General20Reference.pdf |title=Great Barrier Reef General Reference Map |date=September 2004 |publisher=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |access-date=14 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409060647/http://www.reefed.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/18783/SDC2004120620Sept200420General20Reference.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The park is managed, in partnership with the [[Government of Queensland]], through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure that it is used in a sustainable manner. A combination of [[zoning]], management plans, permits, education and incentives (such as [[eco-tourism]] certification) are employed in the effort to conserve the reef.<ref name=CRC46/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/onboard/home/rewards_program |title=Rewards Program |work=Onboard: The Tourism Operator's Handbook for the Great Barrier Reef |publisher=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |access-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827200555/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/onboard/home/rewards_program |archive-date=27 August 2008 }}</ref>

In 1999, the Australian Parliament passed the [[Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act]], which improved the operation of national environmental law by providing guidance about regional biodiversity conservation priorities. The marine bioregional planning process came from the implementation of this law. This process conserves marine biodiversity by considering the whole ecosystem a species is in and how different species interact in the marine environment.

There are two steps to this process. The first step is to identify regional conservation priorities in the five (currently) different marine regions. The second step is to identify marine reserves (protected areas or marine parks) to be added to Australia's National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. Like protected areas on land, marine reserves are created to protect biodiversity for generations to come. Marine reserves are identified based on criteria written in a document created by Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council called "Guidelines for establishing the national representative system of [[marine protected area]]s", also known as just "the Guidelines". These guidelines are nationally recognised and implemented at the local level based on the Australian policy for implementation outlined in the "Goals and Principles for the Establishment of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas in Commonwealth Waters". These policies are in place to make sure that a marine reserve is only added to the NRSMPA after careful evaluation of different data.

The priorities for each region are created based on human and environmental threats and the Marine Bioregional Plans are drafted to address these priorities. To assess different region's priorities, three steps are taken, first, a bioregional profile is created, second, a bioregional plan is drafted, and third, the plan is finalised. After the plan is finalised, activity in different bioregions may become limited based on particular threats an activity may pose.<ref name="Marine Bioregional Planning Process">{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/publications/east/pubs/fs-mbp.pdf |title=Fact Sheet – Marine Regional Bioregional Planning – The Process |publisher=environment.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314003841/http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/publications/east/pubs/fs-mbp.pdf |archive-date=14 March 2011 }}</ref>

In 2001, the GBRMPA released a report about the declining water quality in the Great Barrier Reef and detailed the importance of this issue. In response to this report, in 2003, the Australian and Queensland governments launched a joint initiative to improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reefplan.qld.gov.au/about/history/ |title=History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216232922/http://reefplan.qld.gov.au/about/history/ |archive-date=16 February 2017 |access-date=31 January 2017 }}</ref> The decline in the quality of water over the past 150 years (due to development) has contributed to coral bleaching, [[algal bloom]]s, and [[pesticide pollution]]. These forms of pollution have made the reef less resilient to climate change.

When the plan was introduced in October 2003, it originally contained 65 actions built on previous legislation. Their immediate goal was to halt and reverse the decline in water quality entering the reef by 2013. By 2020, they hope that the quality of the water entering in the reef improves enough so that it doesn't have a detrimental impact on the health of the Great Barrier Reef. To achieve these goals they decided to reduce pollutants in the water entering the reef and to rehabilitate and conserve areas of the reef that naturally help reduce water pollutants. To achieve the objectives described above, this plan focuses on non-point sources of pollution, which cannot be traced to a single source such as a waste outlet.

The plan specifically targets nutrients, pesticides and sediment that make their way into the reef as a result of agricultural activities. Other non-point sources of pollution that are attributed to urban areas are covered under different legislation. In 2009, the plan was updated. The updated version states that to date, none of the efforts undertaken to improve the quality of water entering the reef has been successful. The new plan attempts to address this issue by "targeting priority outcomes, integrating industry and community initiatives and incorporating new policy and regulatory frameworks (Reef Plan&nbsp;5)". This updated version has improved the clarity of the previous plan and targets set by that plan, have improved accountability and further improved monitoring and assessment. The 2009 report found that 41 out of the 65 actions met their original goals, however, 18 were not progressing well according to evaluation criteria as well as 6 were rated as having unsatisfactory levels of progress.

Some key achievements made since the plan's initial passing in 2003 were the establishment of the Reef Quality Partnership to set targets, report findings and monitor progress towards targets, improved land condition by landowners was rewarded with extended leases, Water Quality Improvement Plans were created to identify regional targets and identified management changes that needed to be made to reach those targets, Nutrient Management Zones have been created to combat [[sediment]] loss in particular areas, education programs have been started to help gather support for sustainable agriculture, changes to land management practices have taken place through the implementation of the Farm Management Systems and codes of practice, the creation of the Queensland Wetland program and other achievements were made to help improve the water quality flowing into the coral reefs.

A taskforce of scientists was also created to assess the impact of different parts of the plan on the quality of water flowing into the coral reefs. They found that many of the goals have yet to be reached but found more evidence that states that improving the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef will improve its resilience to climate change. The Reefocus summit in 2008, which is also detailed in the report, came to similar conclusions. After this, a stakeholder working group was formed that worked between several groups as well as the Australian and Queensland governments to update reef goals and objectives. The updated version of the plan focuses on strategic priority areas and actions to achieve 2013 goals. Also quantitative targets have been made to critically assess whether targets are being met.

Some examples of the water quality goals outlined by this plan are that by 2013, there will be a 50% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus loads at the end of catchments and that by 2020, there will be a reduction in sediment load by 20%. The plan also outlines a number of steps that must be taken by landholders to help improve grazing, soil, nutrient, and chemical management practices. There are also a number of supporting initiatives to take place outlined in the plan to help create a framework to improve land use practices which will in turn improve water quality.

Through these means the governments of Australia and Queensland hope to improve water quality by 2013. The 2013 outlook report and revised water quality plan will assess what needs to be done in the future to improve water quality and the livelihoods of the wildlife that resides there.<ref name="WQ protection plan">{{cite web |url=http://www.reefplan.qld.gov.au/library/pdf/reef-plan-2009.pdf |title=Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2009 |publisher=reefplan.qld.gov.au |year=2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706122458/http://www.reefplan.qld.gov.au/library/pdf/reef-plan-2009.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}</ref>
[[File:Blue Linckia Starfish.JPG|upright|thumb|A blue starfish (''[[Linckia laevigata]]'') resting on hard ''[[Acropora]]'' and ''[[Porites]]'' corals]]

In July 2004, a new zoning plan took effect for the entire Marine Park, and has been widely acclaimed as a new global benchmark for [[marine ecosystem]] conservation.<ref>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |year=2003 |title=Zoning Plan 2003 |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/10591/Zoning_Plan.pdf |access-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121160856/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/10591/Zoning_Plan.pdf |archive-date=21 November 2008 }}</ref> The rezoning was based on the application of systematic conservation planning techniques, using [[marxan]] software.<ref>
Fernandes et al. (2005) ''Establishing representative no-take areas in the Great Barrier Reef: large-scale implementation of theory on marine protected areas'', Conservation Biology, 19(6), 1733–1744.</ref> While protection across the Marine Park was improved, the highly protected zones increased from 4.5% to over 33.3%.<!-- % of what?--><ref>{{cite web |author=World Wildlife Fund Australia |title=Great Barrier Reef – WWF-Australia |url=http://www.wwf.org.au/ourwork/oceans/gbr/ |access-date=10 November 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20100507210715/http://www.wwf.org.au/ourwork/oceans/gbr/ |archive-date=7 May 2010 }}</ref> At the time, it was the largest [[Marine Protected Area]] in the world, although in 2006, the new [[Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument]] became the largest.<ref name=BBC_5083974>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5083974.stm |title=Bush creates new marine sanctuary |work=BBC News |date=15 June 2006 |access-date=28 December 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110224023443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5083974.stm |archive-date=24 February 2011 }}</ref>

In 2006, a review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act of 1975 recommended that there should be no further zoning plan changes until 2013, and that every five years, a [[Peer review|peer-reviewed]] outlook report should be published, examining the reef's health, management, and environmental pressures.<ref name="1975review"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report |publisher=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |year=2007 |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/about_us/great_barrier_reef_outlook_report |access-date=31 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216170734/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/about_us/great_barrier_reef_outlook_report |archive-date=16 February 2011  }}</ref> In each outlook report, several assessments are required. Each assessment has a set of assessment criteria that allows for better presentation of available evidence. Each assessment is judged by these criteria and given a grade. Every outlook report follows the same judging and grading process so that information can be tracked over time. No new research is done to produce the report. Only readily available information goes into the report so little of what is known about the Reef is actually featured in each outlook report.<ref>{{cite web |title=Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 in Brief |publisher=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |year=2009 |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/40739/Outlook_InBrief_Web.pdf |access-date=10 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929203932/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/40739/Outlook_InBrief_WEB.pdf |archive-date=29 September 2009 }}</ref>

====Abbot Point coal port dredge dumping controversy====
In December 2013, [[Greg Hunt]], the [[Minister for the Environment (Australia)|Australian environment minister]], approved a plan for dredging to create three shipping terminals as part of the construction of a coalport. According to corresponding approval documents, the process will create around 3&nbsp;million cubic metres of dredged seabed that will be dumped within the Great Barrier Reef marine park area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Greg Hunt approves dredging off Queensland to create huge coalport |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/10/greg-hunt-approves-dredging-off-queensland-to-create-huge-coalport |access-date=18 December 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 December 2013 |author=Oliver Milman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221419/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/10/greg-hunt-approves-dredging-off-queensland-to-create-huge-coalport |archive-date=17 December 2013 }}</ref>

On 31 January 2014, the GBRMPA issued a dumping permit that will allow three million cubic metres of sea bed from [[Abbot Point]], north of Bowen, to be transported and unloaded in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Potential significant harms have been identified in relation to dredge spoil and the process of churning up the sea floor in the area and exposing it to air: firstly, new research shows the finer particles of dredge spoil can cloud the water and block sunlight, thereby starving sea grass and coral up to distances of 80&nbsp;km away from the point of origin due to the actions of wind and currents. Furthermore, dredge spoil can literally smother reef or sea grass to death, while storms can repeatedly resuspend these particles so that the harm caused is ongoing; secondly, disturbed sea floor can release toxic substances into the surrounding environment.<ref name="Spoil">{{cite news |title=Dredge dumping: just because you can doesn't mean you should |url=http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2014/01/31/3935720.htm |access-date=1 February 2014 |publisher=ABC News |date=31 January 2014 |author=Dermot O'Gorman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203074313/http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2014/01/31/3935720.htm |archive-date=3 February 2014 }}</ref>

The dredge spoil from the Abbot Point port project is to be dumped {{convert|24|km|mi}} away, near Bowen in north Queensland, and the approval from the Authority will result in the production of an extra 70 million tonnes of coal annually, worth between A$1.4&nbsp;billion and $2.8&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Spoil" /> Authority chairman, Dr Russell Reichelt, stated after the confirmation of the approval:

<blockquote>
This approval is in line with the agency's view that port development along the Great Barrier Reef coastline should be limited to existing ports. As a deepwater port that has been in operation for nearly 30 years, Abbot Point is better placed than other ports along the Great Barrier Reef coastline to undertake expansion as the capital and maintenance dredging required will be significantly less than what would be required in other areas. It's important to note the seafloor of the approved disposal area consists of sand, silt and clay and does not contain coral reefs or seagrass beds.<ref name="Spoil" /></blockquote>

The approval was provided with a corresponding set of 47 new environmental conditions that include the following:
* A long-term water quality monitoring plan extending five years after the disposal activity is completed.
* A heritage management plan to protect the Catalina second world war aircraft wreck in Abbot Bay.
* The establishment of an independent dredging and disposal technical advice panel and a management response group, to include community representatives.<ref name="Spoil" /><ref name="Marine Parks dredge dumping permit">{{cite web |title=Marine Parks dredge dumping permit |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/123166/G34897.1-signed.pdf |publisher=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |access-date=12 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211212121/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/123166/G34897.1-signed.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Australian Federal Government announced on 13 November that there would now be a ban on the dumping of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The World Heritage Committee asked Environment Minister Greg Hunt to investigate alternative options to dump on land instead. The Queensland government and the Commonwealth have now accepted the alternative option and advice from The World Heritage Committee and will now commence dumping on land.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dredge dumping banned on Great Barrier Reef |url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2014/11/dredging-banned-on-the-great-barrier-reef |access-date=17 November 2014 |website=Australian Geographic |date=13 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129043341/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2014/11/dredging-banned-on-the-great-barrier-reef |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref>

===Tourism===
{{main|Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef}}
[[File:Giant clam with diver.jpg|upright|right|thumb|A [[scuba diving|scuba diver]] looking at a [[giant clam]] on the Great Barrier Reef]]
[[File:Amazing Great Barrier Reef 1.jpg|thumb|right|Helicopter view of the reef and boats]]
Due to its vast [[biodiversity]], warm clear waters and accessibility from the tourist boats called "[[live aboard]]s", the reef is a very popular destination, especially for [[scuba diving|scuba divers]]. Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef is concentrated in Cairns and also The Whitsundays due to their accessibility. These areas make up 7–8% of the park's area.<ref name=CRC46/> The Whitsundays and [[Cairns]] have their own Plans of Management.<ref name = "2005Brochure"/> Many cities along the Queensland coast offer daily boat trips. Several continental and coral cay islands are now [[resort]]s, including [[Green Island (Queensland)|Green Island]] and [[Lady Elliot Island]]. As of 1996, 27 islands on the Great Barrier Reef supported resorts.<ref name=CRC46/>

In 1996, most of the tourism in the region was domestically generated and the most popular visiting times were during the Australian winter. At this time, it was estimated that tourists to the Great Barrier Reef contributed [[Australian dollar|A$]]776&nbsp;million per annum.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Sally |last1=Driml |first2=Mick |last2=Common |year=1996 |title=Ecological Economics Criteria for Sustainable Tourism: Application to the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Areas, Australia |journal=Journal of Sustainable Tourism |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=3–16 |url=http://www.multilingual-matters.net/jost/004/0003/jost0040003.pdf |access-date=31 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218133426/http://www.multilingual-matters.net/jost/004/0003/jost0040003.pdf |archive-date=18 December 2008 |doi=10.1080/09669589608667255 |bibcode=1996JSusT...4....3D }}</ref> As the largest commercial activity in the region, it was estimated in 2003 that tourism generated over A$4&nbsp;billion annually,<ref>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |year=2003 |title=Summary report of the social and economic impacts of the rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. |url=http://www.ens.gu.edu.au/2281aes/docs/TEV_GBR.pdf |access-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920151126/http://www.ens.gu.edu.au/2281aes/docs/TEV_GBR.pdf |archive-date=20 September 2008 }}</ref> and the 2005 estimate increased to A$5.1&nbsp;billion.<ref name=2005Brochure>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |year=2005 |title=Protecting Biodiversity Brochure 2005 |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/brochures/index.html |access-date=11 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017010423/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/brochures/index.html |archive-date=17 October 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A [[Deloitte]] report published by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in March 2013 states that the Reef's 2,000 kilometres of coastline attracts tourism worth A$6.4&nbsp;billion annually and employs more than 64,000 people.<ref>{{cite news |title=Is Australia shooting itself in the foot with reef port expansions? |url=http://theconversation.com/is-australia-shooting-itself-in-the-foot-with-reef-port-expansions-22992 |access-date=14 March 2014 |newspaper=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |date=14 March 2014 |author=Ove Hoegh-Guldberg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314143306/http://theconversation.com/is-australia-shooting-itself-in-the-foot-with-reef-port-expansions-22992 |archive-date=14 March 2014 |author-link=Ove Hoegh-Guldberg (biologist) }}</ref>

Approximately two million people visit the Great Barrier Reef each year.<ref>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |title=Number of Tourists Visiting The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/visit-the-reef/environmental-management-charge/gbr_visitation/numbers |access-date=19 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227093529/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/visit-the-reef/environmental-management-charge/gbr_visitation/numbers |archive-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although most of these visits are managed in partnership with the marine Tourism industry, there is a concern among the general public that tourism is harmful to the Great Barrier Reef.<ref name=CRC46/>

A variety of boat tours and cruises are offered, from single day trips, to longer voyages. Boat sizes range from [[dinghies]] to [[superyacht]]s.<ref>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |year=2005 |title=What You Do |work=Onboard – The Tourism Operator's Handbook for the Great Barrier Reef |url=http://www.tourismoperators.reefhq.com.au/yourproduct/index.html |access-date=14 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920044219/http://www.tourismoperators.reefhq.com.au/yourproduct/index.html |archive-date=20 September 2006 }}</ref> [[Glass bottom boat|Glass-bottomed boats]] and underwater [[Observatory|observatories]] are also popular, as are [[helicopter]] flights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reef.crc.org.au/research/sustainable_tourisim/pdf/B211prelimreport2001.pdf |title=Understanding Great Barrier Reef visitors preliminary results |last=Saltzer |first=Rebecca |date=February 2002 |work=CRC Reef Project B2.1.1: Understanding Tourist Use of the GBRWHA |publisher=Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area |access-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050725040415/http://www.reef.crc.org.au/research/sustainable_tourisim/pdf/B211prelimreport2001.pdf |archive-date=25 July 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reef.crc.org.au/research/sustainable_tourisim/pdf/B2.1/Whitsundays.pdf |title=Understanding Tourist Use of the Great Barrier Reef: The Whitsundays Visitor |last=Hildebrandt |first=Amy |date=January 2003 |work=CRC Reef Project B2.1.1: Understanding Tourist Use of the GBRWHA |publisher=Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area |access-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050725040425/http://www.reef.crc.org.au/research/sustainable_tourisim/pdf/B2.1/Whitsundays.pdf |archive-date=25 July 2005 }}</ref> By far, the most popular tourist activities on the Great Barrier Reef are [[snorkelling]] and diving, for which pontoons are often used, and the area is often enclosed by nets. The outer part of the Great Barrier Reef is favoured for such activities, due to water quality.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Management of tourism in the Great Barrier Reef is geared towards making tourism [[ecological sustainability|ecologically sustainable]]. A daily fee is levied that goes towards research of the Great Barrier Reef.<ref name = "2005Brochure"/> This fee ends up being 20% of the GBRMPA's income.<ref>{{cite web |author=Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |year=2005 |title=How is the Money Used? |work=Onboard – The Tourism Operator's Handbook for the Great Barrier Reef |url=http://www.tourismoperators.reefhq.com.au/emc/use_of/index.html |access-date=11 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920042807/http://www.tourismoperators.reefhq.com.au/emc/use_of/index.html |archive-date=20 September 2006 }}</ref>
Policies on [[cruise ship]]s, [[bareboat charter]]s, and anchorages limit the traffic on the Great Barrier Reef.<ref name = "2005Brochure"/>

The problems that surround ecotourism in the Great Barrier Reef revolve around permanent tourism platforms. Platforms are large, ship-like vessels that act as a base for tourists while scuba diving and snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef. Seabirds will land on the platforms and defecate which will eventually be washed into the sea. The feces carry nitrogen, phosphorus and often [[DDT]] and [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], which cause [[aspergillosis]], [[yellow-band disease]], and [[black band disease]]. Areas without tourism platforms have 14 out of 9,468 (1.1%) diseased corals versus areas with tourism platforms that have 172 out of 7,043 (12%) diseased corals.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lamb |first=Joleah |author2=Bette Willis |title=Using coral disease prevalence to assess the effects of concentrating tourism activities on offshore reefs in a tropical marine park |journal=Conservation Biology |date=August 2011 |volume=25 |issue=5 |pages=1044–1052 |doi=10.1111/j.1523-1739.2011.01724.x |pmid=21848962 |s2cid=12979332 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2011ConBi..25.1044L }}</ref> Tourism is a major economic activity for the region. Thus, while non-permanent platforms could be possible in some areas, overall, permanent platforms are likely a necessity. Solutions have been suggested to siphon bird waste into gutters connecting to tanks helping lower runoff that causes coral disease.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kight |first=Caitlin |title=Are Coral Reefs Literally Sick of Ecotourists? |url=http://www.science20.com/anthrophysis/are_coral_reefs_literally_sick_ecotourists-82312 |access-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429185754/http://www.science20.com/anthrophysis/are_coral_reefs_literally_sick_ecotourists-82312 |archive-date=29 April 2012 }}</ref>

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has also placed many permanent anchorage points around the general use areas. These act to reduce damage to the reef due to anchoring destroying soft coral, chipping hard coral, and disturbing sediment as it is dragged across the bottom. Tourism operators also must comply with speed limits when traveling to or from tourist destinations, to prevent excessive wake from the boats disturbing the reef ecosystem.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

===Fishing===
The [[fishing industry]] in the Great Barrier Reef, controlled by the Queensland Government, is worth [[Australian dollar|A$]]1&nbsp;billion annually.<ref name="economics">{{cite web |author=Access Economics Pty Ltd |year=2005 |title=Measuring the economic and financial value of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park |url=http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/5584/gbrmpa_RP84_Measuring_The_Economic_And_Financial_Value_Of_The_GBRMP_2005.pdf |access-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429200133/http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/5584/gbrmpa_RP84_Measuring_The_Economic_And_Financial_Value_Of_The_GBRMP_2005.pdf |archive-date=29 April 2013 }}</ref> It employs approximately 2000 people, and fishing in the Great Barrier Reef is pursued commercially, for recreation, and as a traditional means for feeding one's family.<ref name= traditionalfishing/>

===Dugong hunting===
Under the [[Native Title Act 1993]], native title holders [[Dugong hunting in Australia|retain the right to legally hunt dugongs]] and [[green turtle]]s for "personal, domestic or non-commercial communal needs".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatbarrierreef.org.au/dugongs-and-turtles/ |title=Dugongs and Turtles |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611050734/http://www.greatbarrierreef.org.au/dugongs-and-turtles/ |archive-date=11 June 2014 |access-date=3 June 2014 }}</ref>{{reliable|date=October 2016}}

Four [[traditional owners]] groups agreed to cease the hunting of [[dugong]]s in the area in 2011 due to their declining numbers, partially accelerated by seagrass damage from [[Cyclone Yasi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2012/03/turtle-and-dugong-footage-causes-controversy |title=Turtle and dugong footage causes controversy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215624/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2012/03/turtle-and-dugong-footage-causes-controversy |archive-date=18 October 2016 |access-date=16 October 2016 }}</ref>