Fish Aggregation Devices and Artificial Reef Interim policy

• In October 2020 the Marine Park Authority Board adopted an interim policy position that:
• no Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) are to be deployed in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park whilst the Reef Authority develops a contemporary policy concerning this matter; and no artificial reefs are to be deployed in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (note: this does not include structures for the purposes of restoration of reef habitat; or breakwaters, moorings, cables, pipelines, artwork or similar). 
• The interim policy is specific to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Cth) and does not alter the application of the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (Cth) which has a broader definition of ‘artificial reef’.

Consultation underway

The Reef Authority has prepared a Draft Policy on Fish Aggregating Devices and Artificial Reefs to provide clarity on it’s policy position regarding fish aggregating devices (FADs) and artificial reefs in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The draft policy is open for comment from Wednesday, 11 January 2023, to 5pm Thursday, 13 April 2023. Visit our consultation underway page for more details.