Fifty years ago, to the day, the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park heralded changes in marine conservation on a global scale. And as Reef Authority CEO Josh Thomas writes, the milestone is not only an opportunity to celebrate the past but commit to the future.
It is hard to fathom, for anyone who has ever experienced the stunning colour and ecological majesty of the Great Barrier Reef, that it was once viewed as a viable source of oil and petroleum. And that coral, which in some cases can live for hundreds of years, was thought more useful as a source of agricultural lime for use in farming.
This sparked what would become the ‘Save the Reef’ campaign in the late 1960s and early 70s, calling for the safeguarding of the world’s largest coral reef system from mining and coral harvesting.
On June 20, 1975, the Australian Parliament passed the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act, creating the Marine Park that we enjoy today and with it, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority was the world’s first statutory body charged with regulating a coral reef system, in partnership with the Queensland Government.
It was a visionary step and would herald change on a global scale concerning marine management and conservation around the world.
Fifty years later I am incredibly privileged and proud to live alongside the Great Barrier Reef, leading an organisation that remains at the forefront of Reef management, and steadfast in our commitment to carrying on the legacy of our predecessors.
I also extend deep gratitude to Traditional Owners whose knowledge, connection to Sea Country, and custodianship of the Reef long predates its designation as a marine park. Traditional knowledge handed down between generations for thousands of years has become inseparable from modern conservation and management efforts.
Few ecosystems on earth are as vulnerable to the effects of climate change as coral reefs, and we are seeing the impacts on the Great Barrier Reef in real time including recent mass bleaching events.
Through sheer scale and incredible biodiversity, the Great Barrier Reef is resilient, but not invincible. Its capacity to tolerate and recover from these impacts is being compromised, and climate driven disturbances are compounding the effects of other key threats including coastal development, land-based run-off, and illegal fishing.
Innovative management of the marine park, together with action on climate change, must continue to ensure the next generation, and those after, can experience the majesty of Australia’s greatest natural wonder as we have.
This is why the 50th anniversary of the Marine Park is not only a firm nod to the past, but an unwavering commitment to the future, and continuing to build the Reef’s natural resilience.
We remain focused on enforcement of the Zoning Plan, expanding programs like the Crown-of-thorns Starfish Control Program and continuing our strong partnerships with Traditional Owners, the Queensland Government and Reef dependent communities, to make sure that we're protecting the Reef and the precious biodiversity for which it is famous.
Working with partners through Australia’s Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, the Reef Authority is advancing smart marine spatial planning projects with Traditional Owners, innovations in Crown-of-thorns starfish control, new conservation partnerships with the tourism industry, dedicated compliance and enforcement activities, stronger fisheries management and community education programs.
The story of the Reef is still being written. Through our work, and that of our partners, the future will be decided by choice, not by chance – and we are choosing a sustainable future for the next 50 years and beyond.
Josh Thomas
CEO
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority