Field Management

The field officers are part of the Australian and Queensland governments’ Great Barrier Reef Joint Field Management Program protecting the World Heritage area. 

The Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement 2009 provides a framework for the Australian and Queensland governments to work together to protect the Reef.

Illegal fishing is one of the highest direct risks to the World Heritage Area and compliance is coordinated by a central unit — the Field Management Compliance Unit. 

Field officers conduct regular surveys of the Great Barrier Reef and collect and report information on vulnerable species through activities such as turtle nesting surveys and coastal bird monitoring.

The five-year project is trialing localised restoration at Green Island with MARRS reef stars and Coralclips® to restore coral cover at a popular tourism site in far-north Queensland. 

The Restoration of Reef Islands Project collaborates with Traditional Owners to enhance the resilience of our Great Barrier Reef’s islands, which provide crucial ecosystem services.

Bait Reef rehabilitation is a multi-stakeholder rehabilitation project trialing three tools — MARRS reef stars, Coralclips® and Reef Bags — to build new coral reef habitat.

Following on from the Green Island reef rehabilitation project and Project Reefresh: Bait Reef rehabilitation, a multi-stakeholder team have joined to deliver Yarul Dhingiga: Keppel Bay reef rehabilitation project. 

The $5.93 million research program aims to improve our understanding of the northern Great Barrier Reef green turtle population and inform management activities.

Zoning helps to manage and protect the values of the Marine Park. Each zone has different rules for the activities that are allowed, prohibited, and require a permit.