11-091
Size: 116.2 ha
Zone: Preservation (pink) Zone within the Far Northern cross-shelf (green) transect
Management Area: Far Northern Management Area
Managed by: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This reef was named in recognition of the late Professor Richard Kenchington. Richard was one of the first staff appointments to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in 1977. He subsequently went on to become a world-renowned leader in sustainable ocean and coastal management. 

Richard played a foundational role in developing the zoning system for the Great Barrier Reef, so this reef was specifically chosen as it encompasses many key aspects of zoning.  The reef is in a Preservation (pink) Zone within the Far Northern cross-shelf (green) transect, and both zoning aspects were championed by Richard when zoning was being developed. The reef is within one of the most ecologically diverse and historically significant areas of the Great Barrier Reef (including Raine Island and the historic shipwrecks of the Pandora and HMS Fly) which together provide a fitting tribute to Richard's integral role in the conservation of the environmental and heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef.
 
The reef name was agreed under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Hydrographic Office, the state Department of Resources and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and was formally approved on 09 November 2023.

A reef 210 kilometres east-north-east of Mackay now bears the name Joe Baker Reef in honour of the world-renowned marine scientist and one of our foundational board members.

Professor Joe Baker, who passed away in 2018, was a dedicated Queensland scientist passionate about marine conservation.

One of his most appreciated and significant contributions was his involvement in achieving World Heritage listing for the Great Barrier Reef in 1981.

Among his achievements, Dr Baker founded aquaculture and marine bio-discovery research at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville.

He also authored three books, 42 State of the Environment Reports, over 100 scientific publications and presented more than 100 scientific papers.

Dr Baker developed a reputation as a scientific advisor to Governments and also as an inspiring educator and mentor to emerging scientists.

He advocated for holistic methods in the management of natural resources — including the importance of considering social, cultural, economic and ecological values in decision making.

Dr Baker was heavily involved in organisations such as Earthwatch, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Australian Heritage Committee, World Wildlife Fund, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University.

Dr Baker was also a foundation member of the Queensland Academy of Sport and a foundation staff member at James Cook University.

Joe Baker Reef is located within a Marine National Park Zone (MNP-20-1124), about 210 kilometres east-north-east of Mackay, with a Reef area of about 82 square kilometres.

His family were involved in the selection of the reef, which bears his name.

Located between a Habitat Protection zone and a Preservation zone, the position of Joe Baker Reef reflects the balance he brought to accessibility to the Great Barrier Reef while protecting it for future generations.

21-505
Size: 1790.5 ha
Zone: Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zone
Management Area: Mackay / Capricorn Management Area
Managed by: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Google map: Isobel Bennet Reef

This Reef was named in recognition of Dr Isobel Bennett AO, who achieved high standing as an Australian marine scientist not by education but by sheer hard work, determination, attention to detail and a never-ending curiosity.

Her unique approach to science and life as a researcher, educator and conservationist stood her high regard in the minds of those who knew her personally or through her works as a leading Australian marine biologist and seashore naturalist.

The name was agreed to under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Hydrographic Office, Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which named the reef on 13 October 2008.

Biography - Dr Isobel Bennett AO

Isobel Bennett was born in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1909. The eldest of four children, she left school at 16 and went to business college before working as a secretary in a patent attorney's office.

When she was 19, she moved to Sydney and worked at the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music until it closed.

In early 1933 she met Professor William Dakin and his wife on board a cruise to Norfolk Island.

He was impressed with her attitude and abilities and offered her some work at the Mitchell Library, where she plotted ship's masters' logged positions of whales in the Southern Oceans for his later book.

In May of that year, she received a formal offer of a temporary position at the University of Sydney Zoology Department.

Isobel spent 40 years at the university and worked in various roles, including secretary, departmental librarian, research assistant and demonstrator.

She helped Dakin with an enormous amount of tasks, including camouflage work during World War II, collecting and identifying plankton, the first monograph ever published on Australian plankton and of greatest significance, the 1952 publishing of Australian Seashores.

This was the first such Australian guidebook and was published two years after Dakin's death. It was reprinted 11 times, and there were several new editions.

Professor Dakin was instrumental in giving Isobel her knowledge of our seashore life, and his meticulous attention to detail taught her well.

Due to her experience in the field all along the east coast in the laboratory dissecting minute specimens for the "The Prof", as she always called him, she learned aspects of animals few take the time to learn today.

This allowed her to demonstrate very effectively to students, many of whom are leading scientists today

In 1952 she was the lone female with 118 males on board the Danish research ship Galathea which took her from Sydney to Adelaide and back to Melbourne.

As a temporary Associate Professor at Stanford University, she travelled across the Pacific on the twin-masted schooner Te Vega lecturing to students. Her tales of exciting plankton hauls, animal sightings and the story of seeing a floating island of palm trees always got her enthusiasm up.

She and her assistant were members of the first four women scientists to visit Macquarie Island in 1959. The success of their presence lead to several more expeditions and the publication of Shores of Macquarie Island.

This also opened the way for many more women to be accepted onto such expeditions - a great accolade for her and step for all women.

Her book Fringe of the Sea was done at home in her own time and without the knowledge of her employers until it was completed, with Professor Birch being dumbfounded when handed a copy after its printing. She worked on the Great Barrier Reef between 1948 and 1970, and in 1971 The Great Barrier Reef was published.

It became another bible for many reef researchers. One genus and five species of marine animals were named after her. All the books she wrote went into multiple printings or editions.

She made many world trips and expeditions, and one highlight was whilst on a trip to Japan in 1967, she was asked to an audience with the Emperor of Japan (who was also a marine biologist).

Having only been through 'the university of life and with no formal university education, she was the first person to receive an honorary Master of Science in 1962 from the University of Sydney, and she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in 1995 from the University of New South Wales. She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her services to marine biology in 1984.

Her social and environmental conscience was exemplary. Only recently, her slides and experience were used in the construction of the Pittwater Council's Long Reef interpretive facilities, which soon won awards.

At the ANZAAS meeting in 1982, she was the second Australian woman given the Mueller Medal, joining the immortals in science - Edgeworth David, Douglas Mawson, Howard Florey and Alexander Fleming. Other awards include the Royal Zoological Society's Whitley Award - the Great Barrier Reef for natural history photographs, The Australian Seashores for the best text, and the third edition of A Coral Reef handbook received the Whitley Award for best handbook - as co-editor.

Recently the Hermon Slade Raiatea Foundation established the Isobel Bennett Marine Biology Fellowship for research at the Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station - named in recognition of Dr Isobel Bennett AO, one of Australia's eminent and senior marine biologists.

Her outstanding achievements will continue to see more of the above accolades as others recognise her as a gem.

Isobel Bennett Reef, 21-505 was formally named after Dr Isobel Bennett AO on 13 October 2008 by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
 

Size: 230 ha
Group: N/A
Zone: Marine National Park (Green) Zone
GBRMPA Management Area: Cairns
Plan of Management Area: Cairns
Location: Sensitive (Low use).
Type: Planar Reef

Features

High anchorage value
High reef walking value 
High Reef walking use 
High shell collecting value 
Moderate dive value 
Heavy dive use 
Light research use
Research monitored 
Coral trout survey
COTS survey 
Coral bleaching 
Tourist facilities 
Navigation aid

Anchorage

There is a shelter for boats on the NW side of the reef. Anchorage may be obtained in 11-15m over mud, NW of the lighthouse, with good holding ground (Australia Pilot). Lucas (1984) considered this a superb anchorage experiencing only minimal swell during heavy weather.

Bleaching

Yonge (1930) lists a number of instances of coral mortality observed during the 1928 Expedition. "Even during the poor day low tides in February, the reef flat was covered with the whitened skeletons of dead corals".

Crown-of-Thorns

According to Woodhead (1971), this reef was undamaged by Crown-of-Thorns up to 1970. Pearson & Endean (1969) found 10-20 on the front of the reef in 1966. Ayling (1983) reported only 1 in 1983 and estimated coral cover to be very poor with extensive soft coral development. No Acanthaster were found during the 1985 survey (Bradbury, et al., Vol. 6, 1987).

Coral Trout

Surveyed 2/83. Very low mean density - .2/.1 ha for Plectropomus leopardus & .3/.1 ha for P. maculatus (Ayling & Ayling, 1986). Ayling (1983) noted that it was possible that the low numbers of coral trout on the reef at this time were the result of high fishing levels.

Fauna

40 spp. of coral have been recorded (GBRC, 1977). Yonge (1930) noted that the blue coral, Heliopora, was common in the anchorage and that beche-de-mer were abundant. Gibbs (1978) studied the macrofauna of the intertidal sand flats. This paper discusses differences in the results of the various fauna surveys that have taken place since 1928.

About 2/3 of the total sand flat fauna found on 6 low wooded islands in the area is found on this reef. About 1/5 of all species were taken only on this reef. Gibbs said this illustrated the scientific importance of Low Isles. The feeding and distribution of predatory gastropods here was studied by Reichelt & Kohn (1985).

Monitoring

Used between June 1977 and July 1982 as a CSIRO coastal water quality monitoring station for measuring temperature, salinity, nitrate, & silicate.

Samples were collected 1-2 times/month in 0-10 m of water (Castles, 1992). Bradbury, et al. (Vol. 6, 1987) established transects down the reef slope at one site on the reef front and one site on the back reef.

Navigation Aid

The lighthouse is an 18m white round tower with a red cupola. Two beacons stand close SE of the tower (Aust. Pilot).

Reef Description

The reef on which Low & Woody islets lie is steep-to on all sides, except the NW (Australia Pilot). Roughly oval in shape with the long axis running SE to NW. The NW end was somewhat flattened and contained a central concavity.

The SE end was sharply defined, the reef forming a submarine cliff which descended in a series of deep steps to the muddy bottom 13 fathoms below.

On the NW, the slope was much more gradual. The mangrove swamp (Woody Island) extended along the E margin of the reef, while the sand cay (Low Isle) occupied the NE point, being separated by the shallow anchorage from a long shingle spit that ran almost due N. "Great flats of staghorn grew in the moat" (Yonge, 1930). An example of a platform reef is in an intermediate stage of mangrove development (Flood & Orme, 1977). Flood & Frankel (1982) presented a recent description of the morphological zonation of the reef.

In addition to the cay, the surface features include shingle ramparts heaped up at the outer edge of the reef top, a boulder tract located toward the NW extremity of the reef flat, and the reef flat.

The reef flat is subdivided into 4 units - sand flat, Thalamita flat, mangrove area, and moats. Large area dries (Cairns Shell Club 1982 Zoning Plan submission). Ayling (1983) recorded <5% hard coral cover and 50-90% soft coral cover and commented that the area examined was characterized by beds of soft coral.

Classed an inner-shelf reef. Nash (1985) noted that the reef emerged at low tide, particularly on the W & SW end, and that the coral rubble pavement in this area was of the type of habitat occupied by juvenile trochus. He surveyed the entire perimeter of the shallow intertidal zone and found "medium cover" by hard and soft corals.

Sediment levels were described as "generally high everywhere", and substrate which was not covered by hard or soft corals was mostly carpeted with an encrusting zoanthid. In some areas, this zoanthid covered nearly 100% of the substrate not occupied by corals. Zoanthid cover was low or absent only in those areas exposed at low tide.

The most common corals were branching and tabular Acropora , small massive Porites, Goniastrea, other favids and Goniopora. Bradbury, et al, (Vol. 6, 1987) surveyed the reef perimeter on Nov. 27, 1985 and found high live coral cover (30-75%) along the E front of the reef, which decreased westwards to 10-30%.

The gentle back slopes had little live coral (1-10%) which occurred only as small outcrops on the sandy slopes. Massive corals <1m in diameter were common on the S slopes, particularly the SE corner.

Dead coral remained low on the front slopes (1-10%) and was absent or in patches of 1-10% on the back of the reef.

Remarks

There is a radiotelephone at the lighthouse (Australia Pilot). Moorhouse (1933b) reported on water temperature in the anchorage and Brandon (1970) reported on average monthly sea surface temperatures for this reef.

Yonge (1930) noted that the bottom immediately around Low Isles consisted of a thick, very fine grained black mud that "was found to contain hardly a single living beast".

Reef History

1928-29 - Site of the base camp for the Great Barrier Reef Expedition. 1980 - Craik & Fallows (1980) found that 9% of a sample of 35 small boats leaving Port Douglas fished at Low Isles Reef. 1982 - The reef was said to provide very good diving.

It also was said to be heavily used by reef walkers and underwater observers, and moderately used by researchers. On average 75 tourists/day were visiting the reef on the "Martin Cash" (E. Hegerl, notes from meeting of user groups, Oct., 1982).

Shell Collecting

Yonge (1930) noted the tiger cowrie was commoner on reefs that had been less "picked over" than Low Isles. The reef was highly valued as a shell collecting site prior to Zoning as it provided an "abundance of varied reef/cay species" (Cairns Shell Club 1982 Zoning Plan submission).

In 1982 the reef was said to be moderately used by shell collectors. It was claimed that a valuable species of volute, Cymbiolacea wisemani, had been over-collected at this reef (Cairns Shell Club, pers. comm., Oct., 1982).

Trochus
Nash (1985) surveyed the reef in 1984. Trochus were not present in commercial densities.

References

• Anon. (1936). Coral reef ecology at Low Isles. Nature, 138:173.
• Ayling, A.M. and Ayling, A.L. (1986). Coral Trout Survey Data. (Unpublished report to GBRMPA), 212 pp.
• Ayling, A.M. (1983). Distribution and Abundance of Coral Trout Species (Plectropomus spp.) in the Cairns Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. (Unpublished report to GBRMPA).
• Bennett, I. (1973). Brief notes on the zonation and intertidal invertebrate fauna of Low Isles and Heron Island Reefs. Mimeographed handout, 2nd Int. Coral Reef Symp., 4pp.
• Bradbury, R.H., Moran, P.J., Reichelt, R.E. & Done, T.J. (1987b). The Crown-of-Thorns Study 1985 An Assessment of the Distribution and Effects of the Starfish Acanthaster planci (L.) on the Great Barrier Reef. Vol. 6. Cairns Sector. (Australian Institute of Marine Science : Townsville), 105 pp.
• Brandon, D.E. (1970). Oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef and the Queensland continental shelf. (PhD. Thesis, Univ. of Michagan), 202 pp.
• Castles, I. (1992). Australia's Environment - Issues and Facts. (Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra), 354 pp.
• Clark, H.L. (1932). Echinodermta other than Asteroidea. Sci. Rep. Gt. Barrier Reef Exped. IV (7): 197-239.
• Craik, W. and Fallows, J. (1980). Survey at Boat Ramps from Tully to Port Douglas. (Unpublished report to GBRMPA), 38 pp.
• Cribb, A.B. (1973a). Vegetation of Low Isles reef. Mimeographed handout, 2nd Int. Coral Reef Symp.,6pp.
• Cribb, A.B. (1973b). Key to mangroves of Low Isles. Mimeographed handout, 2nd Int. Coral Reef Symp.,6pp.
• Cribb, A.B. (1973c). Fish guide to the seagrasses of Low Isles. Mimeographed handout, 2nd Int. Coral Reef Symp.,6pp.
• Endean, R. (1956). Queensland Faunistic Records Part IV. Further Records of Echinodermta (excluding Crinoidea). Pap. Dep. Zool. Univ. Qd., 1(5): 121-140.
• Endean, R. (1976). Destruction and recovery of coral reef communities. Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, 3 (Biology 2): 215-254.
• Fairbridge, R.W. & Teichert, C. (1947). The rampart of Low Isles, 1928-45. Rep. Gt. Barr. Reef Comm., 6: 1-16.
• Fairbridge, R.W. & Teichert, C. (1948). The Low Isles of the Great Barrier Reef: a new analysis. Geog. J., 111: 67-88.
• Flood, P. and Frankel, E. (1982). Modern Carbonate and Clastic Deposition in the Great Barrier Reef. (Earth Resources Foundation, Univ. of Sydney: Sydney), 139 pp.
• Flood, P.G. and Orme, G.R. (1977). A sedimentation model for platform reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Proceedings of the Third International Coral Reef Symposium, 2: 111-117.
• Gibbs, P.E. (1978). Macrofauna of the intertidal sandflats on low wooded islands, northern Great Barrier Reef. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., B.284: 81-97.
• Hundloe, T. , Neuman, R. & Wilks, L. (1986). Survey of Charter Boats: Great Barrier Reef Region: Final Report. (Unpublished report to GBRMPA), 314 pp.
• Livingstone, A.A. (1932). Asteroidea. Sci. Rep. Gt. Barrier Reef Exped. 1928-1929, IV(8): 241-265.
• Lucas, A.H.S. (1934). Notes on Australian marine algae. 7, The algae of Low Isles. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 59: 348-350.
• Lucas, A. (1984). Cruising the Coral Coast. 5th edition. (Horwitz Grahame Books Pty. Ltd.:Sydney), 380 pp.
• Manton, S.M. & Stephenson, T.A. (1935). Ecological surveys of coral reefs. Sci. Rep. Gt. Barrier Reef Exped., III(10): 273-312.
• Marshall, S.M. & Orr, A.P. (1931). Sedimentation on Low Isles and its relation to coral growth. Sci. Rep. Gt. Barrier Reef Exped., I: 93- 133.
• McLean, R.F. (1973). Low Isles. Mimeographed handout, Geological excursion notes, 2nd Int. Coral Reef Symp., 9pp.
• Moorhouse, F.W. (1932). Notes on Trochus niloticus. Scientific Reports of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition, 1928-29. 3: 145-155.
• Moorhouse, F.W. (1933b). The temperatures of waters in the anchorage, Low Isles. Sci. Rep. Gt. Barr. Reef Exped. 1928-29, 2: 98-101.
• Moorhouse, F.W. (1936). The cyclone of 1934 and its effect on Low Isles with special observations on Porites. Rep. Gt. Barr. Reef Comm., 4(2): 37-44.
• Nash, W.J. (1985). Aspects of the Biology of Trochus niloticus and its fishery in the Great Barrier Reef Region. (Unpublished report to Fisheries Research Branch, QDPI and GBRMPA), 210 pp.
• Orr, A.P. (1933). Variations in some physical and chemical conditions on and near Low Isles reef. Sci. Rep. Gt. Barr. Reef Exped. 1928-29, 2: 89-98.
• Pearson, R.G. and Endean, R. A. (1969). A preliminary study of the coral predator Acanthaster planci (L.) (Asteroidea) on the Great Barrier Reef. Queensland Fisheries Notes, 3: 27-55.
• Reichelt, R.E. and Kohn, A.J. (1985). Feeding and distribution of predatory gastropods on some Great Barrier Reef platforms. Proceedings of the Fifth International Coral Reef Congress, 5: 191 -196.
• Spender, M. (1936). Changes at Low Isles. Geog. J., 88: 3 83.
• Stephenson, W. & Wells, J.W. (1956). The corals of Low Isles, Qld., August, 1954. Univ. Qld. Pap. Pep. Zool., 1(4): 1-59.
• Stephenson, T.A., Stephenson, A., Tandy, G. & Spender, M.(1931). The Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928-29, III: 17-112.
• Stephenson, W., Endean, R. & Bennett, I. (1958). An ecological survey of the marine fauna of Low Isles, Qld. Aust. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res., 9: 261-318.
• Whitley, G.P. & Boardman, W. (1929). Marine animals from Low Isles, Qld. Aust. Mus. Mag., 3: 330-336.
• Woodhead, P.M. (1971). Surveys of coral recolonization on reefs damaged by starfish and by a cyclone. In, Report of the Committee on the Problem of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. (Government Printer: Canberra), 34-40.
• Yonge, C.M. (1930) A Year on the Great Barrier Reef. The Story of Corals & of the Greatest of Their Creations. (Putnam : London).

21-173
Size: 4903 ha
Zone: Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zone
Management Area: Mackay / Capricorn Management Area
Managed by: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Google map: Mullers Reef 

Mullers Reef was named after Mr Wally Muller whose dedication to exploring the Capricorn Coast region's waters and devotion to commercial and recreational fishing resulted in him becoming one of the region's most loved and committed reef surveyors and fisherman.

He mapped and named many of the local reefs. The name was agreed to under a Memorandum of Understanding between Australian Hydrographic Office, Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The reef was named on 1 November 2007.
 

Biography - Wally Muller (1930 - 2005)

Wally Muller’s dedication to exploring the region’s waters and devotion to commercial and recreational fishing has placed him in the pages of local history as one of the most loved and committed reef surveyors and fisherman. Wally was born on 18 July 1930 at Blackall, Queensland. He was a boarder at Rockhampton Boys Grammar School and was a brilliant long distance swimmer.

In 1948, Wally made his name in the fishing industry as the first person to commercially fish on the Swains Reefs. He also introduced the art of filleting fish at sea and freezing fillets so the boats could stay out longer, making him a hero amongst many commercial fishermen.

Wally worked for Gulf Oil in the Capricorn Bunker Group when they were blasting for oil in the mid to late 1960s. He also navigated the seismic ship that mapped the coastline of New Zealand, looking for oil.

Wally spent many years surveying reefs off the Capricorn Coast, including navigating the Surveyor General’s ship to map all the Swains Reefs.

The name of Wally’s beloved first boast was The River Song, and his second was The Coralita, which was built in 1969. The Coralita was often chartered by groups for diving and fishing trips to the Reef. Wally even took leaders such as the former President of Canada, President Trudeau, and John and Margaret Gorton (former Australian Prime Minister and his wife) out to the Reef on a fishing trip.

Wally was a local personality and regularly took time out with some of his old schoolmates and other friends in the community to hold massive card games on board The Coralita. Wally had two sons, Walter (known as Roy) and Alex, who grew up on the water in the Capricorn region.

Many of the local reef’s names were given to them by Wally. The naming of one particular reef has become a much loved and retold local story:

“One day, after Wally had finished mapping the Swain Reef area for the Government, he was enjoying some quiet time sailing around the Swains area. Suddenly, he ran into a reef that was not mapped, and Wally didn’t even know was there. Wally said, “Where did that reef come from?… it’s a bloody mystery that one!” and that’s how Mystery Reef was named!"

Mullers Reef 21-173 was formally named after Wally Muller by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority on 1 November 2007.
 

21-274
Size: 795 ha
Zone: Marine National Park (Green) Zone
Management Area: Mackay / Capricorn Management Area
Managed by: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Google map: Perkins Reef 

This Reef was named in recognition of Mr David Perkins. He contributed significantly to marine conservation through management, policy and legislative initiatives and to establishing Marine Parks along the Queensland coast.

His passion for the conservation of marine species influenced many throughout Australia. The name was agreed to under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Hydrographic Office, Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The reef was named on 1 November 2007.

Biography- David Perkins

David Perkins worked for the Queensland Government for 35 years. In recognition of his outstanding public service during this time, Mr Perkins was awarded the Environmental Protection Agency’s Service Medal on his retirement by the then Minister for the Environment.

Much of this time was spent working on environmental matters, particularly on issues related to marine conservation. Mr Perkins was a key figure during the 1970s and 1980s when the foundations for much of the contemporary day-to-day management arrangements with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority were being developed.

Mr Perkins also took a firm role on behalf of the Queensland Government in consolidating Queensland’s legitimate role and responsibility for protecting and conserving the Great Barrier Reef.

Most recently, Mr Perkins made a significant contribution to the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef (Coast) Marine Park and new primary and subordinate legislation for marine parks (the Marine Parks Act 2004 and Marine Parks Regulation 2006) in a challenging policy environment.

Furthermore, he made a significant contribution to establishing State marine parks in Moreton Bay and the Great Sandy region.

Mr Perkins’ passion for conserving marine species and ecosystems was a theme throughout his career with the Queensland Government, influencing many who worked with him.

There are now at least three jurisdictions around Australia whose senior marine park management staff have spent time working with Mr Perkins and can verify his influential role. This includes managers of marine parks such as Jervis Bay Marine Park and Cape Byron Marine Park.

Mr Perkins also recently made significant contributions to the development of other policy and legislative frameworks relevant to the management of the terrestrial and marine conservation estate in Queensland, such as the Nature Conservation policy and legislation (for example, the recent comprehensive review of regulations), Recreation Areas Management legislation (which resulted in the passing of new primary legislation under his management, relevance to areas such as Fraser Island, Green Island, Moreton Island, and Bribie Island), and Biodiscovery Act 2004.

Mr Perkins’ contributions, as outlined above, were recognised on the occasion of his resignation by the former Director-General of the EPA (Mr James Purtill) and the former Minister for Environment (The Hon Desley Boyle MP).

Perkins Reef 21-274 was formally named after David Perkins on 1 November 2007 by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
 

22-108
Size: 527 ha
Zone: Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zone
Management Area: Mackay / Capricorn Management Area
Managed by: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Google map: Ron Isbel Reef 

This Reef was named in recognition of Mr Ron Isbel, a well-respected charter boat operator focusing mainly on the southern Great Barrier Reef.

The name was agreed to under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Hydrographic Office, Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which named the reef on 1 August 2009.

Biography - Ron Isbel

On 1 August 2009, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority named a reef in the Mackay/Capricorn Management Area of the Marine Park "Ron Isbel Reef".

Ron Isbel was a well-respected charter boat operator focusing mainly on the southern Great Barrier Reef. Naming a reef in the Swains Reefs is a fitting tribute to his contribution of knowledge, passion and ability to foster worldwide recognition of the Great Barrier Reef.

Ron Isbel passed away on 10 November 2008, aged 79.

21-284
Zone: Marine National Park (Green) Zone
Management Area: Mackay / Capricorn Management Area
Managed by: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This Reef was named in recognition of the late Ron Taylor AO, one of Australia’s first marine conservationists.  

Ron and his wife, Valerie Taylor, spent 40 years sharing their shark and marine conservation message worldwide.  

Together they changed the perception of sharks, educating others on the species' importance of maintaining a balance in healthy ocean ecosystems.

The name was agreed to under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Hydrographic Office, Queensland Government and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority which named the reef on 9 September 2013.

Biography - Ron Taylor

Ron and Valerie Taylor were two of Australia’s first marine conservationists. Ron Taylor passed away on 9 September 2012 he is survived by his wife Valerie. 

Ron Taylor captured marine life through a camera lens and shared his passion with the world as one of the first marine conservationists.

He lived an amazingly full life, ironically starting as a champion spear fisherman and becoming a world-renowned marine conservationist.

He is survived by his equally passionate wife, Valerie, who together shared life of wonderful adventures spreading their enthusiasm for marine conservation and educating others on the virtues of sharks.

The couple spent 40 years sharing their shark and marine conservation message while filming animals of the deep in different locations all over the world.

Together they changed the perception of sharks, educating others on the species’ importance of maintaining a balance in healthy ocean ecosystems.

The Taylors’ conservation work not only encompassed sharks. They also contributed greatly to garnering support for the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef and its animals.

Filming on the Great Barrier Reef launched their careers as cinema photographers and conservationists.

Together they both directed and filmed a series about the Great Barrier Reef, which was distributed and played worldwide to capture audiences' attention and inspire a love of the Great Barrier Reef.

Their careers saw both of the Taylors awarded many accolades for their marine conservation work. Ron was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003.

18-016
Size: 686 ha
Zone: Marine National Park (Green) Zone
Management Area: Townsville / Whitsunday Management Area
Managed by: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Google map: Virginia Chadwick Reef 

This Reef was named in recognition of the late Hon Dr Virginia Chadwick AO, the first female chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

During her eight years at the helm, Virginia developed and led many significant environmental initiatives and was renowned for her outstanding leadership and environmental work.

The name was agreed to under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Hydrographic Office, Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The reef was named on 23 April 2010, and the new name was formally announced on 21 May 2010.

Biography - Hon Dr Virginia Chadwick AO

Virginia Chadwick was the first female chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

During her eight years at the helm, she developed and led many significant environmental initiatives and was renowned for her outstanding leadership and environmental work.

Virginia's passion, interest and involvement in environmental issues won acclaim worldwide and colleagues and stakeholders' respect.

Among Virginia's most significant achievements at the Reef Authority was overseeing and leading the Representative Areas Program, which culminated in the rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in 2004.

The implementation of the Zoning Plan is a lasting legacy to ensure the protection of one of Australia's great natural icons.

The Representative Areas Program included the most extensive community consultation process ever conducted on an Australian environmental issue. It set an international benchmark in marine conservation and generated international awareness of Australia’s environmental conservation initiatives.

Virginia’s role in overseeing the agency’s involvement in other management initiatives – such as the Trawl and Reef Line Fisheries Management Plan, Reef Water Quality Protection Plan and Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements – is also noteworthy.

Her genuine interest in environmental issues saw her actively involved across the agency’s core business – she was a keen supporter of everything from school education programs and tourism industry partnerships to conservation and research.

Before her appointment as Chairman of the Reef Authority, Virginia served in the NSW Legislative Council. She held various Ministerial positions and was the first woman elected as President of the Legislative Council.

Her significant contributions in the field of research and education were formally recognised by her peers on many occasions.

Among the accolades, Virginia was awarded an Office in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday 2005 Honours List.

In 2009, Virginia received an Honorary Doctorate at James Cook University in recognition of her significant achievements.

Virginia passed away on Friday, 18 September 2009.

15-070
Size: 1230 ha
Zone: Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zone
Management Area: Cairns / Cooktown Management Area
Managed by: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Google map: Vicki Harriot Reef  

This Reef was named in recognition of Dr Vicki Harriott, an internationally recognised marine ecologist specialising in coral research.

Included among the long list of research and teaching positions was her role as Assistant Curator at the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium between 1987 and 1990.

The name was agreed to under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Hydrographic Office, Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which named the reef on 1 August 2009.

Biography - Vicki Harriott

On 1 August 2009, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority named a reef in the Cairns/Cooktown Management Area of the Marine Park Vicki Harriott Reef.

Vicki Harriott's interest and passion for the Great Barrier Reef began early in her career. Vicki became an internationally recognised marine ecologist specialising in coral research.

Included among the long list of research and teaching positions was her role as Assistant Curator at the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium between 1987 and 1990.

Naming a reef in the area she loved is a fitting tribute to her contribution of both knowledge and passion for the Great Barrier Reef while successfully managing to balance professional and personal life.

Vicki Harriott passed away on 3 March 2005.