Managing marine parks

The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) manages state marine parks as a multi-use marine protected area. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), a business unit of DESI, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the marine park.

There are three state marine parks in Queensland:

• Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
• Great Sandy Marine Park
• Moreton Bay Marine Park

Each Queensland marine park has unique features that require specific management. However, objectives common to all include:

• protecting and preserving plants, wildlife, ecosystems, and features of special scientific, archaeological or cultural importance
• encouraging appreciation and awareness of natural history
• ensuring the park remains a diverse, resilient and productive ecological system while allowing people access to its resources.

Management plans

Marine management plans may also be developed to provide a planning framework. They include guidelines on how an area will be managed, and set out the considerations, outcomes and strategies that form the basis for day-to-day decisions. To alleviate problems at particular locations, detailed protected area management plans have been developed for some popular reefs and islands.

Management programs

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park has a unique Reef Joint Field Management Program.

The Program's Annual Report Summaries are available on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website

Management of all marine parks is also supported through:

• Zoning and designated areas
• Permits
• Rangers
• Legislation
  • Marine Parks Act 2004
  • Marine Parks Regulation 2017
  • Marine Parks (Declaration) Regulation 2006

Rangers

Marine park rangers are responsible for the day-to-day management of marine parks. These officers are usually responsible for a designated geographical area. They need a broad range of skills to carry out their responsibilities, but may also call on specialists for particular tasks.

Rangers’ tasks include:

• resource monitoring and assessment
• public contact
• interpretation (signage)
• education
• surveillance patrols
• enforcement
• maintenance of infrastructure and equipment.

Rangers also spend time ensuring cultural values are maintained. Working together with traditional owners, they help identify and protect sacred and special sites, and manage cultural resources.

Meet the park rangers that are at the forefront of our work to protect the value and build resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. The Reef Joint Field Management Program is a partnership between Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority dedicated to protecting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The Program delivers conservation actions, checks for change on island and the Reef, responds to incidents, welcomes people and upholds compliance to marine park zoning. It plays a proactive role in managing the Reef while global efforts to limit climate change and regional efforts to improve water quality take effect.