Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

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CairnsGladstoneBurnettLocal Marine Advisory CommitteeLocal Marine AdvisoryCommittee Meetings June 2022Summary of advice provided tothe Reef Authority onuse of the Marine ParkCape YorkTownsvilleWhitsundayMackayCapricorn CoastDouglas Hinchinbrook -Cassowary CoastBowen -BurdekinFurther development of the Eye on the Reef App to incorporate more management layers.Additional and improved signage at boat ramps. Targeted advertising campaigns. Distribution of hard copy material to accommodation providers, shops and caravan parksin the vicinity of access points to the Marine Park.Where do you go for information about sites within the Marine Park beforeheading out?Most Marine Park users obtain information about the Marine Park from friends, zoning maps,the Eye on the Reef App and the QPWS/Reef Authority websites.General feedback from the LMACs indicated the Reef Authority’s website was not one of themost common places for users to find information about the Marine Park, due to lack ofaccessibility (internet range) in the field. It was suggested that education and awareness could be improved through:The following LMAC advice points are a summary ofkey themes identified from extensive advice pointsprovided through the Reef-wide LMAC network.In June 2022, all 11 Local Marine Advisory Committees (LMACs) were involved in gatheringknowledge on changes to use in the Marine Park. Individual summaries have been provided toeach LMAC.The following is a high-level summary of the information gathered to be considered as part offuture Marine Park planning projects. Are there any opportunities you see to improving education and awareness? Have you visited the ‘Access and Use’ or Access and Use by Location’ pages on the ReefAuthority website?What changes in use are you seeing in the Marine Parks (both positive and negative) andwhat evidence do you have to support? Are there any new activities occurring? Are there island bays or reefs that are becoming popular and/or sites that used to bepopular that aren’t now. Are there any new activities occurring?Are you aware of any local data sources that collect this information?Are you seeing any conflicts between users, or use and values, in the Marine Park as somesites become busier? Are you seeing any illegal uses/activities?Other questions put forward to the LMACs:General increase in recreational activities.Improved access to the Marine Park has resulted in an increase in activity in the wetseason, due to improved roads, as well as increase in non-compliance (e.g., camping, fires,fishing).Increase in spearfishing activities.Cape York LMAC responsesKey themes:1.2.3. General increase in recreational activities. Low Isles has increased in popularity generally including use of jet skis. Conflicts regarding net fishing including:Use of nets all year round (including within the closed barramundi season).Reduction of fish stocks in the heavily netted areas around the Mossman River mouth area.Douglas LMAC responsesKey Themes:1.2.3.Increased use of recreational jet skis across the area.Increased presence of effluent disposal generated by vessels.Increased recreational activity at Sudbury Cay, Green Island and Michaelmas Cay. Cairns LMAC responsesKey themes:1.2.3.Increase in recreational uses (fishing, camping, spearfishing, boating and recreational jetskis). Users accessing more remote areas of the reef than before, due to improved technology(i.e., faster, safer and larger vessels, high tech GPS and sounders).Increase in direct and indirect impacts and non-compliances such as effluent disposal,anchor damage, domesticated dogs, shark interactions, marine debris and generallittering.Common Great Barrier reef wide LMAC themes1.2.3.Increased presence of sharks.Improved vessel technology has changed how the marine park is used (i.e., no anchors,higher catch rate-sounders).Increase in recreational user activity, including increased activity at boat ramps and anincrease in boating and size of vessels.Bowen - Burdekin LMAC responsesKey Themes:1.2.3.Increased use of recreational jet skis.Increase in windsurfers, traveling at speeds that may hit turtles and other animals.Increase in spearfishing, including diving around recreational fishing boats.Townsville LMAC responsesKey themes:1.2.3.Increased use of recreational jet skis potentially conflicting with other, less intensive uses(i.e. snorkeling and diving).Increased presence of recreational vessels (now larger and faster), recreational fishing andspearfishing.Increased impacts from non-compliance on national parks, such as presence ofdomesticated dogs, camping, campfires, and littering.Whitsunday LMAC responsesKey themes:1.2.3.Increased presence of sharks.Decline in coral cover.Camping has become very popular on islands and coastal beaches.Hinchinbrook - Cassowary Coast LMAC responsesKey Themes:1.2.3.Increased artificial light impacts from vessels.Recreational activity has increased (camping, fishing) with subsequently observed,anchoring issues (coral damage) and interactions with sharks.Increased presence of cruise ships.Gladstone LMAC responsesKey Themes:1.2.3.Increased presence of larger and faster vessels (ie. hydrofoils) able to access more remoteareas.Popular areas such as Lady Musgrave are resulting in more environmental impacts such asanchor damage, effluent disposal, and presence of marine debris.Increased bareboating and leisure activities such as use of recreational jet skis.Burnett LMAC responsesKey themes:1.2.3.Increased fishing pressure generally, and specifically at remote locations such as DouglasShoal (23-044), Haborfield Shoal (23-042a) and Innamincka Shoal (23-041)  (and beyond) aspart of day trips due to larger vessels, improved technology and safety.Increased visitation from south-east Queensland (SEQ) – need for targeted education. General increase in recreational activities, such as boating, camping, fishing, spearfishingand use of recreational jet skis (particularly around the Keppel Islands).Capricorn Coast LMAC responsesKey themes:1.2.3.Increase in recreational activities, including onshore fishing, recreational jet skis, snorkelingand diving at Keswick and St. Bees Islands.Increase in boating and recreational fishing with large catches.Poor anchoring practices resulting in coral damage. Although, the increase in mooringsaround popular reefs has resulted in less anchor damage.Mackay LMAC responsesKey Themes:1.2.3.

Local Marine Advisory Committee Meetings June 2022

https://elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au/jspui/retrieve/aec45bc2-d95f-4102-b974-5df2e118b1c0/June%202022%20Reef-wide%20LMAC%20report.pdf

Local Marine Advisory Committee Meetings June 2022

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