Guiding principles for the improved governance of port and shipping impacts in the Great Barrier Reef

A Grech; M Bos; J Brodie; R Coles; A Dale; R Gilbert; M Hamann; H Marsh; K Neil; R L Pressey; M A Rasheed; M Sheaves; A Smith

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.07.013

Guiding principles for the improved governance of port and shipping impacts in the Great Barrier Reef

Mar Pollut Bull. 2013 Oct 15;75(1-2):8-20. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.07.013. Epub 2013 Aug 6.

Authors

A Grech¹, M Bos², J Brodie³, R Coles⁴, A Dale⁵, R Gilbert⁶, M Hamann⁷, H Marsh⁸, K Neil⁹, R L Pressey¹⁰, M A Rasheed¹¹, M Sheaves¹², A Smith¹³

Affiliations

¹ Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: alana.grech@jcu.edu.au.
² Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: melissa.bos@my.jcu.edu.au.
³ Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: jon.brodie@jcu.edu.au.
⁴ Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: rob.coles@jcu.edu.au.
⁵ The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia. Electronic address: allan.dale@jcu.edu.au.
⁶ Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia. Electronic address: rean.gilbert@gbrmpa.gov.au.
⁷ Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: mark.hamann@jcu.edu.au.
⁸ Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: helene.marsh@jcu.edu.au.
⁹ GHD, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia. Electronic address: kerry.neil@ghd.com.
¹⁰ Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: bob.pressey@jcu.edu.au.
¹¹ Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: michael.rasheed@jcu.edu.au.
¹² Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: marcus.sheaves@jcu.edu.au.
¹³ Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia. Electronic address: adam.smith@gbrmpa.gov.au.

PMID: 23932477
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.07.013

Abstract

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region of Queensland, Australia, encompasses a complex and diverse array of tropical marine ecosystems of global significance. The region is also a World Heritage Area and largely within one of the world's best managed marine protected areas. However, a recent World Heritage Committee report drew attention to serious governance problems associated with the management of ports and shipping. We review the impacts of ports and shipping on biodiversity in the GBR, and propose a series of guiding principles to improve the current governance arrangements. Implementing these principles will increase the capacity of decision makers to minimize the impacts of ports and shipping on biodiversity, and will provide certainty and clarity to port operators and developers. A 'business as usual' approach could lead to the GBR's inclusion on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2014.

Keywords: Biodiversity; Governance; Great Barrier Reef; Ports; Shipping; World Heritage.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biodiversity
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Coral Reefs*
Environmental Policy*
Queensland
Ships*