5.0 Management Practices

Before examining the different management strategies, it is important to get some perspective on the value of the GBR and why it needs to be preserved.

Reasons for Conserving the Reef

• The first and most obvious reason for conserving the GBR is that it is one of the most beautiful ecosystems on Earth full of vibrant colours (intrinsic value)
• It is a nursery for fish and crustacean species that are fished or farmed in the area (ecoservice)
• Tourism (click here to see an actual figure $$$) (utility value)
• As an important reservoir for biological diversity, as it contains many undiscovered species (need to allow natural change to proceed)
• It is the world's largest reef ecosystem (heritage value)
• For education and research into evolutionary processes (heritage value)
• for the important role it plays in the global carbon cycle (need to allow natural change to proceed)
• for the extraction of chemicals for use in medicine (to treat conditions such as arthritis, anti-cancer, anti-AIDS, UV -radiation blocks) (utility value)
• To prevent coastal erosion: Blocks strong waves that can erode coastal land where many humans have built. (need to allow natural change to proceed)
• Plays a spiritual role for Indigenous groups (heritage and Intrinsic values)