A marine park surrounds much of the Great Barrier Reef and regulates activities there.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a large protected area created to conserve the reef’s ecosystems while allowing carefully managed uses such as tourism, fishing and shipping. It includes reefs, islands, seabed and waters along Queensland’s coast.
The park is divided into zones with different rules. Some zones permit several activities, while highly protected zones restrict extraction and other impacts. Zoning is intended to balance conservation with the region’s cultural, recreational and economic importance.
The marine park is not identical to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. UNESCO’s World Heritage designation is an international recognition of outstanding natural value, whereas the marine park is an Australian legal management framework.