![]() Photographs above by iLCP photographer Jürgen Freund. What we found was that management zones worked, but the structure of the reef was the strongest indicator of a healthy fish population, regardless of the type of management zone. The Global Reef Expedition mission to the Great Barrier Reef set out to answer questions about the effectiveness of the management zones, the role of top predators like sharks in coral conservation, and collect baseline data of the reefs in the NGBR, where the Australian government had proposed to expand agriculture development. ![]() Over the course of 30 days (Sep 1-Oct 2, 2014), scientists conducted a total of 565 reef fish surveys, 145 shark and pelagic fish surveys, 864 benthic surveys, 432 coral surveys, 381 rugosity assessments, and 1,932 photo-transects at 166 sites on 29 reefs. ![]() On this research expedition, scientists specifically looked at the numbers of sharks present in each of the different management zones. The scientists also looked at individual coral colonies to identify different species and note the condition of the corals and conducted fish surveys to assess the abundance and diversity of reef fish. The Foundation surveyed the reefs to identify what lives on them, such as coral, sponges, seagrass, and algae. This research expedition conducted the first comprehensive assessment of the reefs in the Far Northern Management Region of the Great Barrier Reef. The Foundation’s research expedition conducted identical surveys in the pink, green and blue areas to determine differences in the reef and fish populations between these zones. They created blue zones that could be fished, green zones as no-take zones, and pink zones that were no-take and no-entry. In response to some of the reef’s decline, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority put new regulations in place in 2004. ![]() For this reason, we chose to focus on the relatively pristine and remote northern part of the Great Barrier Reef, where there is less human influence from land, fewer people, and less fishing pressure. Previous studies of the Great Barrier Reef found that coral decline on the GBR was largely caused by land-based stressors, things like nutrient runoff and sedimentation. But despite world-class protections, corals on the Great Barrier Reef are in decline. The reef is designated as a UNESCO Marine World Heritage Site and is federally protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, one of the largest and best-managed marine protected areas in the world. The Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 2000 kilometers up the Northeast Australian coast and is so large that it is visible from space. Little did we know that this research would be the last major research expedition to survey the Northern Great Barrier Reef before devastating mass bleaching events hit the reef in 20, providing invaluable baseline data on the coral and fish communities before bleaching. For this mission, Living Ocean Foundation scientists chose to focus their research on what was, at the time, the most remote and least-studied portion of the reef. Once again, the Foundation brought along an iLCP photographer to document the journey. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.In September of 2014, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation completed a detailed assessment of coral reefs in the Northern Great Barrier Reef (NGBR) on the Global Reef Expedition. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Please visit the operator’s website for further information. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. *Product Disclaimer: Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services.
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