Marine Park Zoning

• One of the most complex jobs faced by the managers of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area is the process of deciding just who may do what, and where they may do it. 

• One of the primary methods used for managing the Great Barrier Reef is zoning,

• Zoning separates activities that may conflict with each other, such as commercial fishing and tourism, so the maps are very important tools in informing both fishers and tour operators where they can work. 

• Zoning also allows areas that need permanent conservation to be protected from potentially threatening processes by being placed 'off limits' to users (except for scientific research) for varying lengths of time.

• Zoning is implemented by :

1. Dividing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park into five management sections. Each section is further sub-divided into zones to control the activities that occur  

2. Make detailed maps of each management section that show the different zones by different colours. 

3. Provide Activities guides that are linked to the colours on the detailed maps so that people will know which activities are allowed within the zones.