The set of current and likely threats to the Region’s ecosystem and heritage values (its natural, Indigenous, historic and other heritage values) considered in the risk assessment (Chapter 9) was developed from the evidence presented in the preceding chapters of this report (particularly 5 and 6), taking into account input from Reef scientists and managers and the outcomes of various community surveys. The 45 threats considered are listed in the table below. The table also provides a comparison with those assessed in the 2019 Outlook Report. As far as possible, the threats and their descriptions are consistent with those used in 2019; differences are shown in bold in the 2024 column.
| Outlook Report 2024 (45 threats) | Outlook Report 2019 (45 threats) |
|---|---|
| Acid sulfate soils: Exposure of acid sulfate soils | Acid sulfate soils: Exposure of acid sulfate soils |
| Altered ocean currents: Climate change induced altered ocean currents | Altered ocean currents: Climate change induced altered ocean currents |
| Altered weather patterns: Climate change effects on weather patterns (e.g. cyclones, wind, rainfall, air temperature), includes both chronic and acute aspects | Altered weather patterns: Climate change effects on weather patterns (e.g. cyclones, wind, rainfall, air temperature), includes both chronic and acute aspects |
| Artificial light: Artificial lighting, including from resorts, industrial infrastructure, mainland beaches and coastlines, vessels and ships | Artificial light: Artificial lighting, including from resorts, industrial infrastructure, mainland beaches and coastlines, vessels and ships |
| Atmospheric pollution: Pollution of the atmosphere related to domestic, industrial and business activities and natural phenomena (e.g. bushfires) in both the Region and adjacent areas. The contribution of gases, such as carbon dioxide to climate change is not included as this is encompassed under threats, such as sea temperature increase and ocean acidification | Atmospheric pollution: Pollution of the atmosphere related to domestic, industrial and business activities in both the Region and adjacent areas. The contribution of gases, such as carbon dioxide to climate change is not included as this is encompassed under threats, such as sea temperature increase and ocean acidification |
| Barriers to flow: Artificial barriers to riverine and estuarine flow (e.g. dams, weirs, breakwalls, gates, roads and linear infrastructure) | Barriers to flow: Artificial barriers to riverine and estuarine flow (e.g. dams, weirs, breakwalls, gates, roads and linear infrastructure) |
| Behaviour impacting heritage values: Disturbance of, or damage to, the values of intangible Indigenous and historic heritage site through inappropriate presence of people. Examples include: visitation to locations considered dangerous or sensitive in Indigenous culture; access by people of culturally inappropriate gender or seniority; overly high visitor traffic levels at Indigenous sites open to visitation (e.g. creating too much noise); and disrespectful behaviour or activities at Indigenous and historic heritage sites (e.g. burial areas) | Behaviour impacting heritage values: Disturbance of, or damage to, the values of intangible Indigenous and historic heritage site through inappropriate presence of people. Examples include: visitation to locations considered dangerous or sensitive in Indigenous culture; access by people of culturally inappropriate gender or seniority; overly high visitor traffic levels at Indigenous sites open to visitation (e.g. creating too much noise); and disrespectful behaviour or activities at Indigenous and historic heritage sites (e.g. burial areas) |
| Damage to reef structure: Physical damage to reef benthos (reef structure) through actions, such as snorkelling, diving, anchoring, fishing, and reef-walking but not vessel grounding (assessed separately) | Damage to reef structure: Physical damage to reef benthos (reef structure) through actions, such as snorkelling, diving, anchoring and fishing, but not vessel grounding (assessed separately) |
| Damage to seafloor: Physical damage to non-reef benthos (seafloor) through actions, such as trawling and anchoring | Damage to seafloor: Physical damage to non-reef benthos (seafloor) through actions, such as trawling and anchoring |
| Discarded catch: Immediate or post-release effects (such as death, injury, reduced reproductive success) on discarded species (non-retained catch) as a result of interactions with fishing gear. Does not include species of conservation concern (assessed separately) | Discarded catch: Immediate or post-release effects (such as death, injury, reduced reproductive success) on discarded species (non-retained catch) as a result of interactions with fishing gear. Does not include species of conservation concern (assessed separately) |
| Disposal of dredge material: Disposal and resuspension of dredge material | Disposal of dredge material: Disposal and resuspension of dredge material |
| Dredging: Dredging of the seafloor | Dredging: Dredging of the seafloor |
| Exotic species: Introduced exotic species from aquaculture operations, hull fouling, ballast release, biocontrol, translocation of other marine species, and release of aquarium specimens to the Region, plus the introduction of weeds, pests and feral animals to islands. Includes both new introductions and outbreaks of previously introduced exotic species. Does not include considerations covered under the ‘genetic modification’ threat | Exotic species: Introduced exotic species from aquaculture operations, hull fouling, ballast release, biocontrol, translocation of other marine species, and release of aquarium specimens to the Region, plus the introduction of weeds, pests and feral animals to islands. Includes both new introductions and outbreaks of previously introduced exotic species. Does not include considerations covered under the ‘genetic modification’ threat |
| Extraction from spawning aggregations: Retained take (extraction) of fish from unidentified or unprotected spawning aggregations | Extraction from spawning aggregations: Retained take (extraction) of fish from unidentified or unprotected spawning aggregations |
| Extraction of herbivores: Retained take (extraction) of herbivores (e.g. some fishes, molluscs, dugongs, green turtles) through commercial and non-commercial uses | Extraction of herbivores: Retained take (extraction) of herbivores (e.g. some fishes, molluscs, dugongs, green turtles) through commercial and non-commercial uses |
| Extraction of particle feeders: Retained take (extraction) of particle feeders (filter feeders, detritivores) through commercial and non-commercial uses | Extraction of particle feeders: Retained take (extraction) of particle feeders (filter feeders, detritivores) through commercial and non-commercial uses |
| Extraction of predators: Retained take (extraction) of predators (e.g. sharks, fish) through commercial and non- commercial uses | Extraction of predators: Retained take (extraction) of predators (e.g. sharks, fish) through commercial and non- commercial uses |
| Foundational capacity gaps: Gaps in the enabling context for Traditional Owners to exercise their Indigenous heritage (cultural) rights by accessing and managing their land and sea country. Relates to capacity of Traditional Owners and their groups, and is not about loss of knowledge or about access restrictions or conflicting use. Potential impacts include those on the enduring connection Traditional Owners have with their land and sea country and on the maintenance of culture and the transfer of knowledge to younger generations (e.g. reduced opportunities to conduct knowledge transfer) | Foundational capacity gaps: Lack of capacity of Traditional Owners to exercise their Indigenous heritage (cultural) rights by accessing and managing their land and sea country. Relates to capacity of Traditional Owners and their groups, and is not about loss of knowledge or about access restrictions or conflicting use. Potential impacts include those on the enduring connection Traditional Owners have with their land and sea country and on the maintenance of culture and the transfer of knowledge to younger generations (e.g. reduced opportunities to conduct knowledge transfer) |
| Fragmentation of cultural knowledge: Loss and fragmentation of knowledge of tangible and intangible heritage values (e.g. as Indigenous Elders age and young people leave their traditional land and sea country, or availability of specialist skills in historic heritage preservation declines) | Fragmentation of cultural knowledge: Loss and fragmentation of knowledge of tangible and intangible heritage values (e.g. as Indigenous Elders age and young people leave their traditional land and sea country, or availability of specialist skills in historic heritage preservation declines) |
| Genetic modification: Genetic modification of native species, manipulation of natural genotype frequencies (e.g. through translocations or intentional/unintentional releases of specimens), and products of synthetic biology | Genetic modification: Genetic modification of native species, manipulation of natural genotype frequencies (e.g. through translocations or intentional/unintentional releases of specimens), and products of synthetic biology |
| Grounding large vessel: Grounding of large vessels (>50m), including physical damage and the dislodging of antifoulants | Grounding large vessel: Grounding of large vessels (>50m), including physical damage and the dislodging of antifoulants |
| Grounding small vessel: Grounding of small vessels (<50m), including physical damage and the dislodging of antifoulants | Grounding small vessel: Grounding of small vessels (<50m), including physical damage and the dislodging of antifoulants |
| Illegal activities — other: Illegal activities, such as entering a protected or restricted area, illegal release of industrial discharge, shipping outside of designated shipping areas, and removal or damage of artefacts (e.g. ship anchors, stone implements), scar trees, middens, fish traps, burial grounds, stone arrangements, art work | Illegal activities — other: Illegal activities, such as entering a protected or restricted area, illegal release of industrial discharge, shipping outside of designated shipping areas, and removal or damage of artefacts (e.g. ship anchors, stone implements), scar trees, middens, fish traps, burial grounds, stone arrangements, art work |
| Illegal fishing and extraction: Illegal fishing, collecting and extraction, including of species of conservation concern. This may be from domestic or foreign vessels or individuals | Illegal fishing and poaching: Illegal fishing, collecting and poaching |
| Incidental catch of species of conservation concern: Immediate or post-release effects (such as death, injury, reduced reproductive success) of interactions of species of conservation concern with fishing gear | Incidental catch of species of conservation concern: Immediate or post-release effects (such as death, injury, reduced reproductive success) of interactions of species of conservation concern with fishing gear |
| Incompatible uses: Activities undertaken within the Region that disturb or exclude other users, such as recreational use in areas important for cultural activities | Incompatible uses: Activities undertaken within the Region that disturb or exclude other users, such as recreational use in areas important for cultural activities |
| Marine debris: Manufactured material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment (including discarded fishing gear, plastics, and abandoned or damaged equipment and infrastructure) | Marine debris: Manufactured material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment (including discarded fishing gear, plastics, and abandoned or damaged equipment and infrastructure) |
| Modifying coastal habitats: Clearing or modifying wetlands, mangroves and other coastal ecosystems in the Catchment or inshore areas or on islands | Modifying coastal habitats: Clearing or modifying wetlands, mangroves and other coastal ecosystems in the Catchment or inshore areas or on islands |
| Noise pollution: Noise from human activities, both below and above water | Noise pollution: Noise from human activities, both below and above water |
| Nutrient runoff: Nutrients from diffuse land-based runoff | Nutrient runoff: Nutrients from diffuse land-based runoff |
| Ocean acidification: Decreasing pH of the Region’s waters | Ocean acidification: Decreasing pH of the Region’s waters |
| Outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish: Outbreak of crown- of-thorns starfish | Outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish: Outbreak of crown- of-thorns starfish |
| Outbreak of disease: Outbreak of disease, both naturally occurring and introduced | Outbreak of disease: Outbreak of disease, both naturally occurring and introduced |
| Outbreak of other species: Outbreak or bloom of naturally occurring species other than crown-of-thorns starfish | Outbreak of other species: Outbreak or bloom of naturally occurring species other than crown-of-thorns starfish |
| Pesticide runoff: Pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) from diffuse land-based runoff | Pesticide runoff: Pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) from diffuse land-based runoff |
| Sea-level rise: Rising sea level | Sea-level rise: Rising sea level |
| Sea-temperature increase: Increasing extreme and average sea temperatures | Sea-temperature increase: Increasing extreme and average sea temperatures |
| Sediment runoff: Sediments from diffuse land-based runoff | Sediment runoff: Sediments from diffuse land-based runoff |
| Spill — large chemical: Chemical spill that triggers a national or regional response or is more than 10 tonnes (includes substances, such as sugar) | Spill — large chemical: Chemical spill that triggers a national or regional response or is more than 10 tonnes (includes substances, such as sugar) |
| Spill — large oil: Oil spill that triggers a national or regional response or is more than 10 tonnes (includes all petroleum products) | Spill — large oil: Oil spill that triggers a national or regional response or is more than 10 tonnes (includes all petroleum products) |
| Spill — small: Chemical or oil spill that does not trigger a national or regional response and is less than 10 tonnes. Includes materials (liquids and solids) used in attempts to restore or protect marine habitats — does not include materials considered under ‘Marine debris’ | Spill — small: Chemical or oil spill that does not trigger a national or regional response and is less than 10 tonnes. Includes materials (liquids and solids) used in attempts to restore or protect marine habitats — does not include materials considered under ‘Marine debris’ |
| Terrestrial discharge: Terrestrial point-source discharge (including within ports), such as polluted water, sewage, wastewater and stormwater | Terrestrial discharge: Terrestrial point-source discharge (including within ports), such as polluted water, sewage, wastewater and stormwater |
| Vessel strike: Death or injury to wildlife as a result of being struck by a vessel of any type or size | Vessel strike: Death or injury to wildlife as a result of being struck by a vessel of any type or size |
| Vessel waste discharge: Waste discharge from a vessel (including sewage) | Vessel waste discharge: Waste discharge from a vessel (including sewage) |
| Wildlife disturbance: Disturbance to wildlife (including from snorkelling, diving, fish feeding, walking on islands and beaches, and the presence of boats and drones); not including noise pollution | Wildlife disturbance: Disturbance to wildlife (including from snorkelling, diving, fish feeding, walking on islands and beaches, and the presence of boats and drones); not including noise pollution |