Three main management approaches are used to protect and manage the Region’s values:
Environmental regulation
Management tools such as zoning plans, regulations, management plans, permissions and licences, and compliance actions (audits, education, infringement notices and prosecutions) are used to establish and enforce the environmental standards necessary to protect and manage the Region.
Engagement
Government management agencies work with a range of partners and stakeholders to strengthen knowledge, and to ensure fit-for-purpose management and influence actions, such as stewardship, that will help improve the outlook for the Region. The partners include First Nations peoples, local government, industry, researchers and the community.
Knowledge, integration and innovation
The best available science, traditional ecological knowledge and information from Reef industries and the wider community forms the basis for effective management. This is supplemented by results from ongoing management.
Each of the approaches is explicitly assessed in Section 7.4. Many management tools are used to address a multitude of topics and each topic is addressed by a combination of tools (Table 7.3). The effectiveness of all relevant tools has been assessed for each management topic.
