Monitoring the effects of rezoning on the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract

Between October 2015 and May 2016, 56 reefs spread over five regions of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park were surveyed using the established AIMS Long-term Monitoring methods. These surveys are designed to show the effects of closing reefs to fishing on reef biodiversity and also to provide situational awareness of reef condition across a large area.

Closing reefs to fishing allows the accumulation of biomass (and hence reproductive potential) of coral trout, which are the main target of the reef line fishery. After 12 years of protection, reefs that are closed to fishing generally have more than twice the biomass of coral trout than can be found on similar reefs nearby that are open to fishing, though this varies among regions.