Coral Stress Response Plan for the Coral and Marine Aquarium Fish Fisheries

Abstract

This plan outlines a strategy being adopted by fishery/marine resource managers and industry members of the Marine Aquarium Fish Fishery (MAFF) and the Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF) to minimise impacts on coral reef systems showing signs of stress. Stress comes from a range of sources; however, the key driver of this Coral Stress Response Plan has been the occurrence of significant bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) as a result of increased sea temperatures and/or freshwater incursions. The Coral Stress Response Plan represents a collaborative, multi-jurisdictional initiative between managers and industry. The plan helps improve the resilience of reef ecosystems, letting them recover from stress events, while allowing commercial fisheries to operate in some capacity (where possible).