Great Barrier Reef Representative Research Report 1976-82

Abstract

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is not primarily a research organisation but it may commission, or if necessary conduct itself, research relevant to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Wherever feasible the Authority seeks to obtain such information through projects within the research programs of other institutions. However, where this is not practicable the Authority can use its powers under Section 7(1)(b) of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 to arrange for the research to be carried out. In the period 1976-1982 the Authority provided funds totalling $825,400 for 118 research and investigatory projects. Eighty-six per cent of tile projects hhve been undertaken by other agencies, either especially commissioned by the Authority (26 per cent) or assisted by a grant from the Authority for a submitted research proposal relevant to the planning and management of the Marine Park (60 per cent). This document is intended to summarise research funded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The Authority has identified ten research program areas in which research relevant to the Marine Park may be conducted. These are listed in the Contents. The distribution of funds between the ten research program areas is shown in Figure One (page i).