Aquapro Dive Services

Everyone knows the Great Barrier Reef is World heritage listed and is a marine Park, but do you know who actually looks after it?


Well the main body is called the Great Barrier Reef marine Park Authority or GBRMPA for short. They are responsible for the overall management.


But Government, industries and communities all have a part to play n its protection.
These partnerships range from formal agreements (like that with the Queensland Government for day to day management of the park), to voluntary measures with stakeholders and the community.


Whilst the Ref is one of the best managed in the world, the first Outlook report identified several risk areas and decisions made in the next few years are likely to determine its long-tern outlook.


Climate change, declining water quality, and remaining impacts from fishing are the main threats.


The Marine Park is zoned into different areas such as those only for research, so no one can go there at all without a special permit; tourist areas where no fishing is allowed and only certain boats with permits are allowed, to fishing zones where the general public can go and reef fish. There are sub divisions of these and also other types, but these zones are regularly review and checked to ensure the natural habitat and ecosystem is not challenged.


Some of the GBRMPA partners are


Traditional owners – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are the traditional owners of the GBR
Tourism partner – the marine tourism industry
Local marine advisory Committees – volunteer committees advise the GBRMPA from a local level on any concerns
Queensland Government agencies
Aquarium and also seafood committees
Scientists and researchers.


All the above help and work together to ensure the Reef stays as pristine and as accessible as possible. So when you visit the Reef you can be sure that a lot of work has gone into keeping it that way.


The most harmful thing on the Reef itself is us. So as Jacques Cousteau once said “take only memories, and leave only bubbles”


(Thanks to the GBRMPA news letter for some of the information written above.)


Most of the boats have extended their "specials" on over to February, so Kangaroo Explorer still has is 3 day 2 night trip priced as a 2 day 1 night trip. 2 day 1 night is now $300 for a diver. Great prices.


Taka has a standby this week and looks like next week will also be on standby for those of you able to wait.


Ocean Quest and Reef Quest have the same specials as last month, so check out the web site and our Facebook page for a listing of all that is available.

Reef Report for the next 3 days.


Water Temperature: 28 degrees
Underwater Visibility: 7m
CURRENT OBSERVATIONS
As of 3.30pm Today
Marine World: W winds 18 knots
Low Isles: W winds 19 knots
Cairns Airport: S winds 1 knot
3 DAY OUTLOOK
As per Bureau of Meteorology – Cooktown to Cardwell at 3.30pm
Saturday: WSW 20 - 30 knots
Sunday: NWNE 10 - 15 knots
Monday: NWNE 10 - 15 knots
Today’s Magic Moment: “An invisible man marries an invisible woman.
The kids were nothing to look at either.” ☺