TOURISM AND ECOLOGICAL THREATS TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

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1 CHAPTER - V TOURISM AND ECOLOGICAL THREATS TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF Quotation "The unrivaled splendor and wealth of forms and the delicate tints of the coral structures, the brilliant colours of fishes, clams, sea anemones, worms, crabs, star fishes and the whole rest of the reef animals are so attractive and interesting that it seems impossible to give an adequate description of such a profusion of serene and fascinating beauty." (Johannes Umbgrove, 1939) "And now we must say farewell to these delicate and beautiful coral polyps whose labours protect the shores of continents and islands and raise green-rimmed atolls above the blue waters of the tropic ocean, and, leaving the warm, sunlit waters in which they alone can flourish, return to that sterner, northern world which knows them not."(c.m. Yonge, A Year of the Great Barrier Reef.) Introduction The Great Barrier Reef is the world s biggest coral reefs in the world. It s so huge, at 2,000 km (1,200 miles) long, that it can be seen from the Moon! Its taken 18 million years for the Great Barrier Reef to get to the size it is today. The Reef consists of 2,900 (geocities.com) separate reefs it also has an area of around 344,000 km. North Queensland is known for its natural beauty. The Great Barrier Reef is considered a great vacation spot. It s great for diving and snorkelling. There are many resorts all over small islands. It is quite easy to become engulfed in the whole reef experience. It's colourful, exotic, and strange sea life make the Great Barrier Reef very unique and special. The Great Barrier Reef is made up of accumulated skeletal remains of zillions of marine polyps from the Coelenterata 188

2 family. New polyps continue to grow on the lime-based structure and are continually added to the reef. `Tourism can mean many things in different countries and to communities of people within those countries. In some countries, tourism is considered to be an excellent way of increasing foreign exchange earnings, improving relations with other countries and an opportunity to show the world what a wonderful country it is. One of the sad things about tourism is that the features of the environment, that most attract tourists in the first place can be degraded, and may threaten the biodiversity of an area by some tourists and their activities. In the last 20 years there has been an explosive growth of beach and marine tourism in Australia. This has meant the construction of beachside hotels, resorts, marinas, golf courses, roads, shopping malls and airports. These have virtually destroyed many natural coastal habitats and threatened some of the most productive ecosystems in the world. The main coastal areas under threat from tourism are in the tropics where habitats such as coral reefs, sandy beaches and coastlines are what the tourists come to see. Tourism developers realize this and usually work hard to protect these habitats from adverse impact. The environmental status of many of the world s coral reefs is declining, with a 10% -15% loss now and a future 30% - 60% under serious threat of severe degradation. There are numerous reasons for these declines, including coral bleaching and mortality from global warming, destructive fishing, sediment run off, pollution, limestone mining, over fishing and coastal development. While coral reefs in developed countries support industries such as the tourism industry, most coral reefs are within the territorial jurisdiction of developing countries. In these countries, many people are dependent on the reefs and other coastal resources for food or shelter and yet few of these countries have sufficient resources for effective management of their coral reefs. 189

3 The Great Barrier Reef off Queensland s eastern coast is an international tourism icon. It is made up of about 2,900 unconnected coral reefs stretching over 2,000 km from the south of Papua New Guinea to Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia. There are also about 900 islands within the Great Barrier Reef area, and this area attracts the local and international tourists, complimenting the Reef s natural wonder of a rich cultural heritage. For thousands of years, this unique marine environment has been central to the social, economic and spiritual life of nearby coastal aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. In 2005 there are approximately 820 permitted tourism operators and 1500 vessels and aircraft permitted to operate in the Park. Tourism attracts approximately 1.8 million visitors each year (GBRMPA, 2005) Meaning and classification of the tourists A visitor is defined as a person who travels to a country other than that in which he or she has his or her usual residence but is outside the usual environment for a period not exceeding twelve months and whose main purpose of visiting is other than the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. The diagram below shows the classification of travellers: 190

4 Classification of Tourists Residents Visitors Non-travellers Travellers Within scope of travel and tourism Other Tourists International Domestic Commuters Intercontinental Continental Interregional Regional Other Local Travellers (3) Staying one or more nights (1) Primary purposes of travel Same-day Crews Students (4) Business Visiting Friends or relatives (VFR) Other personal business Pleasure Migrants (5) Temporary Workers Primary Activities Primary Activities Primary Activities Primary Activities Consultations Conventions Inspections Socializing Dining In Home entertainment Shopping visiting lawyer Medical Appointment Recreation Sightseeing Dining Out Secondary Activities Secondary Activities Secondary Activities Secondary Activities Dining Out Recreation Shopping Sightseeing VFR Dining Out Physical Recreation Shopping Sightseeing Urban entertainment Dining Out VFR Dining Out Recreation Shopping Sightseeing VFR Descriptions and Definitions of Tourism A profound, widely shared human desire to know others with the reciprocal possibility that we may come to know ourselves have a quest or an odyssey to see, and perhaps to understand, the whole inhabited earth (McKean 1977). A study of man away from his usual habitat, of the 191

5 industry which responds to his needs, and the impact that both he and the industry have on the host socio-cultural, economic and physical environment (Jafari 1977). Tourism comprises the ideas and opinions people hold which shape their decisions about going on trips, and where to go and what to do or not do, about how to relate to other tourists, local and service personnel, and it is all the behavioural manifestations of those ideas and opinions (Leiper 1995). Although travel and tourism is invariably identified as an industry, it is best understood as a total market, which reflects the cumulative demand and consumption patterns of visitors for a very wide range of travel-related products (Middleton 1998). How and why, for short periods people leave their normal place of work and residence. It is about consuming goods and services which are in some sense unnecessary. They are consumed because they supposedly generate pleasurable experiences, which are different from everyday life (Urry 1990). Tourism may be defined as the processes, activities, and outcomes arising from the relationships and the interactions among tourists, tourism suppliers who provide programmes and host activities in surrounding environments that are involved in the attracting and hosting of visitors. WTO defines tourism like this Tourism comprises the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. (Singh, Jagbir 2007). This is a cycle if different activities by which travelers enjoy the most during their journey from its commencement until its conclusion. (Prof. Joan 2005). A group of people leave their home and travel to other places for fun. After some time they return home and this defines the process of tourism. The below diagram shows the disciplinary inputs to the tourism field: 192

6 The Benefits of Tourism Economical benefit Provides employment opportunities. Generates foreign exchange. Increases Incomes. Increase GNP Can be built on existing infrastructure. Develops an infrastructure that will also help stimulate local commerce and industry. 193

7 Can be developed with local products and resources and diversifies the economy. Tends to be compatible with other economical activities which spread development. High multiplier impact. Increases governmental revenues. Social benefits Broadens educational and cultural horizons. Improves quality of life, creates higher incomes and improved standards of living. Justifies environmental protection and improvement. Provides touristic and recreational facilities that may be used by the local population. Creates a good relation between two regions. Cultural benefits By reinforcing the preservation of heritage and traditional customs. Visitor interest in local culture provides employment for artists, musicians and other performing artists enhancing cultural heritage. Breaks down language barriers, socio-cultural barriers, class barriers, racial barriers, political barriers, and religious barriers. Creates a favourable worldwide image for a destination. Promotes a global community. Promotes international understanding and peace. History of Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef The earliest instance of organized tourism on the Great Barrier Reef was in the 1890 s when Green Island became a destination for pleasure Cruises offshore from Cairns. By 1930, tourism resorts had begun to develop at Green Island and at Heron Island further south. During the first half of the 20th century, most tourist activity was inshore 194

8 and close to regional centres, being limited by vessel technology and boat transport links to southern capitals. During the 1960 s and 1970 s there was a steady growth in visitor numbers, particularly to Green Island and the Whitsundays. By the end of the 1970 s, new faster vessels extended the range of a day trip to the reef to between 15 and 20 nautical miles. Reef tourism grew rapidly in the 1980 s and early 1990 s, assisted by improved air access to a number of regional centres with improved road transport links. In the early 1980 s visitor numbers to the Marine Park were increasing by about 30% per year. There was also a steady growth in the number of operations over this time and the capacity range and diversity of products offered expanded markedly. High speed modern motor boats extended the range of a day trip to the reef to over 50 nautical miles. Tourism Today on the GBR Tourism is now the largest commercial activity in the GBRMP, generating $1 billion per annum. The maritime industry is a major contributor to the local and Australian economies. About 1.6 million tourists now visit the GBRMP each year. This number has remained relatively static since the middle 1990 s. About 85% of tourists visit the Marine Park in the area offshore from Cairns and the Whitsundays, a combined area of less than 10% of the entire Marine Park. Central Section of the Great Barrier Reef, total visitors by Year (July 1993-October 2005) Year Total Visitors

9 Source: GBRMPA There are about 730 tourism operators and 1,500 vessels and aircraft permitted to operate in the Great Barrier Reef. About 60% of these permitted operators are now actively undertaking a tourism operation in the Marine Park. There is a diverse range of tourism operations catering to the differing needs of visitors to the Great Barrier Reef. However, the basis of any trip to the Reef is usually nature based and activities are focused on viewing the coral and other marine life. Typical activities include-snorkelling, Scuba diving, Fishing excursions in glass-bottomed boats and semi-submersible vessels and learning about the marine environment. The marine tourism industry plays an important role in presenting the world Heritage area to a wide range of visitors, and is one in fact, of the primary means of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef and learning about its world Heritage value. Here, before going into the detail about the impact of Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef, there is a need in general to describe and classify the average tourist and to define tourism, its disciplinary inputs to the tourist trade and the economic, social and cultural benefits of tourists as well: Patterns and Trends of Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef Tourist visitation to the Great Barrier Reef was low in the 1950 s but visitor numbers rose rapidly through the 1970 s and 1980 s. This increase in tourists and the infrastructure to support them caused concern about the possible impacts of tourism. 196

10 Mackay Capricorn Section Total Visitors by Year (July October 2005) Year Total Visitors Source: GBRMPA Since 1994, numbers of reef tourists have stablised with some minute fluctuations due to changes in international visitation and patterns of travel. 85% of the tourism activity on the Great Barrier Reef is in the Cairns and Whitsunday areas of the Marine Park (less than 7% of the total area of the Park). Reef Wide Total Visitors by Year (July October 2005) Year Total Visitors Source: GBRMPA 197

11 There are far fewer visitors to the remaining 93% of the park. However, advances in transport mean that improved access to regions of the Reef that are currently remote or inaccessible to tourism operators, is now possible. This could change the distribution and management of touristic impacts in the future. Marine Tourism activities on the Great Barrier Reef are mostly based on the following: 1. Structurally based tourism operations Tourism pontoons that are used as a base for day passengers represent the largest single component of the industry. There are also some under-water observatories, and a floating hotel operated briefly in the 1980 s. 2. Vessel based tourism operations These carry from less than 10 to more than 400 passengers, and may be site specific or roving and may operate to islands or moorings. 3. Extended vessel based tourism operations Vessels carry passengers on trips of several days to weeks, generally stopping at more than one destination. 4. Bargeboat charter Primarily based in the Whitsunday Islands. Yachts are available for charter with or without a captain for operation within a restricted area. 5. Cruise ships Large (> 10,000 tonnes) Cruise ships sail through and anchor overnight in the Marine Park. 6. Aircraft based operations Conventional aircraft seaplanes and helicopters are used for sightseeing and reef visits. 7. Resort and shore based operations There are several island based resorts within the Marine Park, and a number of mainland resorts adjacent to the Marine Park. The following list shows the diverse rang of tourism operations in the GBR: 1. Day tours, 198

12 2. Overnight and extended tours, 3. Diving and fishing charters, 4. Long range saving tours, 5. Aircraft or helicopter tours, 6. Bare boats (self sail), 7. Cruise ships, 8. Beach hire, 9. Water sports 10. Passenger ferries, 11. Fishing, 12. Diving and snorkelling, 13. Yachting and boating, 14. Motorized water sports, 15. Sea Kayaking and windsurfing, 16. Photography, 17. Shell collecting. Causes directly damaging to the Coral Reef Marine tourism can have ecological, social and cultural impacts. The major ecological impacts on the Great Barrier Reef from marine tourism are related to: 1. Coastal or island - based tourism development: Loss and alteration of natural coastal areas, population pressure, pollution from constructional activities, ongoing pollution from discharge of treated sewage and stormwater. 2. Marine-based tourism infrastructure: Alternation of marine habitat by structures such as pontoons and moorings. 3. Shipping and boating: Anchoring, ship groundings, littering and waste discharge. 4. Recreational activities: Diving, snorkelling, relf walking and fishing. 199

13 5. Breaking and stealing the coral 6. Watching, turtle watching, whale watching and fish feeding. The following points indicate the Checklist of Fishing and Collecting Activities: 1. Collecting of corals and shells by tourists. should be discouraged 2. Collecting of corals and shells for commercial purposes. if permitted, only on a basis in a sustainable area. 3. Spearfishing should not be permitted with Scuba Diving. should be discouraged. conflicts with underwater photography and observational diving. 4. Collecting totally banned for the general public. enforcement of the law with heavy fines. can be a sustainable economical fishing Industry. may be replaced by marineculture in time. 5. Collecting reef materials for construction needs careful control. 6. Commercial line fishing only on a basis of a sustainable yield. 7. Commercial trawling close to reefs can cause severe local damage to non-target seabed communities and in particular to stocks of young fish. can cause severe local physical modification to the structure of the seabed. needs careful evaluation to determine a truly sustainable level. 8. Fishing with explosives highly destructive to the structure and ecology of reefs. 200

14 should not be permitted under any circumstances. 9. Fishing with poison highly destructive to the ecology of reef areas. may be sustainable in long - established, stable, traditional fisheries using traditional "natural poisons". should not be introduced or permitted with modern chemicals. 10. New fishing techniques any new techniques should be very carefully evaluated in order to determine the ecological impact and sustainability before being introduced. The marine tourism impacts on the GBR are discussed under the broad categories listed in below table. Most information is available on ecological impacts, because they have been best studied (Dinesen and Oliver 1997), but information on social impacts is included where it is available. Table below shows the Tourism Impacts on the Great Barrier Reef Activity Impacts Management and mitigation Coastal Tourism Development Population Pressures Construction of tourism developments Increased pressure on services such as sewage, transport, electricity. Impacts on social values and amenity Effects on catchment water quality. Tourism Infrastructure (Island - Based) Marine/ Harbour Local, on affected reef development areas Water Quality (antifoulants) introduced pests. Impact on social values and amenities. Regional planning taking into account cumulative impacts. Environmental impact assessment; Best - practice construction techniques, Monitoring. Environmental impact assessment; Engineering design. 201

15 Sewage discharge Construction Tourism activities Depends on treatment level of elevated nutrients and turbidity, Freshwater input. Vegetation damage. Loss of wildlife habitat, Sediment runoff. Focus for motorised and non-motorised vessels and marine activities. Tourism Infrastructure (Marine based) Pontoons Shading of benthos Dragging of moorings, focus for tourist activities. Moorings Fish feeding Boat-induced damage Anchoring Ship groundings Litter Waste Discharge Local damage to benthos Reduce impacts from anchors. Focus of fish aggregations Research shows no negative impacts Local Coral damage Cumulative impacts Damage to reef structure Local benthos damaged Anti fouling paint on reef Risk of oil or chemical spills Potential harm to wildlife Aesthetics Local Nutrient enhancement Potential Water pollution Requirements for discharge levels; Water quality monitoring; Tertiary Treatment; land irrigation. Environmental impact assessment Best practice for construction techniques; water quality monitoring. As discussed below. Permit required: appropriate design; Careful selection of location; Transplant susceptible biota away from site. Encouraged to reduce anchor damage; appropriate design Liability and safety issues. Activity limited by permit. Best-practice for fish feeding. Installation of private and public moorings; Codes of practice in other areas; Anchor over sand; Education programme. Education of private and charter users. Education programme; Penalties Education programme; Penalties; Storage tanks in boats. 202

16 Vessel Strike/ disturbance to wildlife Injury/ death and/ or disruption to social bonds. Water - based activities Diving Local damage to fragile corals Snorkelling Local damage to fragile corals Education programme; Penalties; Speed limits, especially in shallow seagrass areas. Education programme; Industrial code of practice; Dive briefings; Site selection for inexperienced divers. Education programme; industrial code of practice; Provision of resting buoys and flotation; Briefings; Reef Walking Coral Breakage Education programme; Industrial code of practice; Walking trails to focus damage Fishing Wildlife Interactions Sea Birds Turtle - watching Whale - watching Fish feeding by divers Small relative to recreation and commercial Close contact can damage nesting sites and breeding. Uncontrolled access can affect breeding success. Potential for whales to be disturbed by uncontrolled contacts. Wrong diet; disease and enhanced capture risk; fish dependency; human danger; Source: (CRC Technical Report No. 46, 2001) Zoning requirements; Industrial code of practice; Legislation; Education programme; Industrial code of practice; Limited access to breeding sites; Briefings. Education program; Industry code of practice; Briefings; Trained guides; limit access to key breeding sites. Legislation; Education programme; Industrial code of practice; Trained guides; limit entry for 'dedicated' operators. Education programme; Legislation; Guidelines; Briefings; Permit Conditions. Many of these impacts are also associated with recreational boating, commercial fishing and shipping activities. While social and cultural impacts have long been recognised as important, they are not as well studied as the ecological impacts. Social impacts include the negative effects of tourism on the experiences of other users of the Great 203

17 Barrier Reef. This can lead to the displacement of traditional and recreational uses. Visitors seeking a wilderness experience may find the density of tourists at some sites as highly unacceptable e.g. Green Island. Repeat visitors are reported to be more sensitive to the presence of high density tourism and reef infrastructure than first time visitors. However, because of the large size of the Great Barrier Reef, most visitors can choose from a variety of experiences ranging, for example, from visits to pristine reefs, to organised water sport activities. Snorkelling and diving are some of the few areas of tourism behaviour where social impacts have been examined. Most people surveyed on day trips to the reef, were not affected by crowding while snorkelling. There is a diverse range of recreational activity on the Great Barrier Reef: Fishing Diving and snorkeling Glass bottomed boat Yachting and boating Motorised watersports Sea kayaking and windsurfing Ferry trips/ Overnight accommodation Helicopter flights Beach walking Reef walking Photography. Attractive geographical sites on the Great Barrier Reef 1. Whitehaven Beach - Whitsunday 2. Hardy Reef- Whitsunday 3. Hamilton Island - Whitsunday 4. Magnetic Island-Townsville 204

18 5. Azure spa at Lizard island - Lizard Island 6. Daydream Rejuvenation spa - Whitsunday Island 7. Lake Birrabeen - Fraser Island 8. Aqua soul spa - Heron Island 9. Waddy Point - Fraser Island 10. Green Island - Green Island 11. Lady Elliot Island 12. Bribie Island 13. Mackay Coastal and Island - based tourism development Large numbers of visitors to the Reef need infrastructure such as accommodation, transport, entertainment and services. Of the 940 islands on the Great Barrier Reef, 27 have resorts. The value of the tourism business to the Great Barrier Reef island resort is estimated at $300 million per year. Development in coastal areas adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef and on islands, significantly modifies the environment and can disturb native vegetation and wildlife. New development proposals are assessed by relevant agencies for their environmental and social impacts, based on integrated coastal and regional planning, and managed through tools such as conditional permits and environmental monitoring programmes. Constructional activities within the Marine Park also require a security bond against possible future site restoration. Earth and drainage work during the construction of buildings, marinas and other structures can lead to a disturbance and pollution of the marine environment. Once constructed, the generation and discharge of sewage effluent and of stormwater, are the main issues that require ongoing management. Elevated levels of nutrients and other pollutants and turbidity can have negative impacts on coral reefs. All sewage discharges into the Marine Park must be tertiary-treated with nutrient reduction, or the effluent must be re-used on the land with minimal 205

19 marine discharge. Research has found that the use of treated effluent for irrigation, for example of golf courses and gardens, as an alternative to ocean discharges, can substantially reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into the surrounding marine waters. Marine - based tourism infrastructure Pontoons are moored at offshore reefs up to 60 km from the coast, in areas of the Great Barrier Reef where there are few coral cays or islands. Some pontoons provide a base for up to 500 visitors each day. About half of the tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef travel on day trips to a moored pontoon. The number of locations for the pontoons in the Marine Park is restricted, and the installation of new pontoons requires environmental impact assessments and environmental monitoring programmes. Several incidents of storm and cyclone damage to pontoons have intensified pressure to improve the mooring design of pontoons. Through the collaboration between researchers, Marine Park managers and the engineering industry, guidelines for reef infrastructure have been developed. These guidelines include the recommendation for future designs of moorings, anchors and pontoon bodies, procedures for sitting pontoons, and their installation and maintenance. The guidelines must be used to guide future developments. There is strong motivation for tourism operators to implement practices that protect the environment near pontoons, because there are a limited number of suitable sites and the cost of moving pontoons, should the reef be damaged, is high. While early pontoons had an impact on corals under the pontoons as a result of shading and movement of the mooring chains, recent advances in sitting and mooring design have greatly reduced their impacts. A recent study found few detectable impacts of operating pontoons on coral or fish communities. Predatory fish aggregate around moorings and pontoons and this has prompted concerns that local fish populations may be depleted. However, studies 206

20 showed no evidence of any impacts by any predatory fish species on prey or competitor species around pontoons. The fish responded to human signals and dispersed away from the pontoons when tourism boats were not present. Fish are attracted to the pontoons by fish feeding, which tourism operators can carry out only under a tourism programme permit. Shipping and Boating Anchoring can damage corals and other benthic organisms from the weight of the anchor, the position and from any movement of the anchor chain across the sea floor. Most regular tourism operators therefore use moorings and many are installed by the operators themselves in order to reduce anchor damage and to ensure a safer operating environment. Anchoring is strictly controlled by permit conditions and codes of practice. In high use areas of the Marine Park, on reefs offshore from Cairns and around the Whitsunday Islands, new managerial initiatives are aimed at reducing anchor damage by recreational and charter vessels and cruise ships. They include: Designating 'no anchoring' or 'limited anchoring' areas, mostly in the Whitsundays; Establishing a series of 'designated cruiseship anchorages' and numerous 'reef anchorages' in the Cairns section; Implementing a public mooring programme in inshore high use areas to reduce boat anchoring; and. implementing an intensive education, training and extension programme. The release of sewage wastewater and litter into the water are issues that relate to tourism operators, as well as to all recreational and commercial boating and shipping. Discharge of waste from ships is regulated by the Queensland Department of Transport and the GBRMPA. New regulations will improve the protection of reefs from vessel sewage 207

21 when they come into effect in early 2004, for example by increasing a no discharge distance to any land, reef, or other sensitive area in open water, such as aquacultural facilities. Littering in the Marine Park is unsightly and illegal, and can harm marine animals if the litter is swallowed. It is best addressed publicly by education and, where necessary, enforcement. How recreational activities damage the reef Some studies overseas found that high levels of diving activity at a site can cause detectable changes to coral communities, and eventually change the appearance of the reef. The damage occurs primarily to fragile, branching corals. Therefore, tourism operations involving large numbers of divers are directed away from these more sensitive sites. In the Red Sea and the Caribbean, damage to reefs was apparent when there were around 5,000 divers per site per year. An estimated 350,000 dives per year take place on the Great Barrier Reef, spread over hundreds of diving sites. Few sites on the Great Barrier Reef approach 5000 divers per site. At Cod Hole, north of Cairns, where diving density reached high levels, special management arrangements were put in place in cooperation with the local diver s tourism industry to reduce impacts at the site. These included restrictions on anchoring (access only by mooring) and limits on group size. Most divers on the Great Barrier Reef do not damage corals. However, a study has shown that a small number of divers, who were not proficient or were focused on other activities such as underwater photography, were responsible for most damage. Studies of the coral damage by snorkellers at seven sites near reef pontoons, found that significant damage occurred on one site only thought to be from pre-dive briefings. Divers and snorkellers can be made aware of the fragility of corals and of ways to minimize damage. The best Environmental practices for the diving industry have been developed to support environ- 208

22 mentally responsible behaviour. Reef walking, once popular with tourists, occurs now only at a few locations. The potential for the destruction of fragile corals is obvious, and the management of reef walking includes informing tourists of the potential impacts of such walking. The table below shows some Commercial and Recreational Impacts upon Coral Reefs. 1. Construction (tourist facilities, research facilities, navigational aids etc.) immediate mechanical impact. may alter water flow around the reef and thus change a major ecological factor. may shade a reef locally, thus reducing photosynthesis. may become a point source of pollution and littering. should be the subject of prior environmental assessment. 2. Anchor damage anchors break or damage corals. some designs, particularly plough anchors are particularly destructive. for small boats a sand bag can be an effective and relatively undamaging temporary anchor. in intensively used reefs, compulsory anchoring areas or compulsory moorings may be necessary. 3. Diver damage almost all diving results in minor unintentional damage to corals and other reef biota. In frequently dived areas, this damage can be significant and can lead to the local loss of a fragile species. on intensively used reefs, periodic closure to allow rejuvenation of dive areas may be needed. 4. Small boat damage small boats can cause considerable physical damage to shallow reef areas, particularly at low tide. Inexperienced boat drivers can cause considerable physical damage to both reefs and their own boats 209

23 on intensively used reefs, a system to keep boats away from shallow, fragile areas may be necessary. 5. Reef walking Walking on reefs at low tide is a popular method of reef viewing. Some physical damage is inevitable. In areas with a highly - developed cover of fragile corals, severe damage to corals can occur. reef walking should be controlled and a system of periodic closure for the recovery of reef communities may be necessary. 6. Fossicking and boulder moving reef-walkers turn boulders to view animals beneath them. If the boulders are not replaced in their original position the same way up, then the under-rock animals are likely to die. Boulder replacement is an essential element of education and interpretation. shell collectors may not use crowbars or hammers to break away pieces of reef when hunting shells. destructive shell collecting should be discouraged. The level of fishing by tourists is small compared with that of other recreational and commercial fishermen and accounts for approximately 3% of the estimated total catch A small, but financially significant game fishing industry operates predominantly in waters offshore from any port environmental impact because it focuses on large oceanic species such as marlin, most of which are tagged and returned to the water. About 120 charter vessels also offer day and extended fishing charters, mostly in the southern and central Great Barrier Reef. Fishing is managed by both Commonwealth and State Governments, Where fishing is permitted, the Queensland Fisheries Service also regulates the size and number of fish taken. 210

24 Wildlife Interactions on the GBR Birds Breeding populations of seabirds are common in the northern and southern regions of the Great Barrier Reef, which have more islands suitable for nesting than the central section. The human impact on the bird population relates directly to the breeding ground of the birds and their success in breeding depends upon no disturbance, for with any disturbance there can be a loss of the bird- roosting habitat. Tourism and recreational activates can impact on seabird population, particularly since faster boats allow visitors to reach previously inaccessible islands quite quickly. Bird species vary in their susceptibility to disturbance, and some islands may become dominated by species of birds that are more tolerant of human activity. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service manages access to seabird breeding islands, and guidelines for visiting seabird islands have been developed jointly by the GBRMPA and Environment Australia. Breeding populations are protected by annual and seasonal site closures. The disturbance of nesting seabirds by visitors to Michael's Cay off Cairns is of a major concern. The tourism industry has assisted in developing a management plan for Michael s Cay, which limits the number of visitors and restricts access to some areas. Whales Whale watching in the Great Barrier Reef Region is a seasonal activity. In the Whitsundays, it is based on humpback whales during their winter migration. Since 1991 there has also been a small but growing industry based on encounters with dwarf minke whales for a two - month season on the reefs between Port Douglas and Lizard Island. Visitors on charter vessels interact with the whales in the water, with the whales approaching snorkellers who are holding a rope tethered to the boat. CRC Reef researchers in collaboration with the tourism industry and the GBRMPA have developed a code of practice for swimming with dwarf 211

25 minke whales, to ensure that encounters do not disturb the whales or endanger tourists. Turtles In Australia, marine turtles are considered a threatened species, with declining numbers of nesting loggerhead turtles recorded in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Turtles aggregate to lay their eggs at a limited number of sites, for example Raine Island in the North (Green turtles), and Wreck Island in the South (Loggerhead turtles). People can temporarily disturb nesting turtles, but there is no evidence that the production of eggs is affected. However, lights associated with coastal infrastructure can disorientate turtle hatchlings as they hurry towards the water. In the Bundaberg region, an organised tourism industry has developed around turtle watching over a three-month period in summer. This industry is estimated to be worth more than $2 million annually. A large number of loggerhead turtle hatchlings have survived at the Mon Repos Conservation Park near Bundaberg. Because of the value of the turtles as a nature - based tourism resource, a habitat which would otherwise have been destroyed by natural flooding and erosion, has been preserved. Access to turtle breeding islands is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and a code of practice for the breeding populations is protected by closing some islands to the public and closing other islands seasonally. Managing the Tourism for the future of the Great Barrier Reef Keeping the Great Barrier Reef for future generations requires the cooperative effort of the GBRMPA, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, other Government Agencies, the Marine Tourism Industry and other stakeholders. By working together on the diversity, integrity and productivity of the Great Barrier Reef, sustainability can be maintained and the impacts of all activities in the Marine Park can be minimised. The goal is to provide for the protection, wise use, understanding and enjoy- 212

26 ment of the Great Barrier Reef for perpetuity. In managing the tourism use of the Marine Park, particular attention is given to Protecting coral reefs and other habitats, such as seagrass, from anchor damage, poor diving practices, waste disposal, reef walking and coral collecting from the reef. Protecting turtles and seabirds from disturbance, especially during nesting seasons and respecting the cultural importance of this to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Minimizing conflicts of accessibility within this multiple use Marine Park. Informing the community about the Great Barrier Reef and its World Heritage value. Encouraging the adoption of best practices within tour operating companies. Assisting the marine tourism industry to contribute to management initiatives and monitoring programmes. Wide publicity of environmental education. Distribute high risk maps of the Great Barrier Reef into all the hotels, motels and at all the tourist areas. Arrange seminars, workshops and conferences on the Great Barrier Reef from time to time. Introduce Great Barrier Reef management into the school level syllabus, respecting the cultural importance of the Great Barrier Reef to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The future of the Tourism Industry of the GBR The Impact of tourism on most of the Great Barrier Reef is a serious problems because of the large size of the reef. The low population levels adjacent to it use well-developed managerial systems together with industrial stewardship. Future advances in technology will make even 213

27 more of the Great Barrier Reef accessible to more people, which could increase the potential for deleterious impacts of marine tourism if left unmanaged. Cairns Section Total Visitors by Year (July 1993-October 2005) Year Total Visitors Source: GBRMPA The CRF Reef Research Centre, with its partner organsiations, is supporting a range of research activities aimed at identifying and explaining patterns of change in Reef Tourism and the development of predictive models that support longer term, more proactive tourism planning. As the tourism industry depends on a healthy Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, the CRC Reef Research Centre provides a variety of scientific research programmes focusing on the conservation and sustainable use, as well as on the identification and abatement of threats from human activities, of the values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area. The GBRMPA is working with the marine tourism industry to develop a new cooperative framework for managing tourism and recreation in the Marine Park. A balanced, cooperative approach will ensure 214

28 sustainable future use and management of tourism and recreation on the Great Barrier Reef. The Benefits of Marine Tourism on the GBR The marine tourism industry plays a key role in presenting the World Heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef to the community. Tourism operators provide interpretative material and briefings for visitors, which better enhances a community understanding of the Reef and its ecology. The marine tourism industry is a major contributor to the Australian economy with an estimated annual contribution in excess of $1.5 billion. The Productivity Commission, an independent Commonwealth agency advising the Australian Government on economic policy, has estimated that the gross value of the tourism industry in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area is as much as $4.3 billion. This figure includes marine tourism expenditure as well as transport and accommodation expenses and activities on the land, for example, visits to National Parks and other terrestrial attractions. According to this estimate, tourism is the most important industry in the Great Barrier Reef region, after mining. Total direct employment in the tourism industry is estimated at 120,00 people, of which about 48,000 people are employed in the marine sector. The benefits of sustainable reef - based tourism include foreign and investment income, increased employment and career opportunities for young Australians, particularly in regional areas, and improved infrastructure for residents. Marine Tourism operators also provide most of the infrastructure that is supplied by governments in terrestrial parks such as toilet facilities, rubbish removal, water and power. Because tourism operators visit the Reef regularly, they act as 'Reef watchdogs'. They are often the first people to notice changes to the Reef, as well as observing unusual or damaging practices, which they can then report to managerial authorities. A group of tourism operators based at Cairns and Port Douglas help to monitor the Reef through the 'Eye on 215

29 the Reef' programme. Tourism industrial staff also contribute signifycantly to local controls of the Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreaks to help conserve the Reef and maintain the quality of the visitor experience. Through the Environmental Management a charge of $ 4.0 per visitor per day from April 2003, was introduced and the tourism industry has created a source of funding for research, education and management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The tourism industry relies on a healthy, attractive environment for its business. The most important factor that influences day visitors to the Great Barrier Reef is the quality of the corals and fish. For a sustainable future of the industry, this is a strong motivation to improve the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef as a whole. Analysis of Field Survey There is no doubt that Tourism is a smokeless industry and all nations are doing their best to develop their tourism industry as much as they can. Side by side with this fact, we have to recognize that tourism in itself is the major threat to the entire ecological and environmental system of any area. To understand the perception of the tourists at local, national and international level an intensive field survey has been conducted. As the GBR is a very huge in their geographical size therefore to make easier the whole GBR region has been divided into four geographical regions such as Cairns region, Townsville region, Airily beach region and Mackay region. 216

30 1 st Geographical Region including Port Douglas, Cairns and Innisfail zone. 428 people surveyed. 2 nd Geographical Region including Townsville and Magnetic Island zone.400 people surveyed. 3 rd Geographical Region including Airily Beach, Hamilton Island and Hardy Reef zones.400 people surveyed 4 th Geographical Region including Mackay and its surrounding areas.400 people surveyed. The Geographical Location of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia The above map shows the geographical area of the Great Barrier Reef and the four geographical subdivisions chosen for the field survey. 217

31 All above mentioned four regions have been explained with intensive information are as below: Cairns region a case study In the case of Green Island near Cairns, many tourists came from Japan, China and other Asian countries and they disturb the marine ecology of the GBR by touching, urinating and stealing the coral and having a total lack of environmental awareness. This is partly due to their lack of the English language and this in turn has become another present and future threat to the coral reef ecosystem. In this zone, out of 428 tourists visiting places including Port Dugulas and Green Island, 260 were international tourists (77 from Cairns, 149 from Green Island and 34 from Port Douglas) and the remaining 90 tourists were made up from the Cairns area (12 local school children, 5 local laymen, 10 national tourists and 28 local farmers including Innisfail). Green Island (20 local school children, 20 local laymen, 32 national tourists) and Port Douglas (no local school children, 2 local laymen, 8 national tourists and no local farmer). They have all been intensely surveyed and the table below shows the list of the total tourists surveyed on the GBR in different places in the Cairns Region. Country of Origin Cairns Green Island Port Douglas Total no. of Tourists Total no. of % age Japan China Vietnam South Korea India Canada Germany U.S.A U.K Scotland National Tourists Local Laymen Local Farmers Local School Children Total Source: Field Survey 218

32 The field study shows that Green Island is the most attractive centre for all the tourists in the Cairns region, particularly the Japanese. Out of 428 tourists surveyed including local farmers, only 209 tourists were surveyed on Green Island. Most of the tourists came from all over the world but the majority of the tourists who came from Japan, Korea and other Asian countries, had a poor background in the English language and they hardly understand any information which are being provided by the GBRMPA. The table below shows the tourists & who accompanied them to the Great Barrier Reef Country of Origin Family Friends Partner/ Spouse Alone Others Total no. of Tourists Japan China Vietnam South Korea India Canada Germany U.S.A U.K Scotland National Tourists Local Laymen Local School Children Total Source: Field Survey The table above shows that the majority of the visitors to the GBR came either as a couple or in groups with their friends. Very few came alone and out of 400 tourists (excluding local farmers), 150 came with their spouse. To analyse and understand the reasons why different tourists chose a tour to the GBR, the study shows that out of 400 interviewed, 389 tourists came for snorkelling, 311 came to see the coral and other marine life and multiple choices were allowed. The above table shows that the majority of tourists came for snorkelling and Green Island proved to be 219

33 the main area for snorkelling on the GBR. 352 tourists out of 400 said that they would like to come again. All of this shows that the tourism industry has a tremendous scope for expansion in this region. The table below shows the major reasons for choosing a tour to the GBR in the Cairns Region Reasons for choosing a tour Total no. of Total no. of Preferences Tourists % age Snorkelling See the coral and other marine life Package tour convenience See Australian countryside To experience something new and different To escape from the normal routine Price matched my budget Time suited my schedule Will you come again? Total Source: Field Survey, Multiple choices were allowed. The table below shows the tourist s activities on the GBR in the Cairns Region Major Activities Total no. of Total no. of Preferences Tourists % age Snorkelling Going to the beach Fishing Pubs, Clubs and Discos Guided tour or excursions Going Shopping Visiting National or State Parks Picking up Coral as a souvenir Scuba diving To see the Green Island Total Source: Field Survey, Multiple choices were allowed. In the Cairns region, almost all of the tourists went for snorkelling, except elderly people. 80% did snorkelling according to this survey and 80% visited Green Island where multiple choices were allowed. 46% of the tourists enjoyed the Pubs, Clubs and Discos. 52 % went Scuba diving and surprisingly out of 400, 148 people picked up coral as a souvenir which shows their ignorance of the law. 220