Why get involved?

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park contains much of Australia's distinctive biodiversity. It is home to many unique species, 43 of which are listed as rare or threatened by the World Conservation Union (formerly IUCN).

When considering the Marine Park, most people think only of coral reefs, but in fact, 94% of the Marine Park is made up of other communities such as sponge gardens, mangroves and sea grass beds. This unique and rich biodiversity must be protected for future generations.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is home to approximately:

• 1500 species of fish
• 360 species of hard corals
• One-third of the world's soft corals
• 4000 species of molluscs (e.g. shells)
• 1500 species of sponge
• 800 species of echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins, etc)
• 500 species of seaweed
• 23 species of marine mammals
• 6 of the world's 7 species of marine turtles, all listed as rare or threatened

Life in the Great Barrier Reef is a complex web of interactions, which connects tens of thousands of species together to sustain life - including human life.

The Great Barrier Reef is under pressure.

Some clear indications include:

• Increasing levels of nutrients and sediments washing into the Marine Park each year from rivers and estuaries;
• Crown of thorns starfish outbreaks;
• Coral bleaching events; and
• Continuing alarming declines in some of our threatened species, such as dugong and loggerhead turtles.
  

To turn this around, all communities are invited to become informed about best environmental practices, and to adopt a code of behaviour that is best for the reef.