Marine Wildlfe

The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is home of many marine wildlife species. The GBRWHA is one of the few remaining safe havens for marine turtles, which are protected under Commonwealth and State legislation, and four species have internationally significant populations in the area. The GBRWHA also contains a significant proportion of the world’s dugong population. About 26 species of whales and dolphins reside in or traverse the GBRWHA; humpback and dwarf minke whales are commonly seen during winter. The GBRWHA, especially the northern part, is an important habitat for seabirds with more than a quarter of Australia’s breeding populations.

More information about GBR marine wildlife:

• CRC brochures minke, dugong
• CRC Reef marine wildlife pages
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s State of the Reef Report (Marine mammals, reptiles and birds) (to be updated soon)

The status of marine turtles in the GBRWHA is monitored by State agencies , , as well as community groups, such as the Indo-Pacific Sea Turtle Monitoring .

James Cook University in Townsville undertakes most of the monitoring of inshore mammals, such as dugongs and dolphins , , , predominantly as part of research programs.

Dwarf minke whales on the northern GBR are monitored by researchers from James Cook University and the Museum of Tropical Queensland (Townsville) to understand the biology and behaviour of these animals, and the interaction between whales and tourists .

A shark netting monitoring program by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries tracks the numbers and type of sharks and accidental by-catch caught in shark nets .

There is currently no regular monitoring for sea snakes in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services is the lead agency that monitors seabirds, coastal and island birds , , , , , , . There are also several community-based bird watching projects e.g. Townsville Region Bird Observers Club .

In addition, information is obtained on strandings of marine turtles, dugongs, whales and dolphins , and the capture of marine turtles by trawlers .