#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRALASIA:
AUSTRALIA AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA
HUGH SWEATMAN, KATE OSBORNE, LUKE SMITH, TIM GRUBBA,
JEFF KINCH, GEOFF JONES AND VAGI RAI
ABSTRACT
Australia contains over 17% of the world’s coral reefs, second only to Indonesia. These
reefs are predominantly in good condition due to low levels of human pressure and
supported by substantial research and monitoring. They are well protected from a
relatively low level of stress from the small population that is not dependent on reefs for
subsistence. These reefs have exceptionally high biodiversity, favoured by the massive size
and diversity of habitats. An extensive system of marine protected areas has been
implemented, the best known of these is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (which is also
a World Heritage Area). This is the world’s largest marine protected area and serves as a
model for the establishment of many other similar multi-user areas. The Great Barrier
Reef (GBR) is amongst the best studied coral reefs in the world, with probably the largest
and most extensive monitoring program, which is used as model for projects elsewhere. It
attracts very high capacity in all areas of coral reef science, management and education.
Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) predation and coral bleaching have been the primary
disturbances affecting GBR reefs since 2000. The current outbreak of crown-of-thorns
starfish (COTS) originated in the Cairns section of the GBR and has been travelling south
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