Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

What Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority does

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (commonly branded as "Reef Authority") is a Commonwealth statutory authority of the Australian Government, established in 1975 under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and headquartered in Townsville, Queensland. It holds exclusive jurisdiction over the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site spanning the Queensland coast. The organization operates as a regulatory and conservation body rather than a commercial enterprise; its revenue derives from Marine Park permit fees (tourism, charter, research, education, structure, and commercial fishing) and Environmental Management Charges collected from operators and visitors, supplemented by federal government appropriations.

Its core operational products include the Eye on the Reef mobile application (a citizen science platform for real-time reef health and wildlife sighting reports), the Crown-of-thorns Starfish Control Program (which protected 11,640 hectares of reef habitat in 2023-24 through targeted culling), and the Marine Park Permit System (an online portal accessed via the ENQEXT platform). Supporting technology includes the Reef Geohub Catalog (a spatial data platform maintained by Geospatial Services), the Long-Term Monitoring Program conducted in partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS, delivering 37+ years of coral reef condition data), and the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (which has logged 25,671 reef health surveys). Education and outreach span Reef Guardian Schools (300+ institutions), Reef Guardian Councils, Master Reef Guides certification, the Reef Discovery Course, and the Reef in Focus Podcast.

The Authority serves multiple stakeholder segments: commercial operators (tourism, charter, fishing), visitors (2M+ annually contributing billions to the Australian economy and supporting tens of thousands of jobs), Traditional Owners (via Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements and Sea Country co-management), research institutions, and government partners (federal, state, and local councils including DETSI and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service). Governance is provided by a board chaired by Dr Ian Poiner, with executive leadership including CEO Josh Thomas and Chief Scientist Dr Roger Beeden. In mid-2026 the World Heritage Committee declined to list the Reef as "in danger," citing increased Traditional Owner management as a contributing factor.

Name

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Legal name

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Website

https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is an Australian Government statutory authority, established in 1975, that manages the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park through permitting, scientific monitoring, community education programs, and Traditional Owner co-management partnerships with research institutions, tourism operators, and local councils.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Park Management

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments (EUAHAHAB)

Keywords

• Marine park management
• Reef conservation services
• Environmental permitting
• Reef health monitoring
• Marine regulatory compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Townsville

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Permit Fees: Revenue generated from issuing various permits for activities in the Marine Park including tourism, charter, research, education, structure, and commercial fishing permits
2. Environmental Management Charge: Charges collected from operators and visitors using the Marine Park

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is a Commonwealth statutory authority that manages and protects the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park through regulation, monitoring, field management, conservation programs, and public education. It assesses and issues permits for tourism, charter, research, education, structure, and commercial fishing activities, manages zoning and compliance, and monitors reef health across the Marine Park. It also provides citizen-science reporting, geospatial information, joint field operations, Traditional Owner co-management, reef education, and community stewardship programs.

Product overview

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) operates a comprehensive marine park management system rather than a single commercial product. The core offerings include the Eye on the Reef monitoring platform (sightings app), the Crown-of-thorns Starfish Control Program, and various environmental monitoring programs (Marine Monitoring Program, Long-Term Monitoring Program with AIMS). Educational initiatives encompass Reef Guardian Schools, Reef Guardian Councils, Master Reef Guides training, Reef Discovery Course, and the Reef in Focus Podcast. The organization also maintains digital platforms including the Marine Park Permit System (online application portal), Reef Geohub Catalog (geospatial data), e-Library (publications archive), and Image Library. Management frameworks include the Reef 2050 Plan, Outlook Report, and Reef Snapshot reporting. The Tourism Reef Protection Initiative leverages commercial operators for reef health surveys. Zoning maps and compliance management tools support marine park regulation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eye on the Reef: A monitoring program and app that allows users to report reef health sightings and observations
• Reef Guardian Schools
• Master Reef Guides
• Reef in Focus
• Reef 2050 Plan

Products and services

• Eye on the Reef A mobile application for citizens, tourists, and operators to submit reef wildlife sightings and environmental observations and contribute to real-time reef health data collection across the Great Barrier Reef.
• Marine Park Permit System An online service for applying for, tracking, and managing permits for tourism, charter, research, education, structure, and commercial fishing activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
• Reef Discovery Course An educational course providing learners with foundational knowledge about the Great Barrier Reef.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,640 hectares of reef habitat protected through Crown-of-thorns Control Program during 2023-24
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term monitoring partner providing 37+ years of coral reef monitoring data through the Long-Term Monitoring Program. AIMS conducts comprehensive surveillance of reef health across the Great Barrier Reef.
• Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint permission system for marine park permits. DETSI handles reporting of sick, injured, stranded or dead marine animals through the QWildlife app.
• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government parent department providing policy oversight and coordination for reef protection initiatives.
• Girringun Traditional Owner GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraditional Owner group coordinating the Girringun TUMRA (Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement), demonstrating Indigenous-led reef management.
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJoint field management program partner conducting compliance operations, patrol vessels, and monitoring throughout the Marine Park.
• Great Barrier Reef Aquarium (Reef HQ)minorOthersThe Great Barrier Reef Aquarium in Townsville serves as a vital public education facility about the Reef. The Authority acknowledges the Aquarium's role in community education.
• Reef Guardian Schools NetworkminorOthersNetwork of over 300 schools participating in reef protection and environmental education programs.
• Reef Guardian CouncilsminorOthersLocal government councils collaborating with the Authority on reef protection initiatives and sustainable practices.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• New Zealand Department of Conservation: New Zealand government agency managing national parks and marine reserves. Regional peer in Oceania with comparable statutory authority over marine protected areas and indigenous (Māori) co-management arrangements.

Broad incumbents

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): U.S. federal agency managing marine sanctuaries, ocean science, and coastal resources. Comparable as a large government marine management and science organization with regulatory and research mandates similar to GBRMPA's.

Others

• Great Barrier Reef Foundation: Independent Australian NGO funding reef research and conservation. Complementary peer in the reef ecosystem, providing grant funding and program delivery alongside GBRMPA's regulatory role.
• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW): Federal parent department providing policy oversight to GBRMPA. Comparable as a public-sector environmental policy administrator that sets the broader regulatory context within which the Authority operates.
• Reef Life Survey Foundation: Global citizen science reef monitoring organization. Comparable as a provider of volunteer-driven reef health data, complementary to GBRMPA's Eye on the Reef citizen science platform.

Direct peers

• Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument: U.S. co-managed marine protected area encompassing coral reef ecosystems. Direct peer as another large-scale UNESCO-affiliated marine reserve with Indigenous co-management and multi-agency governance.
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS): State government agency that jointly manages field operations within the Marine Park. Direct operating peer in marine park compliance, ranger operations, and protected area enforcement.
• Galápagos National Park Directorate: Ecuadorian government authority managing the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Direct peer as a national-level marine protected area management authority balancing conservation, tourism regulation, and World Heritage obligations.
• Parks Australia: The Australian Government agency responsible for managing Commonwealth national parks and marine parks. Direct peer as a federal entity administering protected areas, with overlapping mandate in marine reserve management and conservation regulation.

Emerging players

• Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS): Australia's tropical marine science agency and GBRMPA's long-term monitoring partner. Comparable as a marine research organization delivering the reef monitoring data and scientific assessments underpinning reef management decisions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gbrmarinepark
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnoxDA5iji0limevCrfQVSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/GreatBarrierReefMarinePark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-barrier-reef-marine-park-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/gbrmarinepark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority