Monitoring, Predicting, and Managing One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World

T he Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a 2,000-km long reef and lagoon complex. It is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site covering 347,800 km² , sandwiched between Australia’s northeast coastline and the Coral Sea. It includes an estimated 2,800 reefs, with an average depth of 35 m. One of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, the GBR is the world’s largest coral reef and a significant part of Australia’s natural heritage and economy. For example, a 2007 report by Access Economics for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority found that the total economic contributions to Australia from tourism, commercial fishing, and recreational activities in the GBR catchment area totaled more than $AUS 5.7 billion (approximately $US 5.9 billion) in 2005–06. The report also found that these activities accounted for a direct and indirect national contribution of 66,000 full-time equivalent jobs.