Dr. Cathy Dichmont (CSIRO)
Shaping the future of the Great Barrier Reef is no easy task. The Reef catchment area covers almost 350,000 square kilometres. The region contributes $7 billion to the Australian economy annually, primarily through tourism, however farming, fishing and the research sectors are also important.
Future management decisions regarding the Reef need to strike the right balance between economic growth, environmental protection and community wellbeing.