1. Stakeholders Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee
Why do they care: The health of the great barrier reef affects their business’ directly
They want to know: how they can keep or raise their business’ success
They need to know: The Great Barrier Reef has been impacted by our way of life and the only way to reverse the depleting coral coverage is to create awareness and let the government know the public cares for the Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and the GBR’s health.

2. The Great barrier Reef and Crown-of-thorns starfish
Michelle Plum

3. What is the Crown-of-thorns
A starfish from the indo-pacific feeds on fast growing coral like staghorns and plate corals

4. The first documented outbreak was in 1962 in Green Island, AUS.
All the major outbreaks accumulate to 42 percent of coral coverage loss
outbreaks

6. What is the impact ON THE Great barrier reef
The crown-of-thorns is an important species in the reef
They eat the faster growing coral and allow the slower growing coral to take over
As outbreaks occur more frequently, every 15 years instead of previous 80 years, the impact does not allow coral to recover fast enough and before you know it all the coral is gone.

7. Great barrier reef’s importance to tourism
The Great Barrier Reef yields over $1 billion (US) per year

8. Policy Effectiveness Water quality
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Protection of predators
Protection must be increased
MPS vs. No MPAs
GBRMPA
fishing zones vs. science zones
Awareness
Government issues

9. references
The Horseshoe reef in the Great Barrier Reef after the crown-of-thorns invasion. (Photo: AIMS Long-term Monitoring Team)