The result is a very useful document which will assist in framing policy proposals and regulations for the management of human visitation to seabird islands wherever they occur in Australian waters. The Guidelines fulfil an urgent need for summarised information about seabirds, their reactions to human visitors and strategies to minimise risks associated with the visitors. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is pleased to publish the Guidelines on the World Wide Web and make them available for general use. They include the information and guidance described below. A background section contains information on the vulnerability of seabirds to disturbance, describing the mechanisms by which disturbance can cause breeding failure.
Information is provided on how to value seabird breeding aggregations.
Before island management agencies can allocate resources to seabird breeding island management, they need to determine priorities, as resources are usually limited. This section helps managers to decide which breeding aggregations are of highest value. Some of the criteria mentioned for determining relative value include the presence of rare or threatened species, the size of the breeding population compared with other populations in the region and the extent to which the aggregation provides opportunities for ecotourism and environmental education. A chapter is included covering the impacts of a range of human activities on breeding seabirds and ways of mitigating these impacts. Activities covered include the effects of tourism and recreation, fishing, research, boating and aircraft, among others.