Chairman's Report

Groups of people collaborate because they see advantages in working together. To achieve something that is more difficult or more unlikely to be achieved without collaboration. To share ideas or physical resources that ensure a better job.

So it is with Cooperative Research Centres. Our CRC has a number of partners, some of whom bring research capacity to the CRC and some that are users of the knowledge produced. Collaboration is occurring more than ever before between individuals, between research teams and between organisations. Some collaboration is international, national, some State, some with the same town and some with a colleague down the corridor.

It is worth considering the advantages that flow to individuals, organisations and even Australia as a nation through the CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd.

In a relatively short time, there is more:

• access to information and physical resources;
• science-based decision making for policy decisions;
• improved industry standards and codes of practice;
• skilled teams of researchers-educators working closely with Reef users and interest groups;
• strategic alliances between industry, management agencies and research institutions.

There is a greater interdisciplinary collaboration between biologists, coastal planners, ecologists, engineers, geographers, economists, business managers, zoologists, statisticians, social scientists and communication professionals.

The boundary between knowledge users and providers of knowledge is a complex one. It does not work well if dominated by either group. It requires those involved to put themselves in the shoes of others and a commitment to make new partnerships work.

I believe our CRC has genuinely enhanced collaboration for the sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef. It has triggered a synergy between researchers, resource managers and industry leaders, and provided a boost to our understanding, wise use and appreciation of this unique World Heritage Area.

Collaborative research is improving our knowledge of many Reef issues. Some examples of how our research has been applied during the year include:

• incorporating seagrass mapping information into marine park special management areas and coastal port planning;
• shaping new policies on visitor management to coral cays in the Swain Reefs region for protecting seabirds;
• better understanding of how people use and value Reefs;
• improving management plans in marine park areas off-shore from Cairns;
• establishing a regional tourism database that segments and describes international and domestic visitors to help tour operators improve their marketing strategies;
• influencing state fisheries management policies to sustain populations of coral trout.

These achievements highlight just some of our research but are by no means comprehensive. They do, however, reflect some of the hard work, dedication and innovation by Australian reef researchers in solving some of the Reef's pressing concerns.

Once again, I would like to express a special thanks to the Director of the Centre, Professor Chris Crossland, and his professional team.

Sir Sydney Williams
Chairman

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