Only a small proportion of the ‘Extreme’ and ‘Very High’ rated

ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 88 generic category. The content of these quarterly analyses indicates that the threatresponse ratings were adjusted 91 on the basis of: • recent and historical incident reports and intelligence; • seasonal patterns and trends; • weather patterns; and • information from other relevant sources.

5.23 Responses proposed to address identified threats related primarily to

vessel, aerial and land-based patrols, supplemented by educational and media activities.

5.24 As outlined earlier, in July 2014, the FMCU and GBRMPA EAP Section

recognised the need to specifically assess permit compliance risks and develop a compliance plan specifically related to GBRMP permits which is discussed in Chapter 6. As part of the increased focus on permits compliance, a new Marine Park ‘activity’—Marine Park permit compliance—was included in the FMCU forward threat and response analysis for the July to September 2014 quarter which was rated ‘ModerateReview’ for all four Marine Park management areas.

5.25 FMCUEAP Section analysis undertaken to date indicates that some

types of permit breaches such as lack of maintenance of permitted facilities, failure to notify GBRMPA of works, and exceeding permit conditions are likely to have minor to major impacts on the Marine Park, depending on the circumstances. Common treatments identified to date include those listed in paragraph 5.23 in respect of commercial netting and tourism operations, with the addition of: • education of permit holders including development and publication of an information guide distributed to all permit holders in December 2014 92 ; 91 The forward threat and response analysis contain three threatresponse levels: LowMaintain— requiring no change treatments in the short-term; ModerateReview—threat and current response strategies warrant a review; or HighImmediate Response—significant likelihood of non-compliant behaviour and threat to the World Heritage Area requiring immediate attention. 92 The information guide contains generic information on permit maintenance, compliance and conditions relevant to particular types of permits.