Reef Research: Volume 7 No. 1 March 1997

ETHICS OF MANIPULATIVE RESEARCH

Dominique Benzaken

ommunity concerns have raised issues concerning the appropriateness and conduct of manipulative research in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. A project to investigate anchor damage in the Whitsunday Islands was to be funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Great Barrier Reef but did not go ahead. Recent controversy and debate in the media and in Parliament over the Effects of Line Fishing Experiment (refer to 'Fishing: The effects on the Great Barrier Reef?' Reef Research December 1996) have made consideration of the ethics of manipulative research in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area a priority issue for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Currently research is allowed in all Sections of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, under the provisions of zoning plans, provided it conforms to regulations for granting permits under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975. In the case of manipulative research, extent of environmental damage, loss of amenity and feasible alternatives are some of the criteria used by delegates in granting permits. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Department of Environment jointly assess research permit applications. Permits have been refused where the design and procedures were considered unreasonable. In most cases research permit applications are for the conduct of non-manipulative research as defined in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority zoning plans.

In response to community concerns, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has developed an interim strategy to ensure that the current procedures for permit assessment are more transparent and accountable. The establishment of an Interim Ethics Committee is a major component of this strategy.

The Committee is locally based and consists of an independent chair, an expert in research design not involved in reef research, an expert in environmental ethics, a person with knowledge and understanding of community issues associated with the management of natural areas and a senior Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority staff member with knowledge of reef management, policy and procedures. The role of the Committee is to advise the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as to whether manipulative research proposed in referred permit applications constitutes reasonable use. Advice from the Committee will enhance the procedures now operating for assessing research permit applications. Part of the activity flowing from the work of the Committee includes advice on the redesign of the research permit application form to ensure that the form clearly identifies the information needed to make a speedy assessment.

The issue of research ethics in relation to human and animal rights has been comprehensively addressed by the medical professions and other research institutions. Although the theoretical aspects of environmental ethics have been researched and discussed in the literature, research and environmental management agencies in Australia and overseas have not to date developed ethical policies and practices in relation to ecosystems and biodiversity.

The Authority has also commenced discussions with the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies, the Australian Academy of Sciences and the Australian Science and Technology Council with the view to developing generic policy guidelines for manipulative research in World Heritage and protected areas. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has put forward a proposal for a national conference to facilitate debate and discussion of those issues and to assist in the development of generic guidelines.

For further information please contact Dominique Benzaken at the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, telephone +61 77 500 715

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Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
PO Box 1379 TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810. Phone: (077) 500 700, Fax: (077) 726 093
E-mail: registry@gbrmpa.gov.au