This report covers a five year study into the effects of trawling on seabed communities in the inter-shoal and inter-reef areas in the Far Northern Section of the Great Barrier Reef. The study arose from a GBRMPA convened scientific Workshop in 1989 to address the effects of fishing in the Great Barrier Reef region.

The Workshop recommended that an experimental study of the effects of trawling should be carried out, taking advantage of the area closed to trawling (Marine National Park B) in the Far Northern Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. CSIRO and QDPI agreed to undertake the study, which was funded by these organisations as well as GBRMPA, FRDC and AFMA. Following the recommendation of the Workshop, the study was sited in an area known as the Green Zone between about 11°15' and 11°45'S that is closed to fishing as well as in the areas immediately to the north and south of the Green Zone.