Effects of tourism on Fraser Island's dune lakes.

Abstract

The freshwater dune lakes on Fraser Island are of immense cultural, recreational and environmental value. Acknowledgement of these values contributed significantly to the successful nomination of Fraser Island as a World Heritage Area in 1992. Today, these unique aquatic systems are increasingly important recreational sites for tourists on Fraser Island. In light of the rapidly growing tourism industry in the region, there is increasing concern over the sustainability of tourist use of these oligotrophic (low nutrient) lakes. Put simply, excessive tourist use of the dune lakes on Fraser Island could deleteriously affect their ecology and in turn, their aesthetic appeal to tourists.