Four islands in the northern Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park are now closed to campers and day-trippers as part of an annual push to ensure migratory birds can nest and raise their chicks without being disturbed.
Woody Island, Sisters Island and Taylor Cay will remain closed until 1 March 2026, while Eagle Island will be closed until 1 April 2026.
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation has asked boaties and campers to respect the annual breeding season closures.
Part of Barnard Island Group National Park, Sisters Island supports globally significant numbers of bridled terns and the second largest nesting colony of lesser crested terns in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Woody Island, part of Low Isles off Port Douglas, provides nesting sites for globally significant numbers of pied imperial-pigeons and other seabirds and shorebirds.
Taylor Cay, on Taylor Reef offshore from Mission Beach, provides an important roosting location for thousands of seabirds.
In the last few years, rangers have noticed Taylor Cay is also being used by more birds due to its increasing size, with some even starting to nest here.
For the first time, Eagle Island has been closed to protect a variety of nesting seabirds including crested, lesser crested, bridled, roseate and black-naped terns.
Located on Eyrie Reef, Eagle Island is part of Lizard Island National Park and is also used by resident andmigratory shorebirds.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Conservation Officer Julie Dutoit said the annual closures are part of the islands' management plans.
"These birds can fly thousands of kilometres to nest on the reef islands, and we need to protect them at the most crucial breeding times," Ms Dutoit said.
"The closures allow the birds to raise their chicks without human intervention, which provides a significant boost to nesting success rates.
"The islands are incredibly important for nature conservation, and the seasonal closures also help protect areas of the marine park."
The islands will be open in time for the Easter holidays in 2026. Fines can be issued to people who disregard the closures.
