Taylor Cay Marine Access Closes Through March for Nesting Seabirds

A seasonal conservation closure is now in force at Taylor Cay on Taylor Reef in the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, affecting boats, divers and other visitors planning to approach the cay.

Queensland’s Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation says access is prohibited from October 1, 2026, through March 25, 2027. The restriction applies to the designated Taylor Cay location and to airspace up to 500 feet above the ground or water. Entry is allowed only when specifically authorized by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

The closure protects roosting and nesting seabirds. Taylor Cay is one of several northern Great Barrier Reef locations covered by the current public notice. Separate closure periods apply to Woody Island on Low Islets Reef and beaches adjoining Sisters Island and Eagle Island.

For dive and expedition planning, the important point is geographic scope. This is not a closure of the entire Great Barrier Reef, nor should it be described as a blanket closure of every part of Taylor Reef without consulting the official closure mapping. It does prohibit entering the legally defined Taylor Cay closure area, including its water component, so dive boats, liveaboards and independent vessels should route outside that boundary and avoid landings or in-water activity inside it.

Operators whose itineraries include remote reef anchorages should brief guests before arrival. A site that appears empty or physically accessible is not open merely because no ranger vessel is present. The restriction is seasonal, legally notified under the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park zoning framework and tied to a sensitive phase in the birds’ life cycle.

Divers should obtain the current park alert and map from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service when planning travel near Taylor Reef. If the intended site lies close to the closure boundary, the operator should confirm the legal position directly with the agency rather than relying on an older chart, trip report or waypoint.