Dredge dumping ban officially signed off

A ban on dumping dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef marine park has been officially signed off by the federal government.

The previously announced regulations apply to all past and present permits as well as future applications to dump capital dredge spoil in the marine park, which covers 99 per cent of the reef heritage area.

A significant proportion of dredge spoil dumping occurs in the remaining one per cent, however the Queensland government has agreed to cover that area with a similar policy.