The Authority has a number of committees that provide support and strategic advice on the management of the Marine Park, including two Reef Advisory Committees and 12 Local Marine Advisory Committees. Other committees may be appointed periodically to deal with specific issues. All committees have terms of reference and procedures established by the Authority. Their composition and membership are reviewed as required.

The Tourism Reef Advisory Committee met on 30 and 31 October 2018, and 28 and 29 May 2019, which was the final meeting of the current Tourism Reef Advisory Committee term. During their five-year term, the committee met for 10 formal meetings, with an additional special meeting held in 2017 following the Reef Symposium and subsequent development of the Great Barrier Reef blueprint for resilience. Members reviewed 96 information papers and provided insight and recommendations on 65 advice papers.

The Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee met on 15 and 16 October 2018, and 21 March 2019, which was the final meeting of the current Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee term. During their four-year term, the committee held 11 formal meetings and one workshop. The committee considered 94 matters from 15 organisations and received numerous presentations to inform members and seek their feedback on a variety of topics relating to Indigenous matters.

At the 249th meeting of the Authority Board, members approved the extension of the existing Tourism Reef Advisory Committee and Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee through to 30 June 2019. Recruitment of a new committee will be undertaken early in the 2019–20 year.

The committees are competency-based, and members are appointed by considering their experience, knowledge, skills, relationships and networks with Reef Traditional Owners or relevant groups or sectors identified in the applicable terms of reference. All committee members are expected to adopt a broad perspective on committee business that is raised.

The 12 Local Marine Advisory Committees operate along the Reef catchment. They represent community interests from Cape York in the north to the Burnett region in the south and provide an avenue for local communities to discuss areas of concern directly with the Authority. The committees also provide input into the management of the Marine Park and undertake activities that contribute to its long-term protection.

Each Local Marine Advisory Committee meets five times per year. Members are appointed for a three-year term. The current term began in July 2018 and ends in June 2021.