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Pollution is a serious threat to the fragile Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. It includes chemicals, detergents, sediment, sewage, litter and oil. Pollution in catchment run-off Catchment run-off comes from the rainwater that falls on land, drains into rivers and flows to the sea. It brings with it chemical weedkillers, fertilisers, soil sediment, litter, detergents and sewage from farms and cities. Catchment run-off threatens the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem because it decreases water quality. Habitats near river mouths already show fewer corals and more poisoned animals and plants. The effects of pollution on the Reef Type of pollution Weed-killers, detergents and poorly treated sewage Fertilisers Sediment from soil washed from farms Litter Poisons and kills marine life Impact on the Reef Promotes growth of seaweeds, which smother and kill corals Makes the water cloudy, blocking light and killing corals Kills animals if they are trapped in it or eat it by mistake Pollution from shipping Ships pollute the Great Barrier Reef when they collide with reefs and lose their loads or fuel into the sea. Between 1999 and 2009 there were up to three major shipping incidents in the Reef area each year. Grounding of the Shen Neng 1 In April 2010, the Chinese coal ship Shen Neng 1 was travelling at full speed through restricted waters in the Reef. It scraped a large area of reef, causing severe damage to coral and dispersing fragments of poisonous paint. It became grounded, and spilled between two and four tonnes of oil. Safety issues for shipping in the Great Barrier Reef Marine safety experts and environmentalists want tighter shipping laws and tougher fines to better protect the Reef. Some want all large ships in the Reef region to be tracked by satellite, with pilots to guide them around reefs. The cost of engaging a marine pilot for the length of the reef is a mere $8000 to $10 000 ... Cutting costs on this while risking our multibillion-dollar reef tourism industry is unforgivable. Greens Senate candidate, Larissa Waters, Courier-Mail, 12 April 2010 24 Sediment and chemical pollution flow into the ocean and pollute the Reef. The Shen Neng 1 scraped along 2.5 kilometres of coral reef before coming to a stop. Tonnes of oil were spilled onto the Reef. Recovery is expected to take decades. 25 Macmillan Digital Library: What’s the Issue? Set 2 © Michelle Atkins, Julie Murphy, Greg Reid, Geoff Thompson, Ashten Warfe/Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9209 1 Macmillan Digital Library: What’s the Issue? Set 2 © Michelle Atkins, Julie Murphy, Greg Reid, Geoff Thompson, Ashten Warfe/Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9209 1
Some issues are not serious now but could threaten the Great Barrier Reef in the future if left unaddressed. These include disturbance of the Reef’s ecosystem by tourists, pest species and disease. Tourism The threat of tourism is greatest around Cairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsunday Islands, where most tourists to the Reef stay. Potential problems include coral being damaged by boats, anchors, fishers, divers and illegal souvenir hunters. Damage to coral takes decades to recover. Animals may also be disturbed or injured. Eco-certified tourism operators help to educate and inform tourists in order to reduce these threats. Eco-certified tourism operators More than 40 per cent of tourists to the Great Barrier Reef use eco-certified tourism operators. These companies receive special training to minimise the environmental impact of their own and their customers’ activities in the Park. Overfishing of the major predator of the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), the triton, may have helped cause COTS outbreaks. There are more COTS in areas where the triton is fished than in non-fished zones. Introduced pest species 26 Teaching tourists to ‘look but don’t touch’ is vital in keeping the Reef’s fish healthy. Fish have a slime layer that protects them from germs, but it is easily broken if touched. Pest species, such as the Asian green mussel, sometimes ‘hitchhike’ from other countries on visiting ships. Once in the Reef area, they compete with native species for food and habitats. None of the 15 introduced species recorded by Queensland Ports currently threatens the Great Barrier Reef’s biodiversity or its fishing industries. Native pest species Some native species also disturb the balance of the ecosystem. The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) is native to the Great Barrier Reef. It feeds on live coral. COTS population explosions, called outbreaks, can destroy whole reefs. Scientists think that human activities are a factor in causing outbreaks, which have only been observed for the past 40 years. Introduction of diseases Introduced species could potentially bring new diseases with them. Seven diseases are already known to exist in the Reef’s corals. Although coral disease in the Great Barrier Reef has increased, it is not currently a major threat. 27 Macmillan Digital Library: What’s the Issue? Set 2 © Michelle Atkins, Julie Murphy, Greg Reid, Geoff Thompson, Ashten Warfe/Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9209 1 Macmillan Digital Library: What’s the Issue? Set 2 © Michelle Atkins, Julie Murphy, Greg Reid, Geoff Thompson, Ashten Warfe/Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9209 1
Page 1 and 2: Contents What’s the issue? Great
Page 3 and 4: The Great Barrier Reef is not a sin
Page 5 and 6: The Great Barrier Reef is the world
Page 7 and 8: The Great Barrier Reef is an import
Page 9 and 10: The fragile Great Barrier Reef ecos
Page 11: Despite fishing restrictions and zo
Page 15 and 16: There are two sides to every issue.
Page 17: A acidification 21, 28 acidity 5, 1

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