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Causes of Threatened Habitats in the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef
NON-GOVERNMENT Aim to research and investigate impacts of: - coral bleaching, - coral diseases, - connectivity between marine life, - work on restoration of reef
The Great Barrier Reef we see today is about 12,000 years old, and for most of that time there has been minimal human presence. Around 1850, European settlers began populating and developing the Queensland coastal strip, along the inner boundary of the Great Barrier Reef. During that time, human settlement has impacted the Great Barrier Reef. Nowadays, the water isn't as clean, the coral isn't as healthy, there are fewer fish and some animals and birds aren't as common as they once were. A lot has changed on the Great Barrier Reef over the last 150 years. Pollutant levels have increased and show no signs of abatement. Fish stocks have depleted in localised areas. Up to 70-80% of wetlands have been lost in most of the major river catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. Nutrients such as phosphate and nitrogen have increased by 200-1500% in river discharges.
GOVERNMENT Federal Environment Minister David Kemp announced that fishing and other extraction will be banned from about 30 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a sixfold increase in no-take zones.
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Actions being carried out
Cause/s of habitat loss in the Great Barrier Reef
Inside the white line is the Great Barrier Reef, it is located on the north east coast of Australia.
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Coral Reef - An erosion-resistant marine ridge or mound consisting of compacted coral together with algal material. This is a critical habitat for a wide variety of fish and marine life. They also protect shores against erosion, by causing large waves to break and lose force before hitting the shore.
Bibliography www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/threats/index.html http://www.wwf.org.au/ourwork/oceans/gbr/ www.environment.gov.au
