Rather than having one level of protection throughout the Marine Park, the area is instead divided into different zones. Each zone has different rules outlining permitted activities and those that are prohibited. The Marine Park stretches approximately km along the coast of Queensland in north-eastern Australia — this is about the same length as the west coast of the USA from Vancouver to the Mexican border. The Belize Reef off the Caribbean coast of Belize is the second longest barrier reef in the world at km, while Ningaloo Reef off the West Australian coast is km long.
Chemical runoff and other forms of pollution , coastal development, and overfishing all can harm coral and reduce biodiversity. So can large storms such as cyclones. Species that live in the reef can also cause damage.
One major pest species is the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci. A starfish may sound harmless, but these venomous creatures voraciously eat coral. Every so often, their numbers spike. Some scientists think these starfish caused over half of the reef damage from to Fortunately, many people are passionate about protecting the Great Barrier Reef.
National Geographic Explorer Dr. Erika S. Woolsey conducts research on coral reefs. Scientists can see damage to the reef over time and take detailed measurements of every nook and cranny—without having to get wet! People around the world can access images of reef structures to study, thereby contributing to our knowledge of the reef.
So, is there still hope for the Great Barrier Reef? People are making a determined effort to help, and there are things that you can do right at home. Because climate change is an important cause of damage to the reef, efforts to fight it matter.
In , countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to work to reduce carbon emissions and taking other steps to address climate change. You can also make changes in your own life to use less energy, produce less waste, choose environmentally friendly products, and be informed. You can even be a citizen scientist and collect data for scientists if you visit the reef.
In a presentation, Dr. Even though they cover less than one percent of the sea floor, they harbor about a quarter of all marine biodiversity. The result is a cascading waterfall from the top of the reef as an abundance of marine life comes into view. Navigable channels through the reef allow boats to tour the area and view the spectacle.
The marine park is also the most important humpback whale nursery in the Southern Hemisphere. From June to November each year up to 20, humpback whales migrate from their Antarctic feeding grounds to their breeding grounds on the Kimberley Coast. We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
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Home Things to do Beaches and islands Australia's reefs. How much greater can you get? WWF-Australia's goal is to halt and reverse the decline of species and the health of reef ecosystems in the Great Barrier Reef, while reducing the impact of climate change. We're have a mission to Regenerate Australia and restore and protect our natural environment. Find out more about Regenerate Australia. To restore the health of the Reef, WWF is advocating a legal cap on pollution.
We need to pass laws that stop farm pollution flowing into Reef waters and to establish a multi-billion dollar fund to repair catchments and help farmers adopt cleaner, more profitable practices.
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the major threats to the Reef including industrialisation, global warming and fertiliser run-off. Australians, indeed the whole world, loves the Great Barrier Reef and its breathtaking wildlife. Our Traditional Owners have a profound spiritual connection with the Reef and few can dive or snorkel in its clear waters without being moved. In biological terms, the Reef is home to a treasure trove of plants and animals, many of them as yet unknown to science.
But all of this is at grave risk. The Reef is highly vulnerable. In the past three decades, it has lost half its coral cover, pollution has caused deadly starfish outbreaks, and global warming has produced horrific coral bleaching. Coastal development also looms as a major threat.
Some of the Reef's inhabitants, such as turtles and crocodiles, have been around since prehistoric times and have changed little over the millennia. The Park itself extends south from the tip of north Queensland, in north-eastern Australia, to just north of Bundaberg.
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