Effects Of Tourism On The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef, located on the north-east coast of Australia, is one of the world’s most astonishing natural beauties. Consisting of over 3000 individual reef structures and stretching over 2000 kilometres making it the largest living organism and the largest coral reef system in the world. Along with these astonishing reefs there are hundreds of unique tropical islands holding some of the most amazing beaches in the world. Due to the Great Barrier Reefs unique natural beauty, it has, over time taken the position of one of the largest tourism attractions in the world.
Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef ages back to around 1890, at this time Green Island had become a popular destination for relaxing cruises just offshore of Cairns. Tourism
Primary effects are defined in the environmental dictionary as “an effect where the stressor acts directly on the ecological component interest, not on other parts of the ecosystem.” Primary effects can include things such as coastal development, pollution, damage to reef (water based activates and boating), and wildlife interaction. All of these examples have increasingly dangerous secondary effects that tend to have massive effects mainly on the marine life and their habitats. A secondary effect is an “action of a stressor on supporting components of the ecosystem, which in turn impact the ecological component of concern.” Secondary effects of the issues previously stated are destruction of habitat which results in loss of bio diversity which affects the food chain then affecting the tourism levels, decreasing the amount of jobs and finally dramatically decreasing the overall economy. An example of primary and secondary effect is the “heightened carbon dioxide and average surface temperature as the primary effects of global warming.” As you can see one little thing such as pollution can have a very extended level of effects on not only the Great Barrier Reef but the economy of North-East
However to ensure a bright future for the Great Barrier Reef we will require cooperative efforts from Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Queensland parks and wide life services, other governing agencies, the marine tourism industry and other relevant stakeholders. If all of these come together the longevity, diversity, productivity and integrity of the reef will be guaranteed. By doing so all of the primary and secondary effects can be minimalized resulting in a decrease of threat to the life of the Great Barrier Reef. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics “the goal is to provide for the protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef in