The Australian Great Barrier Reef: threats, stakeholders, government plans.
THREATS:
River runoff from the land: Cane farmers in northern Queensland have had to reverse the cycle of the wetlands so that the water leaves the land quickly, in order for their cane crops to survive. The problem with the water leaving quickly, though, is that it drags the topsoil and various other harmful agricultural chemicals with it. That dirty water then filters into the river catchments that feed the Great Barrier Reef. This water turns into mud, algae and bacteria that settle on the living coral organisms. It then smothers the animal and eventually kills it.
Climatic change: Coral can loose its colour or even die from a change in its climate such as a cyclone or global warming. All the pollution that humans send up into the atmosphere thins the Ozone Layer. The Ozone Layer is meant to filter out the harmful UV rays, but because there is now a hole in it, some rays get through and heat the water temperature (Global Warming). The coral cannot survive the warmer sea temperatures.
Other threats:
-Crown of thorns starfish
-Shipping
-Tourism
-Fishing (commercial and recreational)
STAKEHOLDERS:
- Local Residents: people who live nearby the reef or its catchment areas
- Tourists: people who come to visit the Great Barrier Reef. They often come by boat.
- Farmers: people who work the land nearby the reef or its catchment areas
- Government: people who own or oversee what happens to the Great Barrier Reef. They can either be the federal, state or the local government.
- Conservationists: people who work towards the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.
- Tourism Industry: people who work in the tourism industry. E.g. travel agents, tour operators.
- Fishing Industry: people who work in the fisheries to earn a living.
GOVERNMENT PLANS:
A new plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef was released on June 2, 2003. The plan was released by the Federal Government and it aims to close 32.5% of the reef to fishing, both commercial and recreational. The
River runoff from the land: Cane farmers in northern Queensland have had to reverse the cycle of the wetlands so that the water leaves the land quickly, in order for their cane crops to survive. The problem with the water leaving quickly, though, is that it drags the topsoil and various other harmful agricultural chemicals with it. That dirty water then filters into the river catchments that feed the Great Barrier Reef. This water turns into mud, algae and bacteria that settle on the living coral organisms. It then smothers the animal and eventually kills it.
Climatic change: Coral can loose its colour or even die from a change in its climate such as a cyclone or global warming. All the pollution that humans send up into the atmosphere thins the Ozone Layer. The Ozone Layer is meant to filter out the harmful UV rays, but because there is now a hole in it, some rays get through and heat the water temperature (Global Warming). The coral cannot survive the warmer sea temperatures.
Other threats:
-Crown of thorns starfish
-Shipping
-Tourism
-Fishing (commercial and recreational)
STAKEHOLDERS:
- Local Residents: people who live nearby the reef or its catchment areas
- Tourists: people who come to visit the Great Barrier Reef. They often come by boat.
- Farmers: people who work the land nearby the reef or its catchment areas
- Government: people who own or oversee what happens to the Great Barrier Reef. They can either be the federal, state or the local government.
- Conservationists: people who work towards the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.
- Tourism Industry: people who work in the tourism industry. E.g. travel agents, tour operators.
- Fishing Industry: people who work in the fisheries to earn a living.
GOVERNMENT PLANS:
A new plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef was released on June 2, 2003. The plan was released by the Federal Government and it aims to close 32.5% of the reef to fishing, both commercial and recreational. The