Will the Great Barrier Reef become Extinct by 2030?

You can see the Great Barrier Reef from outer space, but the only real way to appreciate its beauty is to get up close and see it from under the water. But by doing so you are risking killing it. Global warming and tourism are the greatest threats to this wonder of nature.

Global warming kills the corals by bleaching them. When the water temperature rises to above the seasonal temperature and stays at that temperature for about six to eight weeks, the corals start to bleach. When they bleach they go very pale and start to die. To do this the water only has to rise to about 1 or 2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average

It is thought the warming water kills of the microscopic algae which gives the corals their glorious colours. The algae interacts with the coral and allows photosynthesis to occur, this in turn provides the coral with its vital nutrients.

Since 1998 mass bleaching has occurred three times, in 1998, 2002 and 2006. In 2002 almost 60% of the reef was bleached, this was twice as bad as the 1998 experience. In 2006 the Keppel Islands were badly hit when 80% of the corals were bleached and about 40% of them died.

It is often forgotten that corals are living animals and they are vital to marine ecosystems. But it is not just fish which are dependent upon them; we use them for medicines, fishing and tourism.
Future predictions about what is going to happen are hopeful. The United Nations Panel on Climate Change, for example has warned that the reef could be extinct by 2030. But at a local level a lot is being done to protect it.

The Reef can be damaged by careless tourists, or by the pollution, both petrol and waste, which they bring in their wake. The scrapping of the corals by anchors, or by divers can do considerable damage. However, it is not just the tourists who damage the Great Barrier Reef, local fisherman and marine pollution from pesticides also takes their toll.

There is not going to be a blanket ban on the use of the Great Barrier Reef, in fact the opposite is the case. Over 1 million people visit the reef every year and it is these tourists who are championing the preservation of the barrier.

Those who work on the reef have to be licensed and they have had to attend educational sessions about preserving the Barrier Reef. It is in everyone’s interest for this work, and many accept this restriction.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is working with UNESCO to monitor the quality of the water, marine pollution, fishing, tourism and coastal development. They are also trying to reduce the amount of pesticides used on the land so they will not get into the sea and damage the reef.

Development and conservation can go work together; they do not need to be in conflict. It is horrendous to think that something as old and as beautiful as the Great Barrier Reef could be lost to us. Let us hope it survives.