Intro...

The Great Barrier Reef is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It stretches for over 2,300 kilometers. Not only is the reef one of the largest in the world, it's marine park is the largest as well. The reef is located near the Coral Sea, approximately two-thirds off the east coast of Queensland, Australia. It reaches from the Torres Strait, to the Bramble Cay and finally to the south coast of Papua New Guinea. (6)

Map of The Great Barrier Reef, from the 2012 Reef Protection Plan (3)

Biodiversity in the Great Barrier Reef, Google Images Tourist Website

Fun Fact #1
 Considering the enormous size of the GBR, how many football fields would it take to cover it?

It would take about 70 million football fields.

How did the Great Barrier come to be?

Dated back to the 1700's, it is a track of Captain Cooks first voyage. (1768-1771)

History... 

It is believed that the east coast of Australia was first sighted near the early 1520’s, by the Portuguese expedition—led likely by Cristovao de Mendonca. The earliest Europeans to sight the Great Barrrier Reef first were, the French.  On the 6^th of June 1768, Louis de Bougainville approached Australia from, Bougainville Reef (near Cooktown). The sailors confronted various different hardships including a rough surf and big shortage of food. Later Bougainville turned north toward Asia along New Guinea.

These fleeting glimpses were only beginning to become popular. In August of 1770, James Cook sailed the length of the Great Barrier Reef. On June 11^th, Cook’s party became familiar with Endeavour Reef, north of Cape Shore in what is now Cooktown.

Its Formation…

All reefs require an adequate amount of sunlight, and grow only in shallow, clean water. A reef can develop from three different substances, this includes: sand, rock and coral. The appropriate temperature that is favorable for its formation and growth is between, 18 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celcius.

Next there are sea animals called polyps form colonies that make the reefs. A coral polyp resembles a sea anemone. This animal has many tentacles around its mouth. Many polyps join together to form a colony. The Barrier Reef is made of many coral reefs. Each coral polyp is associated with an alga. The photosynthesis by an alga helps the polyp to make a coral skeleton. The skeletons are made of aragonite, a form of calcium carbonate. These coral skeletons form quickly, creating the foundation of coral reefs. Two coral skeletons are sealed together by calcium carbonate produced by algae. The involvement between a specific sea animal and single-celled plant forms reefs like the Great Barrier Reef. (6)

People's Impact!!!

          People impact the Great Barrier Reef in different ways and overall the impact tends to be negative. People disturb the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem in ways such as: commercial industries, defense activities and shipping. The two biggest commercial industries are tourism and fishing. Although these industries bring great contributions to Australia’s economy they are harmful to the environment. There is a dangerous case of overfishing in the in the Great Barrier Reef. According to the University of Michigan, “…a fifth of the reefs have been destroyed or are not recovering”. Fishing causes a disruption to the food web it removes keystone plant and animal life. The Reef contains certain environments and organisms essential to the existence of others, when fishing people do not take into consideration the consequences that can occur when removing even the smallest species of coral or fish. (9) Aside from decline of living species in the Barrier Reef, pollution also take a great toll on the ecosystem. There have been incidents of sediment runoff that bring natural and toxic components that cause harm to the ecosystem.(10) The pollution can also arise from human derived sewage, fertilizers and pesticides.  The quality of the Reef’s water has deteriorated over the past 100 years.(11)

Water variables that impact the GBR, contribute to the annual sediment and
chemical runoff that is causing great damage.(10)

Pawn Trawl Fishing, important to the ecosystem but more important to the economy...(10)

Benefits
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                    The greatest benefit brought by the Great Barrier Reef is from its contribution to Australia’s economy. The Great Barrier Reef brings profits from tourism and creates jobs through its fisheries. The estimated amount of money brought in by the Great Barrier Reef is ~$5.4 billion. Tourism alone produces  ~5.1 billion. The reef provides over 54,000 full-time jobs, not only in Australia but in 100 of other countries as well. Aside working in the favor of the economy. The Great Barrier Reef contributes to the training and operations of Australia’s defense services, which has very little undesirable physical impact on the reefs. The reef is a home to millions of aquatic and fish species. It is a natural barrier that protects costal communities. (8)

Chart from Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report of 2009 showing the benefits the GBR has on Australian economy(2)

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GBR, Tourist Attraction


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*Fun Fact #2*
DID YOU KNOW???


The story line for the movie, Finding Nemo, was based on the Great Barrier Reef. Marlin the clown fish lives in the Great Barrier Reef, which is also were he loses his son Nemo. Marlin then ventures out in search of Nemo and along the way he makes new friends that help him overcome the obstacles that come along from roaming the sea. Crush and Squirt, the green sea turtles, are example of threatened species of turtles. Bruce, the great white shark, is an example of an endangered species in the Great Barrier Reef.(7)

   How Well Can You Protect It? 
                                 Because the Great Barrier Reef is such sacred world beauty,it is one of the best managed marine protected areas.(2) It is protected not only by the Australian government but also the Queensland’s government. Both governments have collectively invested about $375 million over the past four years for protection of the Great Barrier Ecosystem. The two nations work hard to secure the health and resilience of the Great Barrier’s area, they are responsible for protection and management of the reefs and all that lies near and in between. There are specific “biodiversity protection measures” that are followed, for example, the reef is required to have zoning plans. The Great Barrier Reef region is  protected by what is called “no take areas”.(5) They are marine protected areas in which human occupation is restricted. There are various government groups and habitat conservation organizations that strive to put an end to the damage and create a change in laws or regulations to ensure the future existence of the Great Barrier Reef. From our research we noticed that there was a great focus on trapping and ending sediment and chemical runoff. Many areas are being protected from fishing and the overall removal of wildlife.  The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is the administrator of the park. It issues permits for various forms of use of the marine park, and monitors usage in the park to ensure compliance with park management. The status of the protected areas goes back and forth from very good and good. (4)

Citizens of all ages protesting the exploitation of the Great Barrier Reef.

This chart shows different ideas and policies that the Australian government came up with
and plan to execute in order  to conserve the well being of the GBR.

    What's the future look like?            

             According to a 2012 study by the National Academy of Science, since 1985, the Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its corals. Two-thirds of these losses occurred in 1998 due to environmental threats including: climate change and pollution. However, in our opinion, the future of the Great Barrier Reef is not as damaged as other popular locations on our planet. Taking into consideration the great efforts by the Great Barrier Reef Authorities, Australian government and the Queensland government more restrictions will be enforced as the years pass. If there are continuous improvements on the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem and more policies created to preserve the beauty, health and existence of species, conditions will improve and the future will be promising for the Great Barrier Reef.

      Trying To Find A Balance. 

                   Some of the ways that government officials attempt to create a balance between people and the ecosystem is limiting the number of people who travel to the Great Barrier Reef. The limit on visitors per year can guarantee a less harsher impact on both the park and reef. Another thing that the government and other organizations can try is providing classes for tourist or requiring them to know the basics of how to interact in the environment and what precautions to take to maintain its natural balance. Also if there were certain policies made regarding certain pesticides and herbicides used on farms near and plants in the Great Barrier Reef there could possible be less damage. (1)

"Save The Reef" movement against farmers use of pesticides.

According to Alison Rourke, the Great Barrier Reef is put under this constant danger by farmers. They have found that the farmers are continuously putting the Reef's natural habitat through a "disaster". The WWF, or World Wide Fund for Nature are the group most involved in this movement to stop the exposure of pesticides.