Ecotourism to the Great Coral Reef
Created by Jason Holt
Coral Reef Basics
We are responsible for ensuring the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park – one of the world's greatest natural treasures - is protected for the future.
An ecosystem based approach is used, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is widely recognized as one of the best managed marine protected areas in the world.
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps belong to a group of animals known as Cnidara, which also includes sea anemones and jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, coral polyps secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons which support and protect their bodies. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters.
Often called "rainforests of the sea", coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, we should call it "The Amazon of the Sea" due to the fact that both have more diversity than any other biome, regions and ecosystems in the whole world.
Threats & Things we can do to save the reef
Pollution, bleaching of corals, and more are becoming more threatening to the Great Barrier Reef, and it is our sole duty to make sure this great region stays a wonderful treasure. Conservation of the waters, making sure we are the observers not the boss of the reef.
Reason for the "Region"
The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusk. It also holds great scientific interest as the habitat of species such as the dugong (‘sea cow’) and the large green turtle, which are threatened with extinction.