The Great Barrier Reef
Environmentalist; Brianna Willis
What is the Great Barrier Reef & Why is it Unique?
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometers over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers. It is home to 30 different species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, 6 species of sea turtles, 215 species of bird, and many more. 10% of the total world's fish species can be found just within the Great Barrier Reef.
Tourist Activities are Killing the Reef
Snorkeling & SCUBA Diving
Snorkeling and/or SCUBA Diving can cause physical damage to the coral reef and does every year. Usually SCUBA diving causes more damage then snorkeling but they both cause damage. When doing this activity coral is kicked, trampled, crushed, and sadly killed.
Fishing
Fishing in the Great Barrier Reef contributes to over-exploited reef fish stocks. Direct Over exploitation of different fished and invertebrates by recreational, subsistence, and commercial fisheries has resulted in the rapid decline in populations.
Motor Boating/Yachting
Larger ship anchors and heavy chains can break or dislodge corals, resulting in damage to vast areas of the coral reef. While smaller ships cause less damage, areas of heavy recreational boating may also have serious consequences for coral reefs. Anchoring impacts have been partially alleviated due to the installation of mooring buoys in many locations, but anchoring of small vessels on reefs remains a chronic problem over reefs. Vessel groundings can also result in catastrophic effects on coral reefs, not only smashing and dislodging corals like the anchors, but it can also shatter the reef's framework!
Benefits of Keeping the Reef Healthy & Intact
The Great Barrier Reef is very Important! It provides housing a shelter for thousands of fish and mollusks which in turn feed 30-40 million people each year. The coral helps control the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ocean water. The Great Barrier Reef also protects the shore from strong currents, if there are strong currents once they hit the reef they slow down so the impact on the beach isn't so rough. That is why it is called The Great Barrier Reef because it makes a barrier between the ocean and the shore! Coral Reefs biodiversity is considered the key to finding new medicines in the 21st Century. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses, etc. The Great Barrier Reef does many other great things for us!
What Would a New Tourist Resort Do??
With the development of a new resort sedimentation can be increased. Sedimentation is the tendency for particles in suspension to settle out of the fluid in which they are en-trained, and come to rest against a barrier. Resort operations cause sewage disposal, fertilizer run off, irrigation, and solid waste disposal all resulting in harmful consequences for The Great Barrier Reef! & Many More Things