The Great Barrier Reef
What are the threats to and impacts on the physical environment by human activities?
- Pollution
- Agriculture and deforestation
- Pollution
- Lack of industrial regulation
- Tourism
- Climate change
- Seawater acidity
The Great Barrier Reef
Describe the threats and impacts of pollution on the physical environment by human activities
Pollution - marine plastic debris transports chemical contaminants and invasive species. Smothers coral, entangles & is ingested by wildlife. Heavy metals & POPs can bioaccumulate and biomagnify = disrupted reproduction, impacts on immune system & neurological disorders
Pollution - 283 total oil spills have occurred over the waters of the Great Barrier Reef since 1987.
The Great Barrier Reef
Describe the threats and impacts of Agriculture and deforestation on the physical environment by human activities.
Agriculture and deforestation - Increased sedimentation and the flow of nutrients and pesticides into the ecosystem affect inshore areas - higher algal growth - build-up of pollutants in sediments and marine species, reduced light and smothered corals.
The Great Barrier Reef
Describe the threats and impacts of Lack of industrial regulation on the physical environment by human activities.
Lack of industrial regulation - the Chinese bulk coal carrier Shen Neng 1 travelled 10 kilometres outside the shipping zone = some of damaged areas becoming uninhabitable for marine life. The reef may take up to 10 to 20 years to recover from the incident.
The Great Barrier Reef
Describe the threats and impacts of Tourism on the physical environment by human activities.
Tourism - millions of visitors (Visitors spent nearly 43m total nights in the GBR region ) to the Great Barrier Reef every year are also an unintentional contributor to the general decline of the reef due to the use of leisure vessels, reef-walking, using submersibles, runoff from sunscreens and littering.
The Great Barrier Reef
Describe the threats and impacts of climate change on the physical environment by human activities.
Climate change - including rising sea temperatures, accelerating rates of sea level rise, changing weather patterns and ocean acidification.
The Great Barrier Reef
Describe the threats and impacts of seawater acidity on the physical environment by human activities.
- Seawater acidity reduces the capacity of some marine life, such as corals, to build their calcium carbonate based skeletons (& affects symbiotic relationship between zooxanthellae algae and coral polyps)
The role of conservation to reduce the threats in the Great Barrier Reef;
Describe the use of zoning as a method of conservation to the GBR.
- Land-use zoning - separates conflicting uses into 7 zones [conservation, general use, habitat preservation etc) (33 per cent of the Marine Park awarded marine NP status - fishing and collecting is not permitted)
- 1981- World Heritage Site/ 1975- Marine Park
- 8 public moorings installed & reef protection markers to show where anchoring is prohibited
- Prospective developments are subject to environmental assessments before permission is granted
The role of conservation to reduce the threats in the Great Barrier Reef;
How has conservation reduced marine pollution in the GBR?
- Australian Marine Debris Initiative – 42 tonnes of marine debris collected between 2008 and 2014. Great Barrier Reef Clean Up event = 12 tonnes collected in 2015
- Regulated sewage and effluent discharge (recycling of effluents
The role of conservation to reduce the threats in the Great Barrier Reef;
How has conservation reduced the effect of vessels on the GBR?
- The maximum allowable fine for shipping companies that damage the reef was raised (in response to Shen Neng 1 incident)
- Overcrowding is restricted in Blue Pearl Bay by restricting boat length to 35m & visitor group size to 40
- The Coral Reef Finfish Fishery Programme limit the number of commercial vessels in operaton & the size of the catch (Queensland Grouper is banned)
The role of conservation to reduce the threats in the Great Barrier Reef;
How has conservation improved education in the GBR?
- Environmental management charge for tourists à AU$ 7 million generated for education and research (but charge is levied for visitors participating in tourist activities)
