Oceans Pack 8

Question 1

Where is the Great Barrier Reef?

Answer 1

Off NE coast of Australia

Question 2

What are the key facts about the GBR?

Answer 2

• World’s largest collection of coral reefs
• 400 types of coral
• 1500 species of fish
• Great scientific interest as the habitat of the dugong and large green turtle (both threatened with extinction)

Question 3

How does UNESCO protect the GBR?

Answer 3

• Marine heritage site
• Entire ecosystem inscribed in 1981
• From low water mark along mainland coast to 250km offshore (beyond continental shelf to 2000m deep waters)
• Gets support with technology and training to protect the reef
• Emergency assistance for sites in danger
• Has to have a management plan

Question 4

What are the issues the GBR faces?

Answer 4

• Warming oceans and more cyclones
• Runoff with pollutants
• Crown of Thorns
• Coastal development
• Tourism and fishing
• Mining
• Shipping
• Plastic and marine debris

Question 5

Why is warming oceans and more cyclones an issue for the GBR?

Answer 5

• Warming oceans cause coral bleaching and weaken ecosystems
• Increased frequency and intensity of cyclones physically damage reefs

Question 6

Why is runoff with pollutants an issue for the GBR?

Answer 6

• Runoff contains sediments, fertilisers and pesticides
• Flows from land into the ocean
• Reduces water quality
• Promotes algal growth that smothers coral

Question 7

Why is Crown of Thorns an issue for the GBR?

Answer 7

• Natural predator of coral
• Outbreaks can destroy large areas of reed
• Linked to poor water quality as fish cannot see to eat babies

Question 8

Why is coastal development an issue for the GBR?

Answer 8

• Dredging and land reclamation increases sediment in water
• Loss of coastal habitats reduces natural reef protection (e.g. mangroves)

Question 9

Why is tourism and fishing an issue for the GBR?

Answer 9

• Physical damage from anchors, boats and careless visitors
• Overfishing disrupts reef food chains and ecosystem balance

Question 10

Why is mining an issue for the GBR?

Answer 10

• Dredging and port expansion
• Poses risks through sediment plumes and pollution
  E.g. Abbot Point coal mine

Question 11

Why is shipping an issue for the GBR?

Answer 11

• Oil spills, fuel leaks and grounds damage reefs
• Increased shipping traffic increases risk of accidnts

Question 12

Why is plastic and marine debris an issue for the GBR?

Answer 12

• Plastics can smother coral
• Introduces toxins
• Harms marine life that support reef ecosystem

Question 13

What are 3 recent facts about the damage to the GBR?

Answer 13

• Largest decline in coral cover from 2024-2025 in last 40y
• 25% of reef has been lost
• 20 million tonnes of sediment in terrestrial runoff enters GBR every year
• Sea surface temp of GBR increased by 1°C since 1900

Question 14

What is the Australian government doing to protect the GBR?

Answer 14

• Made area a marine park in 1975
• 99% of GBR is included
• Park is zoned to allow for a range of reasonable uses
• While ensuring overall protection
• Conservation is the main aim
• Zoning spectrum provides increasing protection for ‘core conservation areas’ which comprise of ‘no-take’ and ‘no-entry’ zones

Question 15

What is the Queensland government doing to protect the GBR?

Answer 15

• Manages coastal waters and land-based activities that effect reef include
• Includes agriculture, fishing and coastal development
• Works with Australian government on water quality improvement programs, fishing regulations and reef monitoring

Question 16

What is the local marine park authority doing to protect the GBR?

Answer 16

• Local governance by the GBRMPA
• Responsible for management and protection of the GBR
• Creates GBR Outlook Report every 5 years

Question 17

What did the 2024 GBR Outlook report highlight as issues?

Answer 17

• Coastal development
• Crown of Thorns
• Terrestrial runoff
• Unsustainable fishing

Question 18

What is Reef 2050?

Answer 18

• Long term sustainability plan which provide an overarching strategy to manage the GBR
• Produced by the Australian government (GBRMPA) and Queensland government

Question 19

What is Reef 2050 doing to protect the GBR?

Answer 19

• Reduce impacts of climate change on the reef
• Protect and improve reef for species and habitats
• Control land activities that affect the reef
• Control sea activities
• Reduce international sources of marine debris (e.g. plastic)

Question 20

What are local people doing to protect the GBR?

Answer 20

• Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements (TUMRAs)
• Protect GBR by allowing Traditional Owners to manage their Sea Country
• Includes Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders
• Using sustainable harvesting rules and traditional ecological knowledge
• They support reef conservation through ranger patrols, monitoring and cooperation with government agencies

Question 21

What is the success of TUMRAs?

Answer 21

• 43% of the Marine Park coastline is managed under TUMRAs
• Strengthened partnerships

Question 22

What is WWF doing to protect the GBR?

Answer 22

• Advocates for stronger climate action (as CC is the biggest threat)
• Supports reef conservation projects
• Works with governments, communities and Traditional Owners
• Raises public awareness about reducing pollution, improving water quality and protecting species

Question 23

What are the successes of the management of the GBR?

Answer 23

• Increased humpback whales
• Increased sea grass meadows
• Increased coral in some areas

Question 24

What are the failures of the management of the GBR?

Answer 24

• Decreased sharks, sea snakes, sea birds and turtles
• Coral bleaching
• Cyclones