Greta Jimenez
The Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's seven natural wonders, is under threat from climate change, rising temperatures, and human interference. While climate change remains the biggest threat, water pollution from human activities poses a significant risk to the health of the reef. With 34 rivers feeding into the Great Barrier Reef system, pollutants from agriculture, tree clearing, and overgrazing wash into waterways, impacting coral reefs and seagrass meadows. Excessive fertiliser use leads to harmful algal blooms, reducing coral diversity and resilience. Pesticides and herbicides also pose risks to marine life, inhibiting growth and reproduction. These issues are within human control, and efforts are being made to improve water quality, but more action is needed to protect this natural wonder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate change | Rising water temperatures, ocean acidification |
| Water pollution | Sediment, nutrients, pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, inorganic nitrogen, toxins, pathogens |
| Land-based sources of pollution | Coastal development, deforestation, agricultural runoff, oil and chemical spills |
| Human interference | Unsustainable fishing practices, noise pollution, animal collisions |
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Agricultural runoff
The Great Barrier Reef is vulnerable to exposure to pollutants, mainly sediments, nutrients, and pesticides, transported from land-based runoff. There are 35 major catchments draining into the Great Barrier Reef Region, many of which have been highly modified for agricultural activities. Grazing lands are the main contributor of fine sediment and particulate nitrogen to the Reef. Sugarcane crops are the primary source of excess nutrients (dissolved) and pesticides.
Excessive fertiliser applied to crops, like sugar cane, can wash into rivers and waterways, and ultimately out to the Great Barrier Reef. Nitrogen from these fertilisers is linked to harmful algal blooms, which can block sunlight, reducing corals' resilience to bleaching and coral diversity. Algal blooms can also reduce the amount of light available for seagrasses to grow and be healthy. Pesticides and herbicides have been detected in high concentrations in inshore areas of the World Heritage Area and pose a further risk to marine plants and animals. Herbicides are applied to crops to kill weeds by inhibiting their ability to grow. But when they wash into the Reef, they also inhibit the growth of other non-target plants, such as seagrasses, on which dugongs, turtles, and fish depend.
Tree clearing and overgrazed grasslands cause soils to erode and wash into creeks and rivers that run into the Great Barrier Reef. Sediment discharged from rivers reduces sunlight available to seagrasses and corals, which can smother coral and seagrass growth. Research by AIMS oceanographers and reef scientists is defining how reef organisms are affected by fine sediment and how coastal reef communities are responding to enhanced sediment runoff.
In 2019, the Queensland government passed a bill designed to improve water quality flowing into the Reef from agricultural properties. The new regulations target practices that pose the greatest risk to water quality, such as farmers who are overusing fertiliser and polluting the Reef.
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Deforestation
The Great Barrier Reef is a complex ecosystem comprising thousands of reefs, shallow areas, and coral cays. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and holds unparalleled ecological importance. However, human activities such as deforestation have severely impacted its health and resilience.
The removal of trees and vegetation through deforestation leaves the topsoil unsecured, leading to widespread erosion. Torrential rains in northern Australia carve deep gullies into the landscape, washing millions of tonnes of sediment into rivers and eventually out to the Great Barrier Reef. This increases the levels of suspended sediment in the water, reducing water clarity and inhibiting the growth of light-dependent plants and animals, including corals.
Additionally, deforestation in agricultural areas exacerbates the problem by removing vital plant cover that helps prevent soil erosion. Agricultural practices, such as overgrazing and excessive fertiliser and pesticide use, further contribute to soil erosion and pollution. These pollutants wash into rivers and ultimately make their way out to the Great Barrier Reef, causing further damage.
The Queensland government has recognised the impact of these activities on the Great Barrier Reef and passed a bill in 2019 to improve water quality flowing into the Reef from agricultural properties. By targeting practices that negatively impact water quality, such as excessive fertiliser use, it is hoped that the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef can be improved.
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Oil and chemical spills
Chemical spills, including agricultural runoff and pesticides, are another major concern. When excessive fertiliser is applied to crops, it can wash into rivers and eventually make its way out to the Great Barrier Reef. Nitrogen from these fertilisers contributes to harmful algal blooms, which block sunlight and reduce coral diversity. Pesticides and herbicides, designed to inhibit the growth of unwanted plants on land, have the same detrimental effect on marine plants such as seagrasses, which are a crucial food source for many species, including dugongs, turtles, and fish.
The impact of these spills is exacerbated by climate change, which is causing more frequent and intense rainfall. This leads to higher levels of pollutants entering the reef, as well as contributing to rising water temperatures and ocean acidification, which further damage the reef. The growing human population in Queensland, Australia, has also led to increased development along the coast and islands adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, further endangering the reef's survival.
Addressing the issue of oil and chemical spills requires a combination of regulatory measures and changes in agricultural practices. In 2019, the Queensland government passed a bill aimed at improving water quality by targeting practices that pose the greatest risk to the reef, such as overusing fertiliser. Additionally, individuals can play a role by reducing their use of harmful chemicals and disposing of them properly, rather than dumping them into street gutters or storm drains.
Overall, the health of the Great Barrier Reef is under significant threat from oil and chemical spills, and concerted efforts are needed to mitigate these impacts and preserve this natural wonder for future generations.
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Climate change
As water temperatures rise, many marine species are forced to move south to cooler habitats, creating increased competition for food and shelter, threatening the entire ecosystem. The annual rise in sea temperature on the Great Barrier Reef could also cause corals to spawn earlier, impacting species that depend on coral spawning for their own reproduction.
The root causes of the problems of the Great Barrier Reef are pollutants running off from agricultural land and climate change. To protect the reef from climate change, it is imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop interventions to help coral reefs adapt to the warmer temperatures already caused by climate change.
The Australian government is taking increased action on climate change and investing in initiatives to build the resilience of the reef. The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan guides actions to restore and protect the reef, with investments delivered through the Reef Trust.
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Overfishing
The Great Barrier Reef, in particular, has been impacted by under-regulated fishing, which has put the ecosystem at further risk as it struggles with the impacts of climate change and repeated mass bleaching events. Conservationists and recreational fishers have expressed concern over the slow progress of fisheries reforms in Queensland, which were designed to address these issues.
One of the main concerns with overfishing in the Great Barrier Reef is the use of certain types of fishing gear. Non-selective tools such as nets and traps can inadvertently capture and harm herbivorous fishes that play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem's balance by controlling algae growth. Additionally, these gears can also inflict physical damage to coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other vital marine habitats, which are already vulnerable due to climate change.
The removal of large fish through overfishing has indirect effects on the ecosystem as well. Large fish produce more offspring that are more likely to survive to adulthood. Their absence leads to a decline in fish populations over time. This disruption in the natural balance can have far-reaching consequences for the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.
Furthermore, the use of large gill nets has been identified as a key issue by conservationists. These nets pose a significant threat to vulnerable species such as dugongs, dolphins, whales, sawfish, sea snakes, turtles, and some shark populations. The fisheries minister has acknowledged the risks and expressed commitment to reforms that will safeguard the fisheries for future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
Human activity pollutes the Great Barrier Reef through farming run-off, ships, plastic, oil and chemical spills, and coastal development.
Excessive use of fertilisers on crops can wash into rivers and, ultimately, out to the Great Barrier Reef. Nitrogen from fertilisers is linked to harmful algal blooms, which block sunlight, reducing coral diversity and making corals more susceptible to bleaching.
Oil and chemical pollution can cause toxins to enter the ecosystem, impeding coral growth and reproduction, disrupting ecological function, and causing disease and mortality in sensitive species.
As human populations expand in coastal areas, the landscape is altered, increasing land-based sources of pollution and threatening coral reef health.
Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef, threatening its very existence. Climate change causes unusual warming of surface waters, placing corals at risk of bleaching.
