DANGERS AND THREATS TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
The Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is currently in a very vulnerable position as climate change is doing a lot of damage. The level of pollution is going up, causing us to lose more and more of the coral.
The damage that climate change is causing is changing a lot of things about the Great Barrier Reef;
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Seawater temperatures:
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Climate change is causing the temperature of the water to be hotter.
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The temperature of the water has gone up 0.4 degrees in 200 years!
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An increasing level of severe weather events:
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In Queensland, there has been more and more rain and cyclones. This rain means there’s more fresh water which isn’t healthy for the reef.
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While the cyclones have damaged the way the reef looks and hurt the coral living there
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Coral Bleaching
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This is the result of global warming caused by the mining and burning of fossil fuels like coal.
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Climate change is heating our oceans, and if the water stays too hot for too long, corals bleach (lose their colour) and die.
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Below are some before and after photos of some of the coral along the Great Barrier Reef that have experinced bleaching
The Animals
Not only is the coral suffering from these events, but also the animals that call the reef home. Here are some of the factors affecting the animals in the Reef:
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Heated/increased water temperatures
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This is driving the animals away from the reef due to an increase in the water acidity
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Pollution
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People throwing their rubbish on the floor and ending up in the ocean is also making the animals not want to live there.
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Increased overfishing
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The increased levels of fishing are threatening the levels of wildlife that live in the Reef;
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This is especially affecting the levels of;
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The very special dugongs,
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Coral living turtles
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Inshore dolphins.
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Because of these problems the animals are either moving away or are dying from the pollution or fishing issues.
The Future of The Great Barrier Reef
According to research, if we don’t switch to 100% renewable energy by 2035, the colour of the coral living in the reef will be completely gone.
This isn’t good as the coral need their colour to help them survive.
If people don’t stop fishing in the Great Barrier Reef and the pollution doesn’t stop either, there won’t be a reef by the year 3030.
So, WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Sustainability
For us to have a chance at helping the Great Barrier Reef live and thrive, we need to help sustain it.
This means that when you are shopping with your parents get them to try and look for more sustainable types of food.
Also if you go to the reef, volunteer to help clean up the beaches and the reef itself, if you’re old enough.
But one of the main ways in which you can help is by trying to ensure that you are recycling properly and disposing of rubbish to lower pollution levels.
When you throw your rubbish away properly and recycle properly, you could be saving a dolphin or a turtles life.
How to Help
Little things like donating can have huge benefits such as saving marine animals and helping support the coral growth.
Organisations that take funding for donations:
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World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) -
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You can also adopt an animal -
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Great Barrier Reef Foundation -
Of course, there hands-on options that you can do the help too if you cannot donate;
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Volunteer at the reef to help clean, restore, and protect.
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fundraise
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Raising awareness - this is one of the greatest ways to help
Here are 5 everyday options as well to help!
be clever about your energy use
see the reef and spread the word
reduce, reuse, recycle
leave your car at home
make smart food choices
FIND OUT MORE
To learn more about the Great Barrier Reef and some of the dangers that threaten it click on the links below to learn more about what is happening and what you can do to help