The Great Barrier Reef : future is uncertain
By Maxine Newlands
The Great Barrier Reef was a key talking point in the run up to
Australia's federal election as politicians promised billions to improve
water quality, whilst talking down coral bleaching and report rigging.
Ecologist writer, Maxine Newlands, reports...
 Every single commentator from David Attenborough down has attributed
coral bleaching to global warming, yet Australia has done absolutely
nothing about its CO2 obligations"
Australias' re-elected Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has scraped
victory with a tiny majority that will make delivery on the health of
the Reef more difficult. Turnbull will need support from independent
MP's, having rejected a deal with the Australian Green Party.
Independent Bob Katter's constituency of Kennedy borders nearly 200
miles of the Great Barrier Reef, and he's been openly critical of the
government's record on Climate Change and the Reef saying "the
Government with their self-righteous hypocrisy of how they are saving
the planet and the Great Barrier Reef...
"Every single commentator from David Attenborough down has attributed
coral bleaching to global warming, and Australia has done absolutely
nothing about its CO2 obligations." The Kennedy coastline is some of the
hardest hit in the latest wave of coral bleaching.
The Great Barrier Reef took centre stage early in the election
campaign when research showed that 93% of the Reef is dead or dying from
bleaching. Coral bleaching happens when increasing ocean temperatures
from global warming forces corals to eject zooxanthellae[i] algae.
Corals need the algae to help photosynthesize and reproduce. Without
photosynthesizing the corals turn white, and eventually die.
Scientists liken the phenomenon to ten cyclones slamming one after
another and another into the corals. Aerial and underwater surveys found
that 81% of the northern section is severely bleached with just one
percent still intact. The central section fairs a little better, with
33% of the corals severely bleached, and 10 percent escaping. Marine
scientists claimed that without drastic action on climate change, there
will be more intensive waves of bleaching along the length of the Reef.
- Ecologist
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