GREAT BARRIER

REEF
Location

The Great Barrier Reef is situated off the North-eastern coast of Australia, in the
state of Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2,300km and takes
up around 344,400 square kilometres.
GREAT BARRIER REEF
THREATS TO CORAL REEFS

Pollution – Coral Reefs preform coral bleaching if there is increased levels of carbon dioxide, which means the corals
remove the algae living in a symbiotic relationship with corals which removes a crucial food source and turns the
corals white. Since the industrial revolution, the Carbon dioxide levels and acidity levels have risen 30%.

Sedimentation – Coral Reefs are being deprived of sunlight by excessive amounts of materials from industries on land
such as deforestation being dumped in the water, which means the algae are not able to photosynthesis.

Tourism – The boats used in to take tourists to the coral reefs damage coral reefs when they go too close to the corals
and can run over them damaging the fragile structures and disturbing the marine life. This means that crucial parts of
the coral reef may be damaged or destroyed.
PROTECTION OF CORAL REEF
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) implement stagiaries to help protect coral reefs
such as the Zoning Plan -

Zoning Plan
Conservation Zones: These zones are strictly protected to preserve the reef's biodiversity, there is no
fishing allowed and they focus on letting nature do its thing without human interference.

Buffer Zones: In buffer zones there is limited but allowed sustainable practices, such as limited activities
such as recreational fishing, but not commercial, and boating are allowed in these zones.

General Use Zones: This zone allows for a wider range of activates such as fishing, tourism and boating,
there are much less restrictions than the other zones.

Special Management Areas: These areas have special uses such as scientific resherachs, educational
purposes and heavily regulated.