As part of this program, GBRMPA rewards tourism businesses that are certified through Australia’s ECO Certification program (such as Whitsunday Rent A Yacht), based on the principles of economic, environmental and social sustainability. They have recognised their political power. Politics ... September 29, 2020. politicaldeactivist. Stop the climate racket! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If it weren’t for the coronavirus pandemic, this would be front page news. The amount of coral, while fluctuating dramatically from year to year, is about the same today as when records began in the 1980s. This is classic fake news. Great Barrier is still alive as per report in 2020. The fish and coral are fabulous. Observations from Queensland's ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies show detected mass depletion of every coral population in the Great Barrier Reef between 1995 and 2017, according to CNN.At this point, over half of it has died out as a whole, in both shallow and deep water. I was on an inshore reef a couple of days ago. The threats are real, but let’s not forget, so is the Reefs ability to regenerate and evolve. When you see how beautiful something is, you are moved to protect it. The only good news is that the next IUCN report on the reef in 2023 will not be worse than “critical” because this seems to be the worst category they have. ‘The Great Barrier Reef is dying’ claims the Washington Post. We watch our news in horror, we share social posts which align with our views, we donate and we look at who or what is to blame for the destruction. Peter Ridd The Australian December 7, 2020. It also uses evidence that is patently false. In fact, each of the 3000 individual reefs, along the entire 2000km length of the Great Barrier Reef, is a 50-100m high plateau of dead coral rubble that has built up over millennia. The Great Barrier Reef in the Pacific Ocean is the largest coral reef in the world. The coral growth rates have not declined — if anything they have increased, as would be expected from the slight increase in temperature over the past century. The Great Barrier Reef is certainly not dead. We believe it’s important to look at what’s working on the Reef and what we can cherish. Interestingly, individuals simply aspiring to visit the Great Barrier Reef also indicate a desire to protect it. For example, the report claims that coal dust blowing from ship-loading facilities is a risk to the reef, which is 100-1000km from the ports. Last year, GBRMPA's total operating expenses were $52.5 million. Coral reefs are the most important oceanic ecosystem, and the Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on … Destruction and regeneration are the Reef’s two great capacities. With rising sea temperatures, there is the possibility of coral bleaching. The Great Barrier Reef is dying at an unprecedented pace. Just recently, the Queenslan… The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and is Earth’s only living thing visible from space. Ignoring evidence of the obvious good condition of the reef is not the least of the problems with this IUCN report. They were measuring poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, which are common, naturally occurring molecules not specific to coal. Coastal development, land-based runoff, direct human use (such as illegal fishing), coal ports and the big one, climate change, are all threats which are testing the Reefs resilience like never before. When people visit the Great Barrier Reef they fall in love with its beauty and are inspired to advocate for it. Many Australians, regardless of where they live, suggested that they will be impacted by a decline in the condition of the Great Barrier Reef with 54% saying they would be personally affected if the health of the Great Barrier Reef declined. It blames climate change, agricultural pollution, coastal development, industry, mining, shipping, overfishing, disease, problematic native species, coal dust — you name it, it is killing the reef. GBRMPA uses this information to assist in monitoring its management of the marine park. So, we ask you, please come and see the stunning reefs found in the Whitsundays or any of the other locations along the Great Barrier Reef. All these events are entirely natural and are part of life on the reef. It is notable that when Apte tried to get the scientific journal and the Australian Institute of Marine science, which was responsible for the coal dust data, to correct the mistake, they refused to do anything. Scientists say they've read the signs and the biggest mass-spawning event on the planet is set to take place on the Great Barrier Reef … Required fields are marked *. ow 'Trump's America' became SAFER than Australia. Fjordman: On the Illusion of a Moderate Islam, Apostasy: “Whoever changes his (Islamic) religion, kill him”, United in Hate: Liberals and Militant Islam – Jamie Glazov, Free Speech Victory: Judges Rule Social Media Users Have Right to Offend, UK: Book on cancel culture  cancelled because  author made fun of Islam, Soros ‘Part of the Reason’ Why So Many People Are Being Robbed, Raped and Killed in U.S. Cities, British Village to Be Displaced by Illegal Aliens. Like the thriving polar bear, like the recovering ice caps, like the doing-just-fine Pacific islands, the Great Barrier Reef has become a totem for the liberal-left not because it’s in any kind of danger but because it’s big and famous … The effect of mud washed from farms is equally negligible. Negative media coverage and hysteria can be a big issue. As global warming continues, corals will not be able to keep … The Reef has always undergone changes and threats. Natural disasters and crown of thorns have long been giving the reef a run for her money. Those of us in North Queensland living adjacent to the reef, and tourists from elsewhere, can report the water is iridescent clear blue and totally unpolluted. Part of the problem is that, being underwater and a long way from the coast, very few people visit the reef. The High Standard Tourism Program encourages tourism companies to adopt sustainable and responsible practices. However, in the name of "saving the Reef" social commentary has gone from one of pride and wonder to one of despair and doom. GBRMPA state that “Funds are used to support strong, effective and agile marine park management practices to protect the reef, reduce threats and improve the long-term outlook”. The IUCN makes other equally scandalous mistakes. It’s high time that we should self-flagellate because the climate is or has killed the Great Barrier Reef—yep, it’s just a pile of bleached crap littering the ocean floor. Your email address will not be published. The 2016 bleaching impact was not equally distributed and southern sections of the Reef came through the event relatively unscathed. It is remarkable that the world has been convinced that one of its most pristine ecosystems is on its last legs. Half of the corals along the Great Barrier Reef have died over the past 25 years, prompting fresh warnings from scientists alarmed climate change is irreversibly destroying the underwater ecosystem. It’s a problem with consequences far beyond the Australian coast. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world. Great Barrier reef is dying, says ABC! So its 2020 welcome to the new decade! Great Barrier Reef's dying coral and nine other signs climate is impacting Earth's most beautiful natural landmarks ... Great Barrier Reef. When it comes to our local treasure and one of Australia's top landmarks, The Great Barrier Reef, it is undeniable that it's been under environmental stress. All you have to do is go underwater and you’ll experience the vast beauty and marine life that still exists and is worth fighting for. In fact, each of the 3000 individual reefs, along the entire 2000km length of the Great Barrier Reef, is a 50-100m high plateau of dead coral rubble that has built up over millennia. Learn how your comment data is processed. September 23, 2020. politicaldeactivist. Australians were strongly inspired by the Great Barrier Reef, with 43% of people in this study listing it as the most inspiring Australian icon, more than five times the level of the second most inspiring icon, Uluru. It’s important to note when looking at this statistic that 93% of the reef has been touched by bleaching, not destroyed. We are grateful to the people and community groups who are campaigning to save the Reef, they play an important role in bringing about positive change and conservation. He quoted, “We’re surprised by the pace of this acceleration in … Your email address will not be published. Visitors contribute to the Reef's conservation through the environmental management charge which is collected by tourism operators on behalf of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). We must recognise they have become political. Great Barrier Reef death in five years is “laughable” Daniel Bateman, The Cairns PostMay 21, 2016 5:00am. Coral remains abundant on all 3000 reefs. Eighty-six per cent of Australians were proud that the Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage Area, and most agreed that it was the responsibility of all Australians to protect it (81%), while 61% believed it was their responsibility to protect the Great Barrier Reef. The scientific foundations are rotten and none of the science organisations want to remedy the problem — partly because the science organisations, and the IUCN, stopped being scientific long ago. 7179 Viewed. In the Whitsundays, unless you know what you're looking for, you're unlikely to notice any coral bleaching at all. Like other coral reefs globally, the Great Barrier Reef is under pressure, however, it remains a vibrant, beautiful ecosystem of immense value to Australians and the world. One recent charterer from America was amazed by the live soft and hard corals he experienced while snorkelling amongst the islands. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But now, the main threats facing the Great Barrier Reef are manmade. Until genuine quality assurance measures can be put in place at the reef science institutions, the problem of untrustworthy scientific evidence, reported and repeated ad nauseam, will continue. He said he didn't have much hope of seeing decent coral after reading media reports before travelling, but the corals in the Whitsundays were in fantastic condition, particularly compared to other international sailing destinations such as the Caribbean. There has been a huge campaign to Fight for the Reef and to protect it for future generations. This desire for beneficial action is an important outcome for the reef’s long term health. Firstly, too much bad news can be polarising and it makes us feel so overwhelmed we shut down. The Great Barrier Reef has suffered several mass bleaching events in the past five years, and experts said the southern part of the reef was also exposed to record-breaking temperatures in early 2020. And secondly, if the public is told that an environment or place is in its death throes, people are less likely to visit, compounding the problem further. The Great Barrier reef is the largest living thing on earth, so enormous it is visible from outer space. However, what we are concerned about is the potential to mislead the public on what’s happening through misinterpretation by the media. It was classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Visitors to the Whitsundays will be able to experience vibrant and colourful, corals and marine life. The science institutions have become untrustworthy. An estimated 93 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef has been touched by coral bleaching, with the most severe incidences occurring in 1998, 2002 and 2016. Furthermore, by visiting the Reef individuals indirectly provide considerable support to the regional economy and put money into sustainable reef management. CLAIMS by a James Cook University professor that the Great Barrier Reef will be ­â€œterminal” in five years have been rubbished by one of his own colleagues. This positive mindset can inspire people to be involved and take positive action. It is also highly doubtful that the original scientists were actually measuring coal dust. Stretching 2,300 kilometres along the Queensland coastline from Bundaberg in the south to Cape York in the north and composed of more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef covers an area about the size of Japan. The live coral lives on the surface of this pile of dead ancestors. In a study titled "Climate change, the Great Barrier Reef and the response of Australians” research was done to describe the personal concerns and connections that Australians have with the Great Barrier Reef and how these findings could collate to its management. Already in Australia, fish stocks on the Great Barrier Reef are declining because of loss of habitat, Hughes said. The “little, black rock” is playing a huge role in threatening the reef’s existence. Other major Australian reports on the reef also quote it. The live coral lives on the surface of this pile of dead ancestors.. For unexplainable reasons, the Queensland government has continued to support expanding coal mines and ports. Because when we stand FOR something, we are a stronger force. In amongst social outrage, it’s not uncommon to hear the phrase “the Reef is dead”, which is a damaging term if it’s taken literally. It has never been more important to stand up for our Reef, a natural beauty which belongs to the world. These include the Sightings Network, where tourism operators, crew and their guests report any unusual or significant sightings of marine life on the Reef. Wednesday 14 October 2020, 1:13pm. The fundamental problem with the IUCN report is that it is based upon scientific evidence that is poorly quality assured. Visitors to the Great Barrier reef want to protect it. While threatened, the Reef is indeed still there, still spectacular, and not beyond the point of saving. Wed 25 Mar 2020 01.12 EDT. It has turned up the volume by one notch, claiming the threat to the reef has gone from “significant concern” to “critical”. But the report is just a rehash of old, mostly wrong or misleading information produced by generally untrustworthy scientific institutions with an activist agenda and no commitment to quality assurance. The reef occasionally conspires to give the impression it is dying. The Great Barrier Reef’s coral is dying off, but UNESCO doesn’t think it’s ‘in danger’ ... 2020. The Great Barrier Reef is certainly not dead. But now, the main threats … Sixty years ago, when these cycles of death and destruction were first being discovered by scientists, it was legitimate to be concerned about whether they were unnatural. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has released its latest report on the state of the Great Barrier Reef. Why taxation is theft and how vaping is safer than your grandad's pipe. Visitors to the Great Barrier Reef fund reef protection. Research shows that the strong connection tourists feel towards the Reef after visiting translates into positive intentions to help with its environmental issues. 6 Bay Terrace, Shute Harbour Q 4802 In fact, each of the 3000 individual reefs, along the entire 2000km length of the Great Barrier Reef, is a 50-100m high plateau of dead coral rubble that has built up over millennia. 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