Great Barrier Reef (GBR) has been in the centre of topic for environmentalist for the past decades as it is the biggest and longest natural coral reef in the world. With thousands of exotic aquaculture species that are exclusive to that region only, it has become one of the heritage national marine parks in the world. However, with the mining boom in Queensland, more ports and industrial activities have been taken places along the coastal regions to boost exporting efficiency, neglecting the health of the GBR. The opportunity cost of boosting Queensland’s annual GDP was the health and heritage of the GBR, where dredging and pollution is directly forced into the marine park’s bloodstream. Shipping containers …show more content…
Specifically Chlorophyll α, it’s build up though the pollution from deposits that are too rich in nutrients which promotes growth of plankton and green algae. Not only do these organisms in a sense steal the sunlight, but also blocks it out from the surface and increases the temperatures of the waters in the Great Barrier Region. This might sound absurd, however, it is backed up by the increase migration numbers of the crown-of-thorns star fish to the area. These starfishes migrate to areas with warmer water conditions, which cause another health hazard for coral and marine life in the Great Barrier Reef, as they feed on different kinds of coral species that …show more content…
Legislative process that divides privately/publically owned areas into different zones according to the specific area use. Each zone is regulated to the density, location, size and size of activities permitted therein
Alternative that the government has taken to prevent further pollution and disruption in the GBR is by setting zoning legislations. The legislation was taken into action on 1st January 2004, where specific areas are categorised for level of activities allowed in the area. The zones are split into seven categories, depending on the location and sensitivity of the habitats. Most zones have now refrained from any sort of dumping and dredging. In most zones permits are needed to be issued for the activities you decide to take part. The commercial activities such as dredging dumping waste are now banned, with limited access of ships and ports to reduce the disruption within the marine national park. Fishing and recreational activities are dependent on the zones to maintain aqua cultural heritage. The Queensland government in coordination with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has helped allocate 19 different zoned areas, where within the area there are sub zones that show different kinds of activities allowed. This was a major step to prevent further pollution that allowed the GBR to dodge the Endangered Heritage Habitats list of the