Conservation Efforts
Photo: NOAA's CCMA Biogeography Team
"The Great Barrier Reef holds a very special place in the hearts and minds of Australians and its international significance is enshrined in it's status as a World Heritage Area... However, coral reefs are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and the Great Barrier Reef is not immune from this threat"
The Hon Malcom Turnbull MP
Conservation efforts of the reef are key to not losing our most diverse habitat of the sea. It is important that the management of the reefs and other conservation plans are tailored to a specific reef and its inhabitants as that will work better than a one fits all policy which in some cases may not work at all. Many places have reef monitoring programs that help to provide specific practical ideas and the best protocols for management of the individual sites. There are things that can be done on a one fits all policy to generally attempt to reduce the effects of climate change on the reef and to increase knowledge and education of the importance of coral reefs. Blue Oceans scuba diving have a list of 25 ways to prevent coral bleaching that includes such things as supporting charities based on conservation, reef friendly businesses and maintenance of marine parks with other ideas such as volunteering and educating others. During bleaching events and vulnerable times extreme management protocols should be taken as a preventative measure for any further damage also during a bleaching event all activity on or near the reef should be stopped and during vulnerable times visitor numbers need to be controlled, prevent people anchoring or mooring on the sites and people who live near or work on the site should be informed of the issues.
The need for conservation of these areas has been recognized and there are action plans set out in an attempt to preserve what is left of the World Heritage Area and try to restrict any further damage.
The Hon Malcom Turnbull MP
Conservation efforts of the reef are key to not losing our most diverse habitat of the sea. It is important that the management of the reefs and other conservation plans are tailored to a specific reef and its inhabitants as that will work better than a one fits all policy which in some cases may not work at all. Many places have reef monitoring programs that help to provide specific practical ideas and the best protocols for management of the individual sites. There are things that can be done on a one fits all policy to generally attempt to reduce the effects of climate change on the reef and to increase knowledge and education of the importance of coral reefs. Blue Oceans scuba diving have a list of 25 ways to prevent coral bleaching that includes such things as supporting charities based on conservation, reef friendly businesses and maintenance of marine parks with other ideas such as volunteering and educating others. During bleaching events and vulnerable times extreme management protocols should be taken as a preventative measure for any further damage also during a bleaching event all activity on or near the reef should be stopped and during vulnerable times visitor numbers need to be controlled, prevent people anchoring or mooring on the sites and people who live near or work on the site should be informed of the issues.
The need for conservation of these areas has been recognized and there are action plans set out in an attempt to preserve what is left of the World Heritage Area and try to restrict any further damage.