THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
During October of 2023, I traveled to the GREAT BARRIER REEF to survey the corals, and status of the reef. I also did an aerial survey over the SOUTH part of the reef, extending down into the famous WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS. While still so beautiful, it is very clearly still suffering from many issues, one of which is clearly bleaching, and reef destruction from typhoon damage, stress, and predators. You can tell by the coloration of the reef, in how it is blending so well into the sand now, the extent of the damage to the reef, and the amount of dead or stressed corals that are now present there. In addition, in comparing other aerial photos of this area from five to ten years ago, the coloration of the reef was much more vibrant, and more varied.
WHAT IS GOING ON?
CLIMATE CHANGE is the biggest threat to the reef. Additionally, Human behaviors have impacted our oceans significantly and impacted global warming greatly. Acidity levels are way up in the water, adversely effecting the quality of life for all living things on the reef. Sea temperatures have hit all time highs, leading to bleaching of corals, and ultimately the death of many corals reefs. Land based pollution, and coastal expansion also affects the reefs negatively, Typhoons, and other natural disasters also have destroyed the reefs. Additionally, threats from predators such as the venomous crown of thorns sea star are destroying a great portion of the reef, as they can eat . Efforts are being made to euthanize these starfish in a humane manner to stop their propagation, as they have been a massive cause of the destruction of close to half of the reef.
Below is an article the crown of thorns sea star program from Australia’s government:
https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/our-work/programs-and-projects/crown-thorns-starfish-management#:~:text=Why%20do%20we%20manage%20crown,over%20the%20past%2040%20years
