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Ashley Brodnick
APLANG period 3
Mr. Phillips
December 2nd, 2016
The Bleaching of The Great Barrier Reef
One of the most diverse and largest ecosystem in the world, the Great Barrier Reef
supplies life for thousands of organisms off the coast of Australia. For thousands of
years the corals have survived and flourished, but recently human stresses and
pollution have accelerated the semi centennial bleaching of the reef. The reef is in
danger, and human activity and pollution that will affect the reef must be stopped or
revised to minimize damage to save the thousands or organisms who depend on the
reef, including humans. Without help, the bleaching could affect economies and
ecosystems throughout the southern hemisphere and permanently alter the future for
ocean life.
Bleaching is a natural event where coral react to higher water temperatures,
expelling the organisms that give them their distinct colors and giving the event the
name 'bleaching'. These events have happened about once every few decades, but the
recent development of civilization has encouraged global water temperatures to rise,
endangering the coral. Amy Barth describes the damages, "When bleaching happens,
the entire ecosystem suffers. Corals have trouble reproducing and become more
vulnerable to disease. They can no longer support the reef inhabitants that rely on
them." This disrupts the food chain, ultimately affecting populations and the surrounding
ocean floor. Being the largest living structure in the world (Cook, Byline) the stability of

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the reef is fragile, and even the smallest temperature changes can destroy the
environment. The recent bleaching has been recorded as the most severe in history,
and rising water temperatures and acidity have put over 93% of the reef at risk (Barth).
If the sustainability of the reef is to be preserved, human pollution must be regulated to
prevent drastic swings in the ocean ecosystem.
Civilization and its new technology have increasingly put the reef at risk. Pollution
and human pressures like fishing, oiling, and dumping disrupt the fragile balance that
the ecosystem depends on (Gilman). Doctor Tara Clark assesses the impact man-made
pollution has on the reef. "Man-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may react with
the sea and form a giant acid bath that could kill off all calcified marine life, and
eventually the ecosystem." Along with overfishing that encourages competition among
the coral, runoff that stimulates algae blooms that kill the surrounding inhabitants, and
sediment loading that blocks and covers the surface of which it falls, the range of effects
humans have on the reef is widespread and devastating. The Australian environment
would be permanently altered if the reef were to collapse, and scientist predict if
changes are not made soon that another more severe bleaching could wipe out the
recovering reef. Reducing pollution and fishing may slow down reef loss but scientist
believe large-scale solutions are needed. (Worland)
Most of the losses in the previous bleaching occurred in the northern area of the
reef, with at least a third being impacted by the changing temperature (Barth). This area
is being threatened by the Adani mining company, who are looking to secure the rights
to begin construction on a rail that would transport coal directly into the Abbot Point
terminal, placing further pressure on the reef while also endangering its status as a

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world heritage listed park (Xinhua). Project managers argue the Great Barrier Reef
bleaching is a natural occurrence and the need for coal and energy outweighs that of
the reef. For the Adani plan to work, the $2.2 billion project needs the approval of
environment minister Greg Hunt. Controversy over the recent repeal of the Clean
Energy Future Legislation and lower chance of the Australian Direct Action Carbon
Policy has scientist concerned over the future of the Queensland ecosystem. Xinhua
researchers claim "If this and other projects go ahead it's game over for the Great
Barrier Reef, even if all agricultural, industrial, and storm-water runoff were to cease
tomorrow." The extent of the Adani pipeline pollution and disruption of the ecosystem
would create irreparable damages that the reef would not survive, pushing natural rights
activist to push harder for regulatory measures.
Habitat Australia explains that if humans continue to carelessly put their needs over
the environment, the reef is doomed to fall. "The Adani corporation argues that their are
other reefs, that the need for human energy is prioritized over the 'apparent destruction'
the pipeline could cause." These views have harmed humanity in the past, and the
continued disregard for the reef's safety is something the Australian cannot allow if the
reef is to continue to survive (O'Shanassy). Recent studies disprove the Adani pipeline,
stating the relative profit would equalize to the amount spent, generating no income for
the Australian Government (Craig). "The tourism industry employs 70,000 people and
generates $5 billion in income each year" This loss of income would drastically effect
the Australian government, destroying one of Australia's main sources of tourist
attraction.

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Some solutions have been offered for the Great Barrier reef that could save the
Australian tourist industry and promote protection. New advancements in technology
have created the ability to monitor and predict the growth and recovery of the reef, now
enabling us to discover the reasons behind decline. This can help us prevent these
events from occurring, or warn us of an upcoming shift in the environment (Life and
Death following the Great Barrier Reef bleaching). The New York Times reports Slower
global warming, reduced water pollution and genetically engineered corals could stem a
mass coral die-off and save Australias Great Barrier Reef. Massive effort to reduce
worldwide pollution would be required to reduce the bleachings of the reef. The
Australian government has proposed a Reef 2015 long term sustainability plan that calls
for 50% reduction of nitrogen release, ban on disposable waste materials, and reduction
of runoff water. This energy transformation vision aims to create steps for cleaner
energy sources, and with its enforcement the Great Barrier Reef has a chance of
recovery.
The Great Barrier Reef is in danger, as the largest living organism, its survival is
imperative to the Australian ecosystem. Human stresses and pollutants have sped and
increased the intensity of the bleachings, and although some solutions have been
implemented, more is needed to save the Great Barrier Reef. Increasing the public
knowledge of the Reef and ways to reduce our pollution and implementing new laws to
enforce these ideas should be the next big step towards reef preservation. If the global
community can come together and create a substantial plan towards recovery, the
future of the ecosystem of Northeastern Queensland could be saved.

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Works Cited

Barth, Amy. "Reefs in peril." Science World/Current Science, 5 Sept. 2016, p. 18+.
`
General OneFile, Accessed 29 Nov. 2016.
Barth, Amy. "In hot water: can super-corals save a warming reef?" SuperScience, Nov.
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2016, p. 10+. General OneFile, Accessed 29 Nov. 2016.
Gilman, Larry. "Coral Reefs and Corals." Climate Change: In Context, edited by Brenda
` Wilmoth Lerner and K. Lee Lerner, vol. 1, Gale, 2008, pp. 250-255. In Context `
` Series. Gale Virtual Reference Library, Accessed 29 Nov. 2016.
"Life and death following Great Barrier Reef bleaching." Space Daily, 30 Nov. 2016. `
` General OneFile, Accessed 30 Nov. 2016
O'Shanassy, Kelly. "Letter from the CEO." Habitat Australia, Nov. 2016, p. 5. General `
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OneFile, Accessed 29 Nov. 2016.
"Roundup: Fears grow for Great Barrier Reef." Xinhua News Agency, 15 Aug. 2014.
`
Global Issues in Context, Accessed 29 Nov. 2016
"Saving the Great Barrier Reef." Time, 27 June 2016. Global Issues in Context, `
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Accessed 29 Nov. 2016.
"Scientists assess bleaching damage on Great Barrier Reef." Space Daily, 27 Oct.
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2016. General OneFile, Accessed 30 Nov. 2016
"Shine a light for the reef." Habitat Australia, Nov. 2016, p. 2. General OneFile,
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Accessed 29 Nov. 2016.
Worland, Justin. "The Great Barrier Reef Is Under Attack." Time, 25 Apr. 2016. Global
Issues in Context, Accessed 29 Nov. 2016.