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The Great Barrier Reef: Environmental Analysis

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The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is one of Australia’s first and most significant world heritage sites. It is also one of the most ecologically diverse and the largest reef systems worldwide (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2013). Anthropogenic pressure on the GBR dates back to 150 years ago. Land clearing, agriculture, overfishing, poaching of endangered species such as humpback whales and human-induced climate change have posed a serious threat to GBR’s biodiversity in the past and present (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2013). Over the past 30 years, issues relating to water quality and irresponsible poaching and fishing practices have been addressed effectively. The Marine Park Zoning Plan of 2003 and Great Barrier reef water quality protection plan have become the primary management tools for GBR, along with a $375 million grant by the Queensland government to support various policy instruments such as a daily cap on some fish catches, protection zones for endangered species such as dugongs and improved reef monitoring and collaboration wih the local community (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park …show more content…

The outlook indicated that the reef had various stressors such as climate change, overfishing, pollutant runoff from industrial and agricultural sites and coastal development was still having a significant impact on the reefs biodiversity (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2013). In response to this the Great Barrier Reef conservation strategy of 2013 (GBRCS) was developed and implemented by NSW and QLD governments, community, industry, and indigenous groups in order to incorporate a national management initiative to ensure the ecological sustainability of GBR resources by prioritizing, addressing and reducing major threats (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2013). The Great Barrier Reef conservation strategy of 2013 is significant on a local, state and federal

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