Save the Great Barrier Reef – Fast facts!
- Posted by
- Kelsey
Last week, GetUp launched its campaign to stop coal seam gas mining damaging Australia’s beautiful Great Barrier Reef, and we’ve had plenty of questions about the campaign since. Whether you’re looking to spread the word around friends or clear up a quick question you might have had, find the facts below! More questions? Leave us a comment and let us know!
The largest dredging operation ever in Australia is occurring within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area – an area protected because of its unique universal value.
Dredging is currently underway within Gladstone Harbour and will extend out parallel to Curtis Island – and the coral reef itself is approximately 10km from where the dredging is occurring.
The World Heritage Committee, the world’s premier scientific organisation, has formally registered its ‘extreme concern’* about this development within the World Heritage Area and warned it jeopardises the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage status.
Since the dredging began, there has been a massive spike in marine wildlife deaths such as dugongs, dolphins and turtle – 231 turtles have died, compared to only 38 for the same period last year**; and dredging has diminished local sea grass, which is critical habitat and food for turtles, dugongs and many other species.
Experts say that the dredging is also impacting on Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, with direct impacts on saltpan, saltmarsh, sea grass, mangrove and intertidal habitats, as well as direct and indirect impacts on whales, dolphins, turtles and dugong.
According to the State Government’s own report the digging and dumping of dredge material will:
- directly destroy 445 hectares of seagrass.
- indirectly cause the loss of a further 1400 hectares of seagrass
- put further pressure on sea grass beds that have been recently flooded, so the dredging is occurring at the worst time possible.
This massive industrial activity is damaging the Great Barrier Reef and threatens its status as a World Heritage Site. If you haven’t already, sign the emergency petition now!
* http://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/35COM/
** http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/caring_for_wildlife/marine-strandings-data.html
