Reef Report Recommends “In Danger”

Another Summer Of Coral Bleaching

The natural wonder of the world that sits at the Whitsundays’ doorstep is under intense scrutiny this week after United Nation’s scientists released their recommendations that the Great Barrier Reef be listed as “in danger”.

The two UN-backed scientists, Elanor Carter and Hans Thulstrup - who visited the Reef in late March while the natural wonder was experiencing its seventh recorded mass bleaching event, and first ever in a La Nina year – released their findings from the 10-day trip in a 100-page report.

Concerns regarding the health of the Great Barrier Reef had been held by the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for years, but they are now looking to come to a head.

The report will likely head to the World Heritage committee in early 2023 where a decision surrounding its status as a World Heritage site will be in contention due to the “in danger” recommendation.

The report states that, while there has been much hard work and progress made on improving water quality in the Reef, they have been far too slow.

“The [Great Barrier Reef] is faced with major threats that could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics… for future generations,” the report reads.

The United Nations Reef Report makes a number of high-level recommendations that focus on programs targeting farmers and graziers, work on land erosion, clearer and more ambitious climate targets, and state government work to manage fisheries, amongst others.

Meanwhile, the spotlight on the reef could not come at a worse time: Scientists have said record ocean temperatures could spell another summer of coral bleaching.

Ocean temperatures over the reef reached record numbers in November – their highest since 1985 – according to data from the US government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa).

The peak period for heat over the reef is expected for February, but a “well-timed cyclone” could stave off the high expected temperatures.

With Nooa’s predictions, there is a “good chance we will see another back-to-back bleaching event,” according to Professor Terry Hughes, a leading expert on coral bleaching at James Cook University.

Whitsunday Conservation Council member, Tony Fontes, said, alongside the potential bleaching, the report held more importance than ever.

“We have limited time and must move on the report’s recommendations,” Mr Fontes said.

“The future health of the Reef is in danger, with or without the World Heritage listing. But we still have a small window of opportunity. The recommendations in the UNESCO report need to be applied now.”

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