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Carey ZERO Program - Pre-Learning Module: The Great Barrier Reef

Books

Saving the Great Barrier Reef

Summary: As the largest coral reef system on the globe and home to 1,500 species of fish and other diverse marine life, Australia's Great Barrier Reef is unquestionably one of the great wonders of the natural world. Unfortunately, it is also in grave danger of dying. Recent annual back-to-back coral bleaching events have drastically accelerated the already existing damage to the Great Barrier Reef and its rich biodiversity. The reef is under threat from numerous other pressures, both natural and man-made. These threats include over-fishing, coastal development, agriculture, mining, tourism, and the ravaging ecological impacts of climate change. How is Australia sustainably managing the reef and the land-based and sea life it supports? What conservation threats are being effectively addressed, before it is too late to save the Great Barrier Reef?

Ocean Conservation and Management

Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth's surface and contain a diverse array of species, habitats and ecosystems. As many as 100 million species, ranging from from the world's biggest animal (blue whale), to the tiniest of bacteria, live in our oceans, contributing to a rich biodiversity far exceeding that found on land. Marine extinction risk has ramped up rapidly in the past 50 years, to converge upon the level of risk seen on land. People use and benefit from oceans and coasts in a number of important ways - through recreational activities, coastal living, tourism, fishing, shipping, and exploiting reserves of oil, gas and minerals found beneath the sea floor in many parts of the world. What are the human and climate change-related impacts on Australia's fragile ocean ecology and marine habitats? Which species are most at risk? How is Australia conserving its rich marine environment, including the unique Great Barrier Reef? This book presents the latest key information on Australia's ocean conservation and management approaches, fisheries management and seafood sustainability, and reef management and marine pollution. Are our current efforts to save the treasures of our aquatic planet amounting to a drop in the ocean?

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