Significant Event: Coral Bleaching Returns to The Great Barrier Reef

Peter Hannam- The Sydney Morning Herald, 25th February 2017

Sustained periods of heat stress are currently affecting the Great Barrier Reefs (GBR) coral,
risking widespread bleaching.
Last year saw up to 80 percent of corals bleached, scientists fear that the sustained stress
will cause irreversible damage and mortality.
As it is not an El Nino year the period between bleaching events is shorter and hence not
allowing of recovery time.
Imogen Zethoven from the Australian Marine Conservation Society believes that time is
running out to save the reef, particularly from climate change.
Climate change is proving to be underestimated by the current Liberal government who
believe Australia is on track to reducing carbon emissions in Australia and that there is no
concern relating to the coal mine 300kilometres away from the GBR that is estimated to
emit 4.7 billion tonnes of carbon emissions over 60 years.
The labour opposition party disagree, claiming that Australias carbon emissions are
increasing currently, noting that this disregard may lead to loss of the tourism industry in
this area.

Sustained heat stress upon the GBR is alarming reef conservationists and scientists as the reef enters
its second consecutive year of this stress. While bleaching is a gradually occurring stress caused by
both human and natural causes, the sustained heat for consecutive years is proving to have
devastating effects upon the ecosystem. In response to the warm waters the corals undergo
modifications in hopes to survive by expelling the zooxanthellae algae living in their tissue that
allows them to grow and reproduce. Thus, the coral bleaches and those who survive take years to
recover. Recovery can take 10-20 years, so due to the lack of recovery time available between
stresses the amplitude of the stress gets increasingly larger along with the malleability. Extending
this issue even further is the current weather and climate patterns making this year not an El Nino
year meaning that the time between each bleaching event is getting shorter which doesnt allow for
much recovery to occur.

Maintaining the biodiversity of this ecosystem is highly important in managing and protecting the
GBR. The bleaching of the coral is gradually reducing the genetic and species diversity of the
ecosystem. This has a subsequently lead to a reduction in habitat, protection and a food source for
those organisms who rely on coral species in a symbiotic relationship. The organisms would be
displaced and either perish or relocate reducing the linkages within the ecosystem and creating a
more vulnerable environment.

The utility value of the GBR is of very high importance not only to its local community but on a
national scale due to the tourism operations it holds. While last year saw 80 percent of coral lost in
northern regions the main tourist areas remained rather unscathed and had a fast elasticity. This
year higher concentrations of bleaching can be seen around Cairns and other popular destinations,
significantly affecting the tourism industry which would be of great detriment due to its high
employment (over 70,000 people) in this region. Additionally, Zethoven and Labours climate
spokesperson, Mark Butler, are concerned for the state of the reef as a result of the Liberal partys
support of the Carmichael coal mine estimated to emit 4.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide over sixty
years. This would further contribute to global warming a gradually destroy the GBR even faster
ruining the intergenerational equity of the ecosystem as people in the future will not get to visit a
functioning coral reef if any at all. In saying this, an environmental imperialism approach would allow
for the coal mine to be seen as a source of significant intragenerational utility value over its sixty-
year lifespan.

The immense intrinsic value of the GBR is the cause of its tourist attraction status. However, as the
corals bleach they lose their colour detracting their beauty and hence lessening the attraction of the
region. Those species that usually live amongst the coral in symbiosis are generally missing from
these areas due to their displacement, lowering the intrinsic value of the reef further due to the lack
of biodiversity, therefore making the protection of this ecosystem vital.

The GBR also holds great heritage value, being World Heritage-listed for its natural beauty and
scientific and cultural significance. The UNESCOs listing promotes a healthy interaction with this
ecosystem as the environment should be protected so that it can be valuable and vibrant into the
future.

In response to this stress research and constant surveying is carried out continuously to monitor and
attempt to control the current situation. This also allows for the public to be educated so they gain
an understanding of just how detrimental their lifestyles can be on the environment and how global
warming is changing our ecosystems dramatically. Through education the conservation of the GBR
can be addressed alongside allowing for stewardship philosophies to be understood and followed to
ensure intragenerational and intergenerational equity.

On top of this Australia has committed to a variety of climate agreements including the Paris climate
agreement, the 2020 renewable energy target and the reef 2050 plan. The government is taking
action through committing to these agreements in hopes to restore the reefs health back to a more
sustainable level. The current liberal government claim to be making real progress to increase the
health of the reef, however the opposition party disagree with their declarations and note that
Australias carbon emissions are increasing. Nothing short of real strong action, both around the
reef and nationally to tackle climate change, will do. These actions, have the potential to provide
both intergenerational and intragenerational equity as the GBR could be restored for conservation
both presently and into the future.