Great Barrier Reef Threatened by Garbage, Chemicals - and Bombs

EarthVision Reports, 14 January 1999

CANBERRA, Australia, January 14, 1999 -- Environmentalists in Australia have launched a campaign to get the government to pay more attention to the Great Barrier Reef, which they say is experiencing a slow but certain death. The reef stretches 1,200 miles off the continent's northeastern coast. The cause of the calamity, according to the groups, is pollution, development and even tourism. Four prominent scientists released a letter today saying the reef faces many other threats, including chemical runoff, sugar cane farming, cattle grazing, industrial and housing development, mining, fishing and wetland and mangrove swamp loss. The Associated Press reported that the government has already responded with a plan to combat illegal prawn trawling. AP also reported that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has formally requested that the Australian air force to stop bombing training in Halifax Bay, a part of the park where coral reefs are being destroyed en masse. The air force responded by saying it intended to continue the bombing, but would look for other options.

References

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