WWF to focus on protection of the Great Barrier Reef
Copyright 2001 WWF
August 23, 2001
Townsville, Australia - WWF, the conservation organization, has identified the Great Barrier Reef as a global priority for protection.
Following extensive discussions with reef experts, WWF marine conservation staff from 20 countries around the world have agreed on the need for the Australian and Queensland governments to work cooperatively to reduced threats to the reef. Representatives from the USA, Latin and Central America, Fiji, India, the Galapagos, Thailand, Germany, Russia, Norway, New Zealand and Australia are attending the five day conference in Townsville.
As part of the newly created international Endangered Seas Programme, WWF has committed to a global campaign to eliminate damaging impacts on the reef and to create a global benchmark for marine protection through a network of fully protected zones throughout the Marine Park.
"This extraordinarily precious ecosystem still suffers from a range of human threats including land-based pollution, overfishing and climate change" said Dr Simon Cripps, marine pollution expert and Head of WWF's Endangered Seas Programme.
"Recent satellite photographs show dramatic evidence of sediment pollution from coastal rivers with the potential to smother sensitive coral reefs and other important habitats. The potential for oil exploration and drilling adjacent to the marine park poses an additional major threat that must be prevented."
WWF's international marine experts meeting in Townsville this week also called on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to substantially increase the extent of fully protected areas within the Marine Park.
"The Great Barrier Reef, as the world's largest living entity, requires an extensive network of fully protected areas for its long term survival. The current level of protection is inadequate. Approximately 95 per cent of the Marine Park allows fishing activities, with 50 per cent open to bottom trawling, which damages the seafloor and results in large losses of marine life. Many people find it extraordinary that bottom trawling occurs within the Marine Park itself," said Dr Cripps.
In addition, the level of protection throughout the Marine Park is highly variable. For example, while 13 per cent of the most northern section of the Park is fully protected, only 1.4 per cent of the most southern section is granted the same status.
Dr Cripps said that the planned zoning review for the marine park was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to establish a global benchmark for tropical marine conservation.
"With coral reefs around the world under dire threat, the Great Barrier Reef could be among the very few large coral ecosystems to survive the next 50 years," he said.
WWF Australia has established a Great Barrier Reef campaign to safeguard the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, considered the most biologically rich marine ecosystem on the planet.
The campaign, which is directed by Imogen Zethoven, is working towards the establishment of a network of fully protected areas, the reduction of land-based pollution and a phase out of destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling.As part of this campaign, WWF is raising awareness through the Internet and local distribution of campaign materials to millions of international visitors and the global community about the need for additional protection of the Great Barrier Reef.
For more information
Rosslyn Beeby WWF Australia Media, email: rbeeby@wwf.org.au