- 200 water-quality experts agree water pollution remains a major problem for the Great Barrier Reef and urgently needs to be addressed
- Poor water quality is worsening the impacts of climate change and the experts have said the problem must be urgently addressed
- Australian and Queensland governments must target hot spot areas to rapidly cut water pollution in Reef waters
The Australian and Queensland governments urgently need to do much more to cut water pollution in the Great Barrier Reef waters, especially for the Reef to better handle the impacts of climate change, the Australian Marine Conservation said after the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement on Great Barrier Reef water quality was released today.
The 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement, the work of 200 experts, has emphasised the continuing impacts that poor water quality is having on the health of the Great Barrier Reef. For the first time the consensus statement has linked poor water quality to worse impacts from climate change and stressed the need for governments to focus on hot spots for pollution, rather than spread investment thinly across the whole catchment.
AMCS Great Barrier Reef campaigner Fran Rudischauser: “The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its worst summer on record, facing cyclones, severe flooding, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and its fifth mass bleaching event in the last eight years – the most extreme and most widespread we have ever seen. Our Reef needs a break.
“Global climate change is the biggest threat to our Reef, and water pollution is the most significant local threat and is entirely in Australia’s hands. This collation of the latest science from over 200 experts makes it clear that we need to urgently act on improving the waters of the Great Barrier Reef and that time is running out.
“The experts have emphasised that poor water quality is worsening climate-related impacts to the Great Barrier Reef. Meeting the water quality improvement targets set by governments is essential to increase climate resilience and allow ecosystems to recover from climate impacts.
“It has never been more urgent to boost the health of the Reef in the face of increasing heat stress and coral bleaching, and the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement gives us the latest Reef water quality data, the latest latest scientific evidence on how land-based activities impact Reef water and how these impacts can be managed.
“Retaining and protecting vegetation in Reef catchments has been highlighted as an important means to reducing erosion and sediment entering the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. However broadscale deforestation in the Reef catchment is still a major issue, with more than 140,000 hectares cleared in Reef catchments in the most recent year we have figures for, 2021-22, counteracting the millions of dollars the government is pouring into repairing streambanks and gullies.
“The consensus statement has reiterated findings from decades of science that nutrients from sugar cane farming continues to be adding excessive nutrients to the waters of the Reef. Excessive nutrients such as nitrogen can cause phytoplankton blooms that block vital sunlight for coral and seagrass growth and has been linked to crown of thorns increases. At the current rate of nitrogen pollution reduction, we will not hit the 2025 target until we’re in the next century.
“The Queensland and Australian governments must urgently do more to cut water pollution in Great Barrier Reef waters. The World Heritage Committee last week emphasised that the government must urgently reduce water pollution. They need to stop broadscale clearing in Reef catchments, especially near watercourses, remediate eroding gullies and watercourses, and protect and restore coastal wetlands – the coast’s water filters that trap sediment and remove excessive nutrients.
“Our governments need to urgently commit major funding to tackle nitrogen pollution. The Queensland Government must ensure the Reef protection regulations, which were introduced in 2019 are fully funded and enforced.
“The Great Barrier Reef has just experienced one of the worst bleaching events on record, the fifth mass bleaching event in eight years, caused by climate change, the greatest threat to the Reef. The impacts of climate change are worsening, yet the Australian Government has not committed to the full reform of our national environmental laws to deal with climate-polluting projects or its commitments to cut carbon pollution.”
