The Great Barrier Reef is in danger. According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (Aims) the latest government report on the reef focuses on positive conclusions and hides negative data on the decline.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himLa Great Barrier Reef is in danger. According to theAustralian Institute of Marine Science (Aims) the latest government report on the reef focuses on positive conclusions and hides the negative data on the decline.
A potential conflict of interest. According to Aims, in fact, the assessment of the conditions of the Great Barrier Reef, compiled by the Federal Government and the Queensland Government, it would have concealed negative data and information.
The evaluation it would be lacking of international scientific evidence on coral reef ecosystems. Some negative information would be present here and there between the chapters of the document, but according to Aims the conclusions of the evaluation would be positive and would try to reduce the inconvenient aspects.
For example, it would not be correct to say that most of the marine species evaluated are in good or very good condition, when in the same area we have corals, dolphins, turtles and other animals in a very bad state. So the Australian institute feels the need to monitor the reef now more than ever, particularly as the environmental impact assessment system of industrial development near the Great Barrier Reef is flawed.
The actions implemented mainly concern the dredging of the seabed and the construction of ports. The potential conflict of interest would be evident as the supervision and control of the quality of the work is carried out by the promoters of the development activities themselves, which could minimize the environmental and social impacts.
The assessment of the health of the Australian coral reef should therefore be entrusted to a independent body. Some research has shown that coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef it has halved to say the least over the past 30 years, due to pollution and cyclones. But the development of new ports, accidents during shipping and pollution could also cause their decline.
According to Peter Mumby, president of the Australian Coral Reef Society, the Great Barrier Reef it is in the worst conditions of all time. A recently published study showed that coral diseases have doubled since dredging began. The development of new activities in the areas surrounding the Australian coral reef should always take place on the basis of serious and in-depth scientific assessments, which first of all take into account respect for ecosystems.
Marta Albè
Photo source: mendaily.com
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