Considered to be one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef houses about 10 per cent of all the world’s coral reef, located off the Queensland coast. The barrier reef, aside from the coral polyps, contains sponge beds, mangrove forests, and sea grass. Around 80,000 tonnes of pollutant nitrogen enters the Great Barrier Reef lagoon each year. The Great Barrier Reef is also the largest living eco structure in the world. Pollution and declining water quality are also pretty big threats to our Great Barrier Reef. As human population and development expands in coastal areas, the landscape is altered, increasing land-based sources of pollution and threatening coral reef … Pollution in the Great Barrier Reef Sediment and chemical pollution from farms and land based runoff causes major damage to insh ore coral reefs and seagrass meadows in our beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Pollution and declining water quality are also pretty big threats to our Great Barrier Reef. The byproducts from sugar cane have the potential to run into the area of the Great Barrier Reef which affect the water quality. Coastal development also looms as a major threat. Fact: Sediment, nutrient and agriculture pesticide pollution from river catchment run-off is also affecting the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Fact: The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system. (Read: Largest Clams in the World) 17. The effects of this human activity can result in significantly declining species and even extinction, altering and threatening the food chain and biodiversity of the entire reef. Fact: The Great Barrier Reef has over 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres. Catchment runoff and water pollution. Fact: Too much or poorly managed tourism could be a risk to the reef, fortunately tourism on the reef is very well managed at the moment. Catchment runoff and water pollution. Pollution from mining contains toxic, metallic materials. The rivers of north-eastern Australia provide significant pollution of our Reef during tropical flood events with over 90% of this pollution being sourced from farms. The growing combination of rising water temperatures, poorer water quality from sediment run-off and pollution, as well as more severe cyclones and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, are just some of the threats creating a perfect storm for our Reef and the marine life that depends on it. The byproducts from sugar cane have the potential to run into the area of the Great Barrier Reef which affect the water quality. Many serious coral reef ecosystem stressors originate from land-based sources, most notably toxicants, sediments, and nutrients. Risks to the health of the Great Barrier Reef include coral bleaching, eutrophication due to nutrient runoff and overfishing. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under Creative Commons license. This massive reef, visible from space encompasses over 100,000 square miles of the Coral Sea hosting an impressive group of 900 islands and almost 3000 individual reefs. Fact: Too much or poorly managed tourism could be a risk to the reef, fortunately tourism on the reef is very well managed at the moment. The Australian government, who designated the reef a park, called the Great Barrier Marine Park, protects a large area of the Great Barrier Reef. The Guardian - Back to home. Pollution from multiple sources affects the Great Barrier Reef. ... Pollution More Great Barrier Reef . Pollution, both land and sea based, in the Great Barrier Reef has a heavy impact on the biodiversity of the Reef's ecosystem. They are a hazard to the sea water and could ruin the animals and plants in the Great Barrier Reef.