The Australian Great Barrier Reef: Threats, Stakeholders, Government Plans

THREATS:
River runoff from the land: Cane farmers in northern Queensland have had to reverse the cycle of the wetlands so that the water leaves the land quickly, in order for their cane crops to survive. The problem with the water leaving quickly, though, is that it drags the topsoil and various other harmful agricultural chemicals with it. That dirty water then filters into the river catchments that feed the Great Barrier Reef. This water turns into mud, algae and bacteria that settle on the living coral organisms. It then smothers the animal and eventually kills it.
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