Algae blooms block sunlight and when they die, sink, and rot, deeper layers are deprived of oxygen. Coral reefs are very sensitive to water quality.
What does land management have to do with the ocean?
A lot. Erosion and runoff carry silt, phosphates, and iron into the ocean.
Isn't this just feel-good stuff?
Getting local people involved and changing attitudes can make a big difference.
Also, no mention of global warming?
Get a grip. AGW is an enormous global problem that will take generations to fix. That is not something that Australia can do on their own, and certainly not with $379M.
Reality is, the reef goes through ups and downs. You can't control the whole reef like a theme park, there will always be dead zones and regenerating zones. It's way to big to control.
Yeah, life finds a way, species and ecosystems find ways to adapt to whatever we throw at them.
A$201 million to improve water quality through reducing fertilizer use and adapting new technologies and land management practices A$100 million for science research to restore the reef and boost its resilience A$58 million to fight the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish A$45 million for sea country management, coastal clean-up days and to raise awareness A$40 million to enhance reef health monitoring
"$379 million boost" doesn't mean anything by itself.
TFA actually lists projects that get funded.
Is fertilizers even the problem here?
Algae blooms block sunlight and when they die, sink, and rot, deeper layers are deprived of oxygen. Coral reefs are very sensitive to water quality.
What does land management have to do with the ocean?
A lot. Erosion and runoff carry silt, phosphates, and iron into the ocean.
Isn't this just feel-good stuff?
Getting local people involved and changing attitudes can make a big difference.
Also, no mention of global warming?
Get a grip. AGW is an enormous global problem that will take generations to fix. That is not something that Australia can do on their own, and certainly not with $379M.
Reality is, the reef goes through ups and downs. You can't control the whole reef like a theme park, there will always be dead zones and regenerating zones. It's way to big to control.
Yeah, life finds a way, species and ecosystems find ways to adapt to whatever we throw at them.
Just ask the Passenger pigeon [wikipedia.org].
Has nobody thought this through? What's a reef going to do with 379 million dollars?
Invest in SpongeBob SquarePants lunchboxes?
Well if you RTFA...
The funding includes:
A$201 million to improve water quality through reducing fertilizer use and adapting new technologies and land management practices
A$100 million for science research to restore the reef and boost its resilience
A$58 million to fight the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish
A$45 million for sea country management, coastal clean-up days and to raise awareness
A$40 million to enhance reef health monitoring