GBR may be threatened from flood waters
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gee13
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At least the damage is from natural causes instead of tankers running aground and spilling oil. That said it may take some parts time to recover. Some of the ribbon reefs have already been damaged by pollutive runoff and excessive diving. Nevertheless its not a good thing.
Just a couple of pointers towards that article if I may. As far as the Reef around Townsville, Cairns etc goes the effect of the floods is minimal if not non existent.
We are used to cyclones here which bring constant floods and devastation albeit for short time frames. The Reef areas visited by tourists are quite a way from the coast. For flood water to exit a river mouth and somehow desalinate the surrounding sea water is highly unlikely.
As for pesticides, this topic has been researched for many years. Run off was always thought to have had a negative effect by causing prolific algal growth due to the fertilizers presence. Studies showed this was not actually the case and that whilst it was possible it did not negatively affect the Reef. As a consequence of the studies, fertilizer usage and run off is very strictly monitored by the Dept of Environment.
A lot of the cane farmers here grow soy in between planting sugar crops to avoid or reduce using fertilizers (soy puts nitrogen back into the soils).
In the Far North of Queensland we were lucky and did not get the flooding most of you would have seen on the news. Most of what you see is inland pastoral areas where rivers have broken the levees, or in Brisbane where the Brisbane river flooded.
Please note that the Far north (Cairns, Townsville, Cooktown), the Sunshine and Gold Coast and the Whitsudays are NOT affected by the floods and its business as usual.
The article mentions Keppel Island which is not known for its diving and is way south of the tourist Reef areas. It also mentions that “On their own, the floods would not necessarily be a significant threat.”
The article actually talks about other problems like climate change and bleaching which is a problem here due to the drought and high temperature years from El Niño prior to this.
No trips or tours have been cancelled or delayed out to the Reef from Cairns. If you are in doubt and are travelling in this region, please contact your tour agent if you have one. But if you are already here then you will see form local news bulletins that it is sensationalised a bit more overseas, and things are getting back to normal, and there has never been any mention, anywhere, in any media, about concerns to the Great Barrier Reef from these floods.
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Cairns Discount Dive And Snorkel Trips. Live Aboard And Day Trips To The Great Barrier Reef
We are used to cyclones here which bring constant floods and devastation albeit for short time frames. The Reef areas visited by tourists are quite a way from the coast. For flood water to exit a river mouth and somehow desalinate the surrounding sea water is highly unlikely.
As for pesticides, this topic has been researched for many years. Run off was always thought to have had a negative effect by causing prolific algal growth due to the fertilizers presence. Studies showed this was not actually the case and that whilst it was possible it did not negatively affect the Reef. As a consequence of the studies, fertilizer usage and run off is very strictly monitored by the Dept of Environment.
A lot of the cane farmers here grow soy in between planting sugar crops to avoid or reduce using fertilizers (soy puts nitrogen back into the soils).
In the Far North of Queensland we were lucky and did not get the flooding most of you would have seen on the news. Most of what you see is inland pastoral areas where rivers have broken the levees, or in Brisbane where the Brisbane river flooded.
Please note that the Far north (Cairns, Townsville, Cooktown), the Sunshine and Gold Coast and the Whitsudays are NOT affected by the floods and its business as usual.
The article mentions Keppel Island which is not known for its diving and is way south of the tourist Reef areas. It also mentions that “On their own, the floods would not necessarily be a significant threat.”
The article actually talks about other problems like climate change and bleaching which is a problem here due to the drought and high temperature years from El Niño prior to this.
No trips or tours have been cancelled or delayed out to the Reef from Cairns. If you are in doubt and are travelling in this region, please contact your tour agent if you have one. But if you are already here then you will see form local news bulletins that it is sensationalised a bit more overseas, and things are getting back to normal, and there has never been any mention, anywhere, in any media, about concerns to the Great Barrier Reef from these floods.
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Cairns Discount Dive And Snorkel Trips. Live Aboard And Day Trips To The Great Barrier Reef
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