My heart sank when I read about the Chinese ship that ran aground in the Great Barrier Reef late last Saturday. According to, “Australia rushes to contain Barrier Reef oil spill,” by Rob Griffith, the vessel has already spilled over 2 tons of oil from the 1,000 tons on board. Although this might not seem like a significant amount, this ship is endangering a very delicate part of one of the most precious marine environments on earth.
The Great Barrier Reef that rises off northeastern Australia is actually composed of more than 2,800 individual coral reefs. Thriving in clear, shallow, coastal waters of tropical seas, Coral Reefs support a wide diversity of life. According to WWF Australia, the reef has 1,500 species of fish, 359 types of hard coral, one third of the world’s soft corals, 175 bird species, six of the world’s seven species of threatened marine turtle, more than 30 species of marine mammals, 5,000 to 8,000 molluscs and thousands of different sponges, worms, crustaceans, 800 species of echinoderms and 215 bird species.
With so much at stake, the damage the ship’s presence could inflict on this rich environment could take weeks to clean up. Like rainforests, reefs have declined drastically due to human actions. There are numerous ways humans have added harmful pollutants into our oceans that can cause serious damage to the fragile ecosystems of the coral reefs.
But what is the real importance of coral reefs? Coral Reefs are important for many different reasons; to start they protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms. They also provide habitats and shelter for many marine organisms while also supplying the source of nitrogen and other essential nutrients for these food chains to survive. The study of coral reefs is especially important for providing a clear, scientifically testable record of climate events over the past million years or so.
About one year ago, I applied for the opportunity of a lifetime, the opportunity to study abroad in Australia. I spent four months in a beautiful city called Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. I know, I know, you’re thinking to yourself is she serious? Surfers Paradise? Believe me, it’s a place as pristine as the name leads you to believe.
Adventurous in nature, I found myself exploring and experiencing Australia in almost every way that I could, but one of the most memorable experiences had to be diving the Great Barrier Reef. I wish I could even begin to share with you what it feels like to be surrounded by such magnificence, completely in awe, completely surrounded by an unknown world. Appreciating the beauty is one thing, but protecting it is another. It is important that we try to protect such wonders of nature by being respectful and aware of our actions.
