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Lesson 7:
Human impact on the reef
Become an ocean explorer (ages 7-11)
Threats to the coral
reef
Storms
Over-fishing
Tourism
Warming oceans
Ocean acidification
Fertiliser run-off
Crown of Thorns starfish
Turbidity
High CO2
Oceans
Physical
DamageWater
Quality
There are a range of activities to learn
about threats to the coral reef…
The coral reef is being affected by carbon
dioxide. More carbon dioxide is being produced
and this dissolves in the ocean changing its
chemistry.
Soil being washed out to sea harms the reef.
This can happen when woods are cut down. The
soil can smother the polyps.
Tourism can harm the reef is tourist boats are
not careful where they anchor. Corals are fragile
and can be damaged by divers knocking into
them.
The mining industry in Australia wants to
expand port facilities to increase trade. This
work is likely to damage the reef.
Overfishing can harm life on the reef. Parrotfish
are now being hunted after many of the other
fish such as grouper and snapper have gone.
Outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish can be
very damaging to the reef. These starfish are
specialist coral predators and can eat huge
areas of the reef.
If the ocean becomes suddenly too warm, this
can be very harmful for corals. It can cause
bleaching, turning the corals white.
What would reef health living look like?
There is pressure on the
Great Barrier Reef from the
development of shipping to
transport coal. What do you
think about this?
How could farmers stop so
many chemicals such as
fertilisers and pesticides
getting into the ocean?
How could the amount of
carbon dioxide emissions be
reduced?
How do you feel that your
children may never see a
healthy coral reef in the wild?
Coral may be in terminal decline by 2048…
Slide Photo Credit
3 Ocean Acidification Digital Explorer
4 Land runoff NASA
5 Tourism Digital Explorer
6 Shipping terminal Digital Explorer
9 Bleached reef Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
All other images and photos XL Catlin Seaview Survey
Photo credits
