Garie Beach

what are the cultural issues affecting the Great Barrier reef?

I have to explain the cultural issues causing the great barrier reef to be threatened. thanks!!!

Public Comments

1. I don't quite know what is meant by 'cultural issues' exactly, but some things you can look at are: 1/ pollution by chemical/industrial waste/fertiliser/sewage run-off from the mainland 2/ overfishing by commercial & recreational fishermen 3/ reef destruction from dragging anchors of tourist & other boat operators 4/ unregulated 'traditional' hunting of dugongs and turtles by aborigines 5/ potential oil spills from heavy cargo ships & tankers etc navigating through the reef 6/ naturally, the climate change argument and its potential
2. The above answer covers a good range of problems....but yeah, cultural issues? Do you know what your teacher meant by it at all? I imagine it is the parts of our culture that are effecting the reef, but I suppose it could mean how our culture would be affected by the degradation of the reef as well? Oh well... Specifically relating to culture I think tourism would be a good one. Poorly managed tourism that allows for too many people into the water. Inevitably, these people are going to damage the reef, people are always too tempted to pick things us, touch things etc. and this can actually cause extensive damage and stress to organisms. Yet, we Australians have a real "beach culture" as they say. This beach culture is fueling tourism, and associated urban development that may be in excess of what the reef itself can handle. This may be one way to approach it? Just trying to tie it in with the culture thing....