Climate change impacts on the Reef
9
In 2010 a Chinese bulk coal carrier MV Shen Neng 1 ran aground on the Douglas Shoal reef, 95 kilometers east of Yeppoon. While an estimated 4 tonnes of fuel oil was lost into the marine environment, the greater losses were as a result of the physical damage done to the reef, with a claim subsequently having been made against the vessel and its owners for physical damage to between 80,000m² and 400,000m². While the losses said to be associated with the restoration were potentially in the hundreds of millions, the claimwaseventuallysettledoncommercial terms that took into consideration the vessel owner’s legitimate ability to limit its liability under the Limitation of Liability Convention for a small fraction of the amount claimed. 30
Great Barrier Reef catchments
– Expansion of shipping in and around the Reef , and associated risks with accidental groundings, re-suspension of sediments in coastal waters, anchor damage and pollution from ships – Rogue commercial fishing in the Reef by foreign unregistered fishermen – Land Management of agriculture and catchment areas has been slow to implement best practice management systems necessary to prevent environmental impacts on the Reef. The Reef Water Quality Report Card 2017 and 2018 27 reported poor performance at improving land management in the agricultural industry, catchment management targets, water quality These concerns have recently been the subject of public discussion and protests leading up to the 2019 Federal Election, with protestors in the “Stop Adani” campaign opposing the controversial Adani Carmichael Coal mine proposed for the Galilee Basin, due to its potential contribution to global carbon emissions, expansion of a Point Abbot Port 28 for shipping coal, and other environmental impacts relating to pollution and groundwater. The project has also been under regulatory scrutiny, with allegations of illegal works and water pollution into wetlands. 29 https://reportcard.reefplan.qld.gov.au/ home?report=target This Port geographically within the area of GBR Marine Park, however is excised from the Marine Park and its environmental zoning. https://www.echo.net.au/2019/02/adani-hot- water-wetland-breach/ ; and https://www. abc.net.au/news/2019-06-05/adani-doing- illegal-work-at-mine-group-claims-footage- shows/11180620 28 29 targets, and moderate to poor conditions for inshore marine conditions and freshwater wetland conditions in the catchment area 27
Cape York region
A
Wet Tropics region
B
Burdekin region
C
Mackay Whitsunday region
D
Fitzroy region
E
Burnett Mary region
F
42,400,000 hectares Total area 887 mm Average annual rainfall 73,789 GL Annual discharge to coast 6 Number of NRM regions
30
Reported by some to have been settled for in the order of AUD35 million: https://www. abc.net.au/news/2019-02-22/shen-neng-1- grounding-douglas-shoal-remediation-project- begins/10830958?section=environment
Source – https://reportcard.reefplan.qld.gov.au/
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