Corals are fascinating creatures and incredible symbiots. Vulcan (where I work) has been contributing to the advancement of science to save reefs. We've funded Ruth Gates and Madeleine VanOppen's work in human-assisted evolution of corals, among other projects.
I recommend everyone watch "Chasing Corals" on Netflix if they want a more detailed explanation of problems and potential solutions. Trailer: https://youtu.be/Mmqqi_DnPEE
Ive been to Airlie / port Douglas every couple years for a decade, it’s unbelievable how incredible the place was and how it just isn’t now.
First couple times was exactly like Finding Nemo, now it’s a barren wasteland (and this is going to spots that are supposed to be better). Beaches in QLD still best in the world if you’re visiting, give the diving a pass or manage expectations unless you’re quite south
Barren wasteland is a bit far fetched, not sure which sites you are visiting off Port/Airlie but most of the tourist operator sites are still in fairly good shape, except maybe low Isles i.e. not pristine but they remain some of the best in the world and worth a visit. Lots of endemic species/corals etc. Which isn't to say there isn't a problem, the reports are correct, the signs are there, and repeats of the bleaching events of the past few years will definitely lead to the wasteland you describe (as seen in areas of the gbr and many of the other Pacific and american reefs). The original numbers were 90% of the reef had died, what this actually meant was that of all the sites surveyed 90% showed some sign of bleaching - which basically means stress due to heat exposure. The death bit comes later when the coral doesn't have time to rejuvinate.
I always wanted to see this Great Barrier Reef since I was a small child, now it looks like there might not be any of it left by the time I get there. Is it even worth it at this point, or should I just look at pictures and imagine what once was?
You could also find the beautiful things that you can easily reach. You'll have a better life that way, less filled with longing for the scarce, the disappearing, the already gone.
It may well be under grave threat. This is possibly completely true.
I have been hearing about it being dying and on the way out since the 1980s. This time may be different and it may not be a wolf cry as it turned out to be each time in the past.
If it really is in deep trouble, that card has been played so often that I'm jaded hearing it yet again. Maybe I shouldn't be but you see the downside of playing this card repeatedly as hyperbole.
Is a extremely complex ecosystem. Yes, you can grow coral in captivity. Some species are much more difficult to keep alive than other, but can be done. Is done since years in aquariums. The problem is that this not the same as cloning a entire ecosystem with a net of 10.000 species living together.
You can't do it in the sea otherwise, because there is not a lot of accurate and still free areas. Coral needs a lot of light. Must be shallow. Pirate and lawful fishing, commercial sea routes, tourism (coral reef attracts big predators like sharks), and a net of vested interests will block it.
And you'll need to wait 3000 years to have a coral reef at '3000 years level', of course. Corals are terribly slow and fight with their neighbors all the time. Such project would be extremely expensive.
People interested in joining a movement that engages with climate change and the future of the reef (through circular economy principles) should check out Citizens: https://citizensgbr.org/s/39cB
If we feel guilty enough maybe we can work on seeding other planets.
If we just miss nature for our own enjoyment maybe we can throw a bunch of science at it.
I think there's this desire to cling onto what's original or authentic. I'm trying to see past that because it's so delicate that it's basically transient.
It turns out cutting is one of the hardest things for people to do. Just look at how many obese people there are who cannot reduce their intake despite the immediate inconvenience and discomfort of being fat, not to mention the risk to their health. If so many can't even do it for themselves or their children, there's not much hope of them doing it for others.
It also leaves me utterly convinced that nobody really believes in god or an afterlife. People constantly demonstrate that the only thing that matters to them is that today is at least as convenient as yesterday.
No change will ever happen from the bottom up. And while our "leaders" continue to be people with already massively inflated lifestyles, nothing will happen from the top down either.
This article is strikes a rather alarmist tone which isn't warranted. This reef has been around in some form for 2M years and has experienced average global temperatures about 10 degrees colder and warmer. Reefs in the Arabian/Persian Gulf survive seawater temperatures about 8 degrees warmer than this one.
If the heat is killing them, they just need time to adapt.
[+] [-] Qworg|8 years ago|reply
I recommend everyone watch "Chasing Corals" on Netflix if they want a more detailed explanation of problems and potential solutions. Trailer: https://youtu.be/Mmqqi_DnPEE
[+] [-] kraftman|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aplummer|8 years ago|reply
First couple times was exactly like Finding Nemo, now it’s a barren wasteland (and this is going to spots that are supposed to be better). Beaches in QLD still best in the world if you’re visiting, give the diving a pass or manage expectations unless you’re quite south
[+] [-] somishere|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] matte_black|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ripsawridge|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] harry8|8 years ago|reply
I have been hearing about it being dying and on the way out since the 1980s. This time may be different and it may not be a wolf cry as it turned out to be each time in the past.
If it really is in deep trouble, that card has been played so often that I'm jaded hearing it yet again. Maybe I shouldn't be but you see the downside of playing this card repeatedly as hyperbole.
[+] [-] matuszeg|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] peterbraden|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pvaldes|8 years ago|reply
You can't do it in the sea otherwise, because there is not a lot of accurate and still free areas. Coral needs a lot of light. Must be shallow. Pirate and lawful fishing, commercial sea routes, tourism (coral reef attracts big predators like sharks), and a net of vested interests will block it.
And you'll need to wait 3000 years to have a coral reef at '3000 years level', of course. Corals are terribly slow and fight with their neighbors all the time. Such project would be extremely expensive.
[+] [-] somishere|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lama_me|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] taberiand|8 years ago|reply
I used to have hope; now it seems past the point of no return. I figure we should just try to enjoy it all while we still can, like everybody else.
[+] [-] Waterluvian|8 years ago|reply
If we just miss nature for our own enjoyment maybe we can throw a bunch of science at it.
I think there's this desire to cling onto what's original or authentic. I'm trying to see past that because it's so delicate that it's basically transient.
[+] [-] ollybee|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] throwaway84742|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] akvadrako|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nickthemagicman|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] hoodoof|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cup-of-tea|8 years ago|reply
It also leaves me utterly convinced that nobody really believes in god or an afterlife. People constantly demonstrate that the only thing that matters to them is that today is at least as convenient as yesterday.
No change will ever happen from the bottom up. And while our "leaders" continue to be people with already massively inflated lifestyles, nothing will happen from the top down either.
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] OzClimate|8 years ago|reply
Will this encourage Australians to contribute their fair share in the fight against climate change?
CO2 emissions (tons) per capita in 2016
Canada: 18.62 Australia: 17.22 USA: 15.56 Japan: 9.68 Netherlands: 9.61 Germany: 9.47 New Zealand: 7.14 UK: 5.59 Sweden: 4.54
http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/overview.php?v=CO2andGHG1970-2...
[+] [-] akvadrako|8 years ago|reply
If the heat is killing them, they just need time to adapt.
"I think we are now getting to this idea that actually, in some cases, these mechanism can arise very quickly, within a few years." (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hot-water-corals-...)