The Australian government has moved to ban the dumping of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in an attempt to prevent the reef being labeled “in danger” by the United Nations.

 

Environment Minister Greg Hunt has ordered the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to develop regulations to stop waste from dredging being dumped “once and for all”, banning it from issuing permits for the practice.

 

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has threatened to put the reef, which is a World Heritage area, on its danger list. The reef is said to face several threats, including climate change, nutrients washing into the sea, and the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish.

 

Conservationists say dumping waste in reef waters smothers coral and exposes it to high levels of nutrients and poisons.

 

Minister Hunt said the government was working on several environmental issues, stating that water quality was improving, coral-eating starfish were being culled, and stricter management regimes have been put in place for shipping and developments, including ports.

 

UNESCO has given Australia until the beginning of next month to act and Minister Hunt said he would travel to Europe this week to consult on long-term plans for the reef.

 

 

PHOTO: The Great Barrier Reef was about to be put on a UN danger list.

CREDIT: AP.