The Great Barrier Reef is floundering, and someone’s actually trying to do something about it.
The federal government of Australia announced a $500 million initiative to tackle conservation issues facing the Great Barrier Reef. The reef, which has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1981, has lost 30 percent of its coral as a result of increasing water temperatures and the damage caused by a certain species of starfish living in the reef.
A single crown-of-thorns starfish can destroy large areas of the reef, causing the bleaching that has ruined nearly two-thirds of the coral present.
But lo! Government officials are hoping to tackle the damage by decreasing pesticidal runoff from nearby farmers and breeding coral that is more resistant to higher water temperatures.
Do we think Crush would approve?
This investment marks the largest single contribution from Australia’s government to directly tackle restoration of the reef.