Great Barrier Reef

[Reef Pets]

This is the point where Australia will most likely start cutting back on collection and the exporting of live coral. By the government of Australia doing so it would cut back on the stress of the reef....

LINK: Outlook "poor" for Great Barrier Reef: study - Yahoo! News

 

[roshi719]

We all knew it was coming. I'm guessing in about 10 years wild collected won't even be an option in the hobby.

 

[aerius007]

What a loss the world that would be if all of the amazing beauty died off. I saw a show about the battle they are having with the crown of thorns, what a nightmare that is but years ago it was somewhat beneficial to the reefs. It would actually kill a lot of the reef that had been taken over by more dominant corals and give space to the weaker ones. But this time around it is just out of hand. Who would have ever thought that my house would be a safer place to keep the corals than the ocean.

 

[Reef Pets]

The only thing that I dont understand about this "global warming" crap is that the ocean waters were warmer in the early to mid 80', by a couple degrees. Anyhow, the reefs are still around and got through it.
So, I am not so sure how much I buy into all of it. But, it is interesting to read.
Like Morgan stated, I do believe at some point the government will stop importing and exporting.

 

[roshi719]

I believe it is more direct human effects on the reef that are the most detrimental. Corals have withstood massive temp fluctuations since they started evolving eons ago. However suddenly making the reef environment a nutrient rich area instead of nutrient poor from farm runoff is a change they can't deal with. This is also what caused the crown of thorns bloom in the first place. Also things that we don't think of too much or hear about because they are bad for tourism, ie big business, are things like suntan lotion with UV blockers being linked to coral bleaching events. It's not like the people on the beach are going to tell you the whole truth if it means you wont be coming back to spend your hard earned money.

 

[Reef Pets]

^^ I completely agree with that. The ocean is no different than the rest of our eco-systems on eartth. We have destroyed many of them and now the polution has made its way to the oceans.
I cant imagine all of the things that are dumped in or makes its way to the oceans. Its unfortunate that its too large of an area to control.

 

[roshi719]

I know there were a few water tests that came out last year on Chicago water and all of the prescription drugs that tested positive in the municipal water supply. I think valium and caffeine were just a couple that they found in there. We just pee them out and there is no way for the waste water facilities to deal with them, let alone a finnacially viable way to test for any of them.