Reef Threats

Poor water quality from land-based run-off is one of the biggest threats to the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. All actions — big or small — are vital for the Reef’s future. Students can help the Reef recover from the legacy of past actions and be better able to withstand those predicted to threaten its future. This series aims to encourage students to learn about and care for their local environment, in turn contributing to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Marine Park Authority’s Chief Scientist Dr David Wachenfeld gives us a coral bleaching 101 lesson, answering the top questions: What is coral? What is coral bleaching? What causes coral bleaching? Can bleached coral recover?

Climate change effects the world and the Great Barrier Reef. Video on the threat of climate change.

Coastal development is one of the biggest threats to the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. All actions — big or small — are vital for the Reef’s future. Students can help the Reef recover from the legacy of past actions and be better able to withstand those predicted to threaten its future. This series aims to encourage students to learn about and care for their local environment, in turn contributing to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

Illegal fishing is one of the biggest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. All actions — big or small — are vital for the Reef’s future. Students can help the Reef recover from the legacy of past actions and be better able to withstand those predicted to threaten its future. This series aims to encourage students to learn about and care for their local environment, in turn contributing to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

Our Reef Guardian team of marine educators is hosting a series of free, engaging and informative webinars about the Great Barrier Reef during March to June 2025.

Questions
1. How many arms can a crown-of-thorns starfish have?
2. Describe how Crown-of-thorns starfish feed?
3. Explain an outbreak of Crown-of-thorns starfish and how it impacts the health of a reef?
4. Identify what we can do to reduce Crown-of-thorns starfish numbers on the reef?

Label the image below with the following features.

Design the ultimate reef creature

1. Design the ultimate reef creature animal species name.
2. Draw your creature!
a) Would an animal with a shark's body, jellyfish tentacles and stonefish camouflage be the ultimate survivor on a coral reef?
b) Using what you already know, and the information on page 2, create your own Ultimate Reef Creature. Make sure to name your creation and list it’s adaptations in the boxes below, then draw what your creature would look like.
c) Pick your favourite reef creature and tick the adaptations they possess from the list below.

The battle to protect the Great Barrier Reef from one of its most destructive threats—the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS)—has taken a major step forward. A new, highly effective single-injection control method is now being used to target this coral-eating predator, significantly improving the efficiency of reef management efforts.