Reef escapes ‘in danger’ listing

The Great Barrier Reef has escaped an ‘in danger’ listing. But critics say that is exactly the thing that could save it. Have your say.

A 40-year veteran of Great Barrier Reef tourism has likened the plight of the reef to that of whales, saying an “in danger” listing would be the thing that could help save it.

On Friday UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee overturned an earlier draft resolution to list the Great Barrier Reef as endangered.

The move was welcomed by many tour operators and the federal government, but Tony Fontes, who spent 40 years working as a diving instructor on the reef before his semi-retirement last year, said it was “extremely disappointing” and “simply delays the needed measures to better protect the reef”.

He likened the reef’s situation to that of humpback whales, which were hunted almost to annihilation before an endangered listing in 1963 woke the world up to their plight.

“It worked,” Mr Fontes said. “The humpback population is just about back up to pre hunting numbers. Like the whales, the reef is on the brink of extinction. (An endangered listing) gives us the motivation to do the right thing.”

UNESCO’s World Heritage Commission (WHC) made its decision on Friday night, with a majority of the 21 member nations backing a motion proposed by Bahrain for the committee to revisit the listing in 2023.

A deadline for Australia to report back to the committee by December 2022 was also brought forward to February 2022, after an amendment was brought by Norway and seconded by China.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Addressing the committee, Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said “an immediate listing will only harm the reef not protect it”.

In a later press statement, Ms Ley said: “This has never been about Australia hiding from the challenges facing the Reef or the pressures of climate change, it has been about ensuring a fair and transparent process for the Reef and the people who work tirelessly to protect it.”

“Our concern was always that UNESCO had sought an immediate ‘In Danger Listing’ without appropriate consultation, without a site visit and without all the latest information, and it is clear that this process has concerned not only Australia but other nations as well.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the sector would be relieved by the decision.

If the WHC had deemed the reef to be in danger, it would have “sent a message to the travelling public that the reef may be beyond repair and perhaps not worth visiting,” he said.

The Council estimates the reef generated about $6 billion worth of economic activity, pre-Covid-19, and supported as many as 50,000 jobs.

“It is simply one of the most important things we’ve got going for the tourism economy of Australia,” Mr Gschwind said.

Mr Fontes disputed the argument the decision would save tourism jobs.

“Many visitors want to come out and see the reef and at the same time understand the problems, and look at how they can best help it,” he said.

Last week, the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s annual Great Barrier Reef monitoring report found increases in hard coral cover in 69 of 127 areas surveyed.

Mr Gschwind said he did not know if the recent AIMS study had swayed any minds on the World Heritage Committee, but the report had also stressed the vulnerability of the reef.

“The AIMS report pointed out that there is some regenerative power of some corals on the reef which is extremely good news, but they also reminded us that climate change still threatens the reef, and that the impact of future weather events and rising temperatures would undo the reef regeneration very quickly if we can’t control climate change,” he said.

Climate Council spokesperson Professor Lesley Hughes said climate change remained the single greatest threat to the reef.

“In the past five years (the reef) has been repeatedly and severely damaged by three marine heatwaves,” she said.

“Until we see credible climate action, and the phasing out of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, this situation will worsen, not improve. The Great Barrier Reef is in danger, and trying to hide the facts won’t change a thing.”