- Latest Reef Water Quality Report Card shows Australia got halfway to reaching 2025 nitrogen pollution reduction target
- More than 23,000 hectares of vegetation cleared along rivers and watercourses feeding Reef waters from 2021 to 2023, with more than 70,000 ha lost since 2018
- Reef water pollution is the biggest local threat to our Reef, with sediment, fertilisers and pesticides running into Reef waterways, impacting coral and seagrasses, and the fish, dugongs, turtles and marine life that depend on them
Progress in cutting water pollution in the Great Barrier Reef waters has increased, but the Queensland and Australian governments must do more to ensure the Reef's health, the Australian Marine Conservation said after the latest Reef Water Quality Report Card was released today.
The report card shows the governments got more than halfway (53.5%) to reaching the dissolved nitrogen pollution reduction target for 2025 thanks to improved performance from 2021 to 2023. It took two decades to get halfway to the 2025 target, but they only have six years to meet news targets that have been reset for 2032.
The report card shows they reached 71.2% of the way to meeting the sediment reduction target, but they now only have six years to reach the new targets outlined in the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Strategy.
AMCS Great Barrier Reef Campaign Manager Dr Lissa Schindler said: "The Great Barrier Reef still has a water pollution problem that needs urgent attention. Sediment, fertilisers and pesticides are running into Reef waterways, and impacting coral and seagrasses, and the fish, dugongs, turtles and other marine life that depend on them. These pollutants impact the growth, reproduction and health of corals and seagrasses when they are already under pressure from climate change.
"Climate change is the biggest threat to our Reef, but water pollution is the most significant local threat and is entirely in Australia and Queensland's hands.
"Cutting water pollution will improve the Reef's health so it can better cope with the increasingly frequent and intense marine heatwaves and mass coral bleaching events. That is so important as we expect much hotter conditions with an El Nino event expected this summer.
"Continued clearing of vegetation along watercourses is particularly concerning, increasing soil erosion and worsening water pollution. More than 23,000 hectares of riparian vegetation was cleared over the period between 2021 and 2023, with more than 70,000 ha lost since 2018.
"The amount of clearing along these sensitive areas illustrates how urgently the federal government's new tree clearing reforms are. The government must ensure these laws are enforced to stop damaging clearing from continuing.
"While increased progress is welcome, it was still not enough to meet the 2025 targets and pollutant levels remain too high. Governments have now set new targets, but have not shown what they will do differently to achieve them. We need a clear, costed implementation plan that illustrates how governments will accelerate pollution reduction and get on track to achieve the targets by 2032.
"This is the third time the water quality targets have been missed. Accelerating climate impacts means that there is no further opportunity to keep pushing the targets back again. With only six years now until the new targets are due, the Australian and Queensland governments have a lot of work to do if they are going to address the Reef's water pollution problem.
"The World Heritage Committee has given Australia until the end of 2028 to report back on further progress to address water pollution. This report card shows Australia and Queensland must urgently pick up the pace if they are to demonstrate to UNESCO that a World Heritage 'In Danger' listing is not warranted."
