Rescuing the Great Reef.

• Author: Ayres, Ed
• Position: Environmental Intelligence ... Australia adopts proactive environmental policy - Brief Article

Australia has taken a first step toward protecting its Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world, from the destructive effects of overfishing. Until recently, just 4.5 percent of the area of the vast reef was closed to fishing. The marine life of the other 95.5 percent was wide open to the plundering, and habitat was being rapidly eroded. But last June, Australian environment minister David Kemp announced that the protected area of the reef would be increased to 30 percent.

Marine scientists and environmentalists welcomed the move, but said it was still inadequate; they noted that overfishing is only one of several major causes of coral reef destruction. Global warming...