2018年10月23日 星期二

A cruise ship spills thousands of liters of waste in the Great Barrier Reef, harming coral already in troubled water




https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/23/health/cruise-ship-spills-waste-in-great-barrier-reef-trnd/index.html


A cruise ship spills thousands of liters of waste in the Great Barrier Reef, harming coral already in troubled water 

By Lauren Kent, CNN
Updated 1818 GMT (0218 HKT) October 23, 2018 
beauty barrier reef_00005826
Beauty of the Great Barrier Reef 04:14
(CNN)A cruise ship spilled thousands of gallons of liquid food waste in the Great Barrier Reef in August, according to an ongoing investigation by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority -- potentially damaging a reef already plagued by pollution and coral bleaching.
Carnival, which owns the P&O cruise ship, said the spill was unintentional and amounted to 7,000 liters (1,849 gallons). But Green Party Senator Larissa Waters and local media report the spill was 27,000 liters (7,133 gallons), citing an Australian Maritime Safety Authority report presented to the Senate. That amount is equivalent to more than 100 bathtubs full of waste water.
The race to save the Great Barrier Reef
The race to save the Great Barrier Reef 03:49
The P&O ship spilled the polluted water on August 26, but authorities were not notified until two days later when Carnival self-reported the incident.
    Australian authorities detained the ship when it returned to Sydney in early September, according to an Australian Maritime Safety Authority representative. Carnival had to pay a fine of about $1.5 million (2.1 million Australian dollars) to release the vessel.
    "The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority takes pollution of the Marine Park seriously and works with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to ensure the best outcome for the Great Barrier Reef," said a park authority spokesperson in a statement.
    New plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef
    New plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef 01:01
    The Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is a protected park and World Heritage site. Stretching more than 1,800 miles along the Queensland coast, the reef is large enough to be seen from space and holds the world's largest collection of corals.
    Bleaching occurs when the marine algae that live inside corals die. Of the reefs surveyed in the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef, 81% are characterized as "severely bleached."
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Bleaching occurs when the marine algae that live inside corals die. Of the reefs surveyed in the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef, 81% are characterized as "severely bleached."
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    8 of 14
    "At some reefs, the final death toll is likely to exceed 90%," Andrew Baird, of the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, says.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    "At some reefs, the final death toll is likely to exceed 90%," Andrew Baird, of the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, says.
    Hide Caption
    9 of 14
    A photo taken on September 22, 2014, shows bleached coral on the Reef, a key Australian tourist attraction.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    A photo taken on September 22, 2014, shows bleached coral on the Reef, a key Australian tourist attraction.
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    10 of 14
    Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef generates an annual income of A$5 billion ($3.9 billion) and employs nearly 70,000 people.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef generates an annual income of A$5 billion ($3.9 billion) and employs nearly 70,000 people.
    Hide Caption
    11 of 14
    Of the reefs surveyed in the northern third of the Reef, 81% are characterized as "severely bleached."
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Of the reefs surveyed in the northern third of the Reef, 81% are characterized as "severely bleached."
    Hide Caption
    12 of 14
    Driven by ocean temperatures that have been 1-2 degrees Celsius (1.8-3.6° F) above average, the bleaching event has left large sections of coral drained of all color and fighting for survival.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Driven by ocean temperatures that have been 1-2 degrees Celsius (1.8-3.6° F) above average, the bleaching event has left large sections of coral drained of all color and fighting for survival.
    Hide Caption
    13 of 14
    The Reef has suffered two mass bleaching events, in 1998 and 2002, but the extent of the bleaching in these years was less severe than in 2016.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    The Reef has suffered two mass bleaching events, in 1998 and 2002, but the extent of the bleaching in these years was less severe than in 2016.
    Hide Caption
    14 of 14
    There are 'winners' and 'losers' among corals as they respond to the accumulating impacts of climate change.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    There are 'winners' and 'losers' among corals as they respond to the accumulating impacts of climate change. 
    Hide Caption
    1 of 14
    There are variations in the appearance of severely bleached corals. Here, the coral displays pink fluorescing tissue signalling heat stress.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    There are variations in the appearance of severely bleached corals. Here, the coral displays pink fluorescing tissue signalling heat stress. 
    Hide Caption
    2 of 14
    The different color morphs of Acropora millepora, each exhibiting a bleaching response during mass coral bleaching event.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    The different color morphs of Acropora millepora, each exhibiting a bleaching response during mass coral bleaching event. 
    Hide Caption
    3 of 14
    A bleached Acropora colony.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    A bleached Acropora colony.
    Hide Caption
    4 of 14
    A severely bleached branching coral amongst the minimally bleached boulder coral.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    A severely bleached branching coral amongst the minimally bleached boulder coral. 
    Hide Caption
    5 of 14
    Dramatic coral bleaching, seen in Australia's Great Barrier Reef from March 2016.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Dramatic coral bleaching, seen in Australia's Great Barrier Reef from March 2016. 
    Hide Caption
    6 of 14
    Some of the bleaching of reefs in the northern section has been described as "extreme."
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Some of the bleaching of reefs in the northern section has been described as "extreme."
    Hide Caption
    7 of 14
    Bleaching occurs when the marine algae that live inside corals die. Of the reefs surveyed in the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef, 81% are characterized as "severely bleached."
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Bleaching occurs when the marine algae that live inside corals die. Of the reefs surveyed in the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef, 81% are characterized as "severely bleached."
    Hide Caption
    8 of 14
    "At some reefs, the final death toll is likely to exceed 90%," Andrew Baird, of the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, says.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    "At some reefs, the final death toll is likely to exceed 90%," Andrew Baird, of the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, says.
    Hide Caption
    9 of 14
    A photo taken on September 22, 2014, shows bleached coral on the Reef, a key Australian tourist attraction.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    A photo taken on September 22, 2014, shows bleached coral on the Reef, a key Australian tourist attraction.
    Hide Caption
    10 of 14
    Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef generates an annual income of A$5 billion ($3.9 billion) and employs nearly 70,000 people.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef generates an annual income of A$5 billion ($3.9 billion) and employs nearly 70,000 people.
    Hide Caption
    11 of 14
    Of the reefs surveyed in the northern third of the Reef, 81% are characterized as "severely bleached."
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Of the reefs surveyed in the northern third of the Reef, 81% are characterized as "severely bleached."
    Hide Caption
    12 of 14
    Driven by ocean temperatures that have been 1-2 degrees Celsius (1.8-3.6° F) above average, the bleaching event has left large sections of coral drained of all color and fighting for survival.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Driven by ocean temperatures that have been 1-2 degrees Celsius (1.8-3.6° F) above average, the bleaching event has left large sections of coral drained of all color and fighting for survival.
    Hide Caption
    13 of 14
    The Reef has suffered two mass bleaching events, in 1998 and 2002, but the extent of the bleaching in these years was less severe than in 2016.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    The Reef has suffered two mass bleaching events, in 1998 and 2002, but the extent of the bleaching in these years was less severe than in 2016.
    Hide Caption
    14 of 14
    There are 'winners' and 'losers' among corals as they respond to the accumulating impacts of climate change.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    There are 'winners' and 'losers' among corals as they respond to the accumulating impacts of climate change. 
    Hide Caption
    1 of 14
    There are variations in the appearance of severely bleached corals. Here, the coral displays pink fluorescing tissue signalling heat stress.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    There are variations in the appearance of severely bleached corals. Here, the coral displays pink fluorescing tissue signalling heat stress. 
    Hide Caption
    2 of 14
    The different color morphs of Acropora millepora, each exhibiting a bleaching response during mass coral bleaching event.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    The different color morphs of Acropora millepora, each exhibiting a bleaching response during mass coral bleaching event. 
    Hide Caption
    3 of 14
    A bleached Acropora colony.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    A bleached Acropora colony.
    Hide Caption
    4 of 14
    A severely bleached branching coral amongst the minimally bleached boulder coral.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    A severely bleached branching coral amongst the minimally bleached boulder coral. 
    Hide Caption
    5 of 14
    Dramatic coral bleaching, seen in Australia's Great Barrier Reef from March 2016.
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Dramatic coral bleaching, seen in Australia's Great Barrier Reef from March 2016. 
    Hide Caption
    6 of 14
    Some of the bleaching of reefs in the northern section has been described as "extreme."
    Photos: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers 'extreme' coral bleaching
    Some of the bleaching of reefs in the northern section has been described as "extreme."
    Hide Caption
    7 of 14
    01 Nature Coral Handouts
    02 Nature Coral Handouts
    05 Nature Coral Handouts
    04 Nature Coral Handouts
    03 Nature Coral Handouts
    coral bleaching 1
    coral bleaching 2
    coral bleaching 3
    great barrier reef coral bleaching wwf orig mg_00000118
    Coral bleaching Great Barrier Reef 1
    great barrier reef coral bleaching wwf orig mg_00005221
    Coral bleaching Great Barrier Reef 2
    Coral bleaching Great Barrier Reef 3
    Coral bleaching Great Barrier Reef 4
    But scientists say the corals are on death row because of climate change and environmental damage -- prompting the Australian government to pledge almost $380 million for improving the water quality and restoring the reef this year.
      "It took an anonymous tip off and my questioning in Senate Estimates today for details of a waste spill in the Great Barrier Reef by a cruise ship to be made public. Where is the transparency?!" Sen. Waters wrote in a Facebook post about the spill.
      The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said it is still investigating the spill, and that discharging pollutants in the reef is a serious offense.





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