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Greenpeace activists board Australian coal ship in reef protest

Thomson ReutersApril 24, 2013 01:00

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Six Greenpeace activists boarded a coal ship bound for South Korea near Australia's Great Barrier Reef on Wednesday, protesting against the expansion of the rich Australian coal industry and its impact on the World Heritage site. Environmentalists say the Great Barrier Reef, a popular tourist site worth about A$6 billion (4 billion pounds) a year to the Australia economy, is threatened by dredging, sedimentation and coal port and shipping development.

Australian government pledges to protect Great Barrier Reef

Thomson ReutersFebruary 1, 2013 00:30

By Jane Wardell SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The Australian government pledged to stop coal port or shipping developments that would cause damage to the Great Barrier Reef as it responded to a Friday deadline amid U.N. warnings that the reef's conservation status could be downgraded.

Deadline nears for action to protect Great Barrier Reef

Thomson ReutersJanuary 23, 2013 23:45

SYDNEY, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Australia has to take swift action to protect the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site, amid significant threats from industrial projects as a February deadline looms, environmental groups say. Heralded as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the reef is home to 400 types of coral, 240 species of birds and 1,500 species of fish. It is worth A$6 billion annually to the local economy in tourism.