Judging by the positions taken by all major parties contesting the federal election, everyone wants to save the Great Barrier Reef. Even those unmoved by the beauty of the coral labyrinths and marine life recognise the huge economic benefit the reef brings, which includes $5 billion in cash and 63,000 permanent jobs as a direct result of tourism and research.
Seagrass meadows occur in estuarine, reef and deepwater habitats, and cover approximately 13% of the GBRWHA: 6,000 square kilometres of shallow seagrass habitat and a further 40,000 square kilometres of deepwater seagrass habitat3.
Herbicides used to control nuisance weeds on the farm can also be effective once they get into the ocean; even in minute quantities such chemicals have been shown to cause stress to corals, algae, mangroves and seagrass. A little stress has a greater impact than you might think...