Auge, A.A., Maughan, M., Pressey, R.L., Brodie, J., Dale, A., Yorkston, H. (2013) Spatially explicit scenarios for conservation planning in the Great Barrier Reef coastal zone, Australia. Coast GIS 2013.
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...