Queensland’s $261 million water quality program is failing to protect the Great Barrier Reef from Fertiliser runoff.
The reason for this risk, to the world's great wonder, is the excessive use of chemicals (particularly nitrogen and phosphorous) on their properties, which has been banned by the QLD government, however no one has ever been prosecuted for doing so.
The effects of chemical overuse is of great detriment to the reef as it can cause algal growth, which is the food source for young ‘Crown of thorn Starfish’ which will go on to eat and kill Coral.
WWF’s reef and water manager states this starfish has been responsible for significant coral loss over the last 3 decades, and will likely go on to do so.