The ABC revealed that the oil spill that occurred near the world-heritage listed area of the Solomon Islands caused an economic loss of up to $50 million.
More than 300 tonnes of heavy fuel oil was leaked into Kangava Bay in February last year from the damaged hull of a bulk carrier ship.
The spill caused the loss of 10 000 square metres of reef and without any direct rehabilitation efforts, it could take 130 years for the site to recover.