An Australian government report has revealed pesticides are causing significant damage to the Great Barrier Reef, the largest structure in the World made of living organisms. The report on water quality at the site also revealed nearly 25 per cent of horticulture producers and 12 per cent of pastoral farmers were using practices deemed unacceptable by the industry. image expired

The report concluded that farmers must be more careful with the chemicals they use, as the World Heritage-listed reef, one of the best diving sites on Earth, which is home to thousands of different species of fish and corals, is being threatened by the agricultural pesticides entering the water.

The first Australian government report on water quality conducted at the reef found pesticides up to 60km inside the reef at toxic concentrations known to harm coral. Extreme weather including cyclone activity and flooding which struck North-Eastern Australia earlier in the year is thought to have flushed more pollutants out to sea, exacerbating problems for the reef.

Although the report showed the practices of many farmers operating in the region were unacceptable, the sugar cane industry in Queensland was found to be particularly culpable. In response to the findings, conservationists have issued calls to limit or ban the use of certain pesticides and herbicides.

Some in the farming industry have claimed the data used by the Australian government was outdated, that agricultural methods in the region are cleaner now, and that there are no alternatives to the chemicals they use. However, the Australian government today announced that it is taking regulatory action to control a widely used pesticide due to health concerns.

Australia’s Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig today announced that Dimethoate, which is used on horticultural produce to control pests including fruit flies, may be suspended. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) advised the government to take action following four years of analysis.

Threats to turtles

There are fears the chemicals are already having an effect on sealife. Sea turtles have been washing up dead or dying on Queensland’s beaches much more frequently this year. Experts believe that much of the seagrass on which the turtles feed has been wiped out.
The cause of the increase in turtle mortality is, as yet, unclear, although the Australian Environment Ministry have promised to investigate the rise in deaths. Experts have speculated that changes in water quality, the effects of Cyclone Yasi and fishing practices in the area may play a part.

Cliff Cobbo, of WWF Australia said, "In the past, turtles have been healthy enough to deal with extreme weather events, but the combined pressure of more fishing nets, declining water quality and associated disease, on top of the loss of critical habitats as a result of large coastal developments have all undermined their chances of survival."