Australia’s Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program will further investigate 43 potential fixes for the Great Barrier Reef in a wide-scale rescue effort. Australian Institute of Marine Science The Great Barrier Reef is in trouble. The Australian government is trying to buy its crown jewel some time, but is it willing to support what the reef needs most — a reduction in emissions? A few weeks ago, the world’s greatest coral reef suffered its third major bleaching event in five years, the most widespread to date . The frequency and severity of the bleachings have caused some scientists to speculate whether the reef has reached a tipping point of no return. On Thursday, Minister of the Environment Susan Ley announced the launch of the research and development (R&D) phase of the government’s Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) to combat the declines the reef is experiencing. Following a two-year feasibility study led by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) , a list of 160 potential fixes was whittled down to 43 promising concepts that will be funded for further investigation. AIMS Chief Executive Paul Hardisty described how the R&D phase will "provide the scientific basis to help the reef […]
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