Prior to 2015 all dredged material was dumped back into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Many of the areas that are dredged are feeding and breeding grounds for turtles, dugongs and other sensitive species.ĭredging can more than double the level of coral disease, in particular white syndrome which causes coral tissue to fall off. Fine sediments are thrown up into the water and can drift for over 100 kilometres, smothering coral, seagrass beds, and ruining water quality. The seafloor is dug up to make deeper channels for large ships. Capital dredging for port expansions is a serious threat to the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. It is mainly undertaken to dig new shipping channels (capital dredging) or maintain the depth of a port and it’s shipping channels (maintenance dredging).ĭredging is undertaken in coastal Reef waters so that large coal, gas and other bulk carriers can access ports. The material is removed through digging, big scoops, or high-pressure suction. What is dredging – and what is the danger?ĭredging means excavating the sea floor, removing sediment and dumping it in other locations. Just one collision, one mistake, or one spill could result in an environmental catastrophe in one of the seven natural wonders of the world. ![]() ![]() Port expansion plans require dredging of the seafloor, and will lead to a sharp increase in ship traffic crossing through our Reef’s waters. Plans to expand several ports along the coastline will further damage our already vulnerable Reef. Our stunning Great Barrier Reef is one of the most vibrant ecosystems in the world, but it is incredibly sensitive to human pressures.
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