The Great Barrier Reef - Shipping and Underwater Noise. WWF Factsheet (2020)

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) off the coast of eastern Australia in the Coral Sea is the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world and a global biodiversity hotspot.

As well as corals, birds, fishes and invertebrates, the GBR is home to six of the world’s seven turtle species. It is also important for about 30 species of whales and dolphins. It is a major feeding ground for dugongs and contains mating and calving grounds for humpback whales.

Within Australian waters, shipping activity has grown by about 4% a year since the early 2000s. Much of this growth has been in the Coral Sea and is linked to increasing exports of natural resources.

The Australian government plans to quantify underwater noise from ships on a national scale and develop guidelines on underwater noise for GBR species.

Produced by the WWF Arctic Programme.