A report released today in Madrid and commissioned by the High Level Panel for A Sustainable Ocean Economy, with includes the Australian Government, paints a disturbing picture for the future of our oceans and the communities dependent on them.
The report, ‘The expected impacts of climate change on the ocean economy’, assesses different climate change scenarios and their impacts on fisheries and reef tourism. It suggests potential economic losses by the end of the century of over 90 per cent for reef tourism around the world. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef tourism, despite its best management practices, will not be insulated from any losses due to likely global climate impacts. While the details of future predictions over such a long-term horizon are always open to debate, the magnitude of the threat is evident.
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