Australia yesterday admitted more needs to be done to protect the Great Barrier Reef from pollution after a government-backed report painted a bleak picture of the natural wonder. The giant ecosystem is under pressure from farming run-off, development, the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish and the impacts of climate change. Canberra’s annual report into water quality, seagrass and coral gave it a “D” — which represents “poor” — for the fifth year in a row. Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg admitted more work needed to be done, but said progress was being made under the government’s Reef 2050 Plan to improve its health.
Fish swim through the coral on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
