Management Concern: High   

Adequacy of Information: Moderate

Summary extracts from Outlook Report 2009

• Although the chemistry of ocean acidification is simple and well understood, its effect on marine life is much less well-known. 
• There is no information about regional variability of ocean acidification on the Great Barrier Reef.
• The world’s oceans are becoming more acidic affecting the growth of corals.
• Acidification of all Great Barrier Reef waters as a result of increased concentrations of carbon dioxide is an emerging serious issue which is likely to worsen in the future.
  

What do we know?

Relevant pages from Outlook Online include:

• Declining calcification on the Great Barrier Reef
• Hard coral calcification in the Great Barrier Reef
• Ocean acidification
• Atmospheric CO₂ Stabilization and Ocean Acidification
• Impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs 
• Impact of ocean acidification on corals
• Increased ocean acidification may also affect the olfactory discrimination and homing ability of marine fish 
• e-ATLAS: Coral calcification
  

Existing policies and management actions

• Australian Government policy on climate change 
• Queensland Government climate change policies and strategies 
• Climate Change Action Plan 2007-2012

Future management requirements

• Future management requirements in this area are being guided by ongoing assessment of emerging research outcomes and issues identified by the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009.

Defined research questions

• How is climate change affecting acidification of the Great Barrier Reef/Coral Sea?

Related information

• Current Research and Monitoring