The reef is in serious trouble, but pronouncing it dead might do more harm than good if it leads people to believe it can’t be saved anyways, so why bother to try.
Very true. It may also seriously harm the tourism industry in northern Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef accounts for billions of dollars in tourism revenue and some 70,000 jobs. Major tourist spots in Cairns, Townsville and to the south of this area are relatively unaffected at this point and still have beautiful coral reefs with a biodiversity that is unequalled.
The fact that Queensland has this year approved what will be the country’s largest coal mine is certainly not going to do much for the reef or the rest of the environment, but unfortunately it is partly opponents of this mine that have led to the health of the reef being exaggerated.