New research shows that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is being contaminated with micro-debris. The Australian Institute of Marine Science warns that it is another significant threat to the nation’s greatest natural treasure. Researchers found that the worst pollutants on the Great Barrier Reef were not tiny bits of plastic, but microfibers containing synthetic polymers nylon and polyester. The effects of these almost-invisible pollutants on fish or people are still unknown, but conservationists are worried they will put more pressure on the famous reef off north-eastern Australia. It is already suffering from the mass bleaching of coral caused by warmer ocean temperatures as well as over-fishing and the run-off of farm pollution.Dr. Frederieke Kroon is a principal research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science.“All the water samples had micro-plastics in them and also all of the fish that we collected also had micro-plastics in them. We had one fish that was clogged up with what we called a nest of micro-fibers. A fish may think it is food, but, in fact, it has eaten only a lot of micro-fibers and so it does not get any nutrition.” It is unclear where the tiny particles are coming from. The research team speculates that they may arrive on ocean currents, be waste from ships, simply blown in on the wind or contained in sewage. Researchers believe the micro-debris could start off as furnishing, textiles, clothing and packaging material that break down in the ocean and turn into micro-particles.The Great Barrier Reef is about the same size as Italy or Japan.The World Heritage Area is the largest coral reef system on the planet and covers 344,000 square kilometers. It is so big it can be seen from space.Found off the Queensland coast, it is made up of 3000 individual reef systems, and is home to a spectacular array of plants and animals.
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