MgicTwnger

http://www.bigpond.com/news/national...17/2277261.asp

A coral disease known as 'white syndrome' is the latest threat to the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland's coast.
An Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) survey shows it is causing major damage near Cooktown, Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton.
Dr Hugh Sweatman says coral disease is killing off areas that used to have the best coral cover on the Barrier Reef.
"In the last couple of years that's dropped by half and most of the coral that's been lost has been the species of coral that are susceptible to white syndrome," he said.
"For the first time we've seen what appears to be the negative effects of coral disease on the Great Barrier Reef."
Dr Sweatman says it appears to be spreading.
"There's been a lot of focus on coral disease in the world because in the Caribbean reefs, coral disease has been a very serious issue and has removed a lot of the coral," he said.
"This area that I'm talking about has had relatively high levels of white syndrome most of the time since we started surveying."
The study also recorded a drop in the amount of coral death from crown of thorns starfish, with only 4 per cent of the surveyed reefs affected in 2007.

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I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent.

ryan

You know, I saw this show on TV a while back about something similar, but it turned out to be man-caused, and was preventable, and the reef actually recovered. Local fisherman used this chemical (I forget what it is, but I think it was potassium something) to "stun" fish they would catch for exotic fish sales. Well, their own trade was litterally killing the coral. They caught on and changed their ways, and the coral thrives once again...along with their business.

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