Environmental advocates and tourism operators associated with the Great Barrier Reef (QLD AU) are urging authorities to implement stricter pollution controls for cruise vessels navigating the area.
Their concerns arise as cruise tourist numbers continue to grow and suspicions mount about toxic discharges from ships into sensitive marine environments.
The Whitsunday Conservation Council has highlighted that the current definition of "waste," used to regulate marine discharges on the reef, is outdated.
Originating in the 1970s, the framework fails to address emissions from sulfur “scrubbers,” a technology increasingly common in modern shipping. These systems, designed to reduce atmospheric SO emissions, expel chemicals extracted from exhaust directly into the sea.
Trevor Rees, a bareboat operator from the Whitsundays and a member of the local marine advisory committee, expressed concern about the rise in cruise ship visits. He noted that little is known about the cumulative impact of these pollutants on nearby inshore reefs. Rees also pointed out the absence of data on how these discharges affect water quality and marine wildlife but suggested that global studies indicate potential harm.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has stated that scrubber discharges have minimal detectable effects on marine environments, asserting that they are rapidly diluted. However, the authority acknowledged that assessments have not been tailored specifically to the reef's unique and sensitive ecosystems.
Research conducted in 2021 on scrubber washwater impacts revealed that the effluent could be "more toxic than crude oil," with findings suggesting that these systems might enable the formation of hazardous compounds in marine environments.
Concerns have also emerged about the substantial volumes of washwater being released in ecologically sensitive zones.
Tony Fontes, a Whitsundays dive operator and president of the Whitsunday Conservation Council, expressed frustration at the lack of action on cruise ship pollution. He described the group's disappointment with GBRMPA’s stance, arguing that its primary mission should be to protect the reef's health and biodiversity.
In addition to the scrubber emissions issue, conservationists have raised alarms over regulations permitting vessels with "grade A" sewage systems to discharge greywater near sensitive reef areas. They advocate for modernized regulations requiring ships to store greywater and scrubber effluent in holding tanks while in the marine park. Additionally, they propose mandating carbon offset measures for emissions produced by the cruise industry.
Fontes stressed that the goal was not to eliminate cruise tourism but to encourage cleaner practices, emphasizing that solutions are readily achievable.
GBRMPA confirmed that cruise ship activity in the marine park has increased since 2018, accompanied by measures such as maintaining a 500-meter buffer zone from reefs unless in designated shipping areas, allocating specific anchorages, and limiting the number of vessels allowed to use them. A spokesperson reiterated that the authority supports sustainable cruise ship operations and enforces international pollution prevention regulations for vessels within the marine park.
The Great Barrier Reef, recognized globally as an iconic tourism destination, remains at the forefront of ecological conservation efforts while accommodating growing interest from the cruise industry.