Australia announces $2 million cash award to rescue Great Barrier Reef from ‘great danger’

NewsBharati    16-Jan-2018
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Sydney, January 16: The Great Barrier Reef, home to countless species of colourful fish, mollusks and starfish, plus turtles, dolphins and sharks, is in great danger due to various man-made reasons. To save such a wonderful gift of nature, Australian and Queensland governments have issued an open call to the world's top scientific minds. The savior will be awarded a $2 million challenge.

The problem has reached now a bigger level. Australia now desperately wants to save its natural wonder. That is why it is inviting innovative ideas which can come from anywhere. The bright ideas will be funded by Australian Government. The best idea holders will be given 12 months for prototype test as well as extra AU$1 million.

"This is an open invitation to our greatest scientific minds, industry and business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions which will protect corals and encourage the recovery of damaged reefs," Australian Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said.

“Solutions could focus on anything from reducing the exposure of corals to physical stressors, to boosting coral regeneration rates by cultivating reef-building coral larvae that attract other important marine species,” Frydenberg added.

The natural wonder could be totally damaged due to rising global ocean temperature. In addition to that, 2016 and 2017, both the year witnessed coral beaching incident continuously. Other than that, site is also under pressure from farming runoff, development and predatory crown-of-thorns starfish.

Australia Coral Reef Great Barrier Reef Ecology