Researcher Urges Mapping the Great Barrier Reef

A marine scientist today called for the preparation of a "risk map" of the Great Barrier Reef today. Dr. Russell Reichelt with the Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation told The Age that such a map would fill an important gap in knowledge in order to help the reef survive. "There are so many variations around how coral bleaching impacts from place to place, at different depths and locations, and on individual reefs," he said.

Dr. Reichelt proposed creating, "...a map of several layers, similar to a geographic information system. It is quite difficult science — we want to make a map of 350,000 square kilometres of world heritage area." He placed the cost of such a project at, "millions of dollars".