Great barrier reef News

Townsville - Scientists are finding that a species of crab indigenous to Australia and other areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans may actually help save the Great Barrier Reef instead of destroying it.

A recent study of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest single structure made up of living organisms, reveals that nearly half of the reef has deteriorated and collapsed over the last 30 years.

A tourist who was snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef was shocked when he lifted his head from the water and found the tour boat had left him on his own.

Halifax - The Bay of Fundy, known for the highest tides in the world, is the lone Canadian contender for the New7Wonders of Nature.

Record floods and Cyclone Yasi have taken a toll on the world's largest living formation but scientists are confident the Great Barrier Reef will recover.

Brisbane - Australian scientists have found proof of close genetic links between sea sponges and higher living organisms including nearly 70 per cent coincidence with human genes, some of which are responsible for disease and cancer.

Australia has arrested the captain and chief officer of the Shen Neng 1, the Chinese coal ship that ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef earlier this month.

Australian officials and scientists announced today that the Sheng Neng 1 caused significant damage to the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef when it collided with it on April 3, 2010.

The ship Shen Neng 1, which hit a sand bank on April 3 at full speed carrying 68,000 metric tons of coal and 975 tons of fuel oil, is probably only the first of such collisions to occur in the near future, experts predict.

While authorities believe there is no risk that the Chinese ship, grounded on the Great Barrier Reef, will not break-up, the ship is still in a precarious situation and the potential for disaster remains.