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In 2011-12 it was estimated tourism centred on the Great Barrier Reef generated $5.7bn for the economy and created 69,000 jobs.

Recent experience in Australia had shown that negative commentary about the status of world heritage properties impacted on tourism.”

he twin perils brought by climate change – an increase in the temperature of the ocean and in its acidity – threaten its very existence.”

Coral ecosystems are a source of food for millions; protect coastlines from storms and erosion; provide habitat, spawning and nursery grounds for economically important fish species; provide jobs and income to local economies from fishing, recreation, and tourism; are a source of new medicines, and are hotspots of marine biodiversity. They also are of great cultural importance in many regions around the world, particularly Polynesia.

They are also found along the coasts of over 100 other countries.

one recent estimate gave the total net benefit of the world's coral reef ecosystems to be $29.8 billion/year.