Introduction

Our task was to choose a problem in Australia that we are particularly passionate about and to write a formal letter to our representative regarding the problem. I choose the topic of coral bleaching in Western Australia, and wrote to my Federal representative, Ben Morton.

I choose this topic because love to visit Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and would hate to them the bleached, as it would take away the sense of wonder. The Great Barrier Reef has already experienced coral bleaching, and Ningaloo Reef has started. It is so much better to take action while coral bleaching has started so that it can’t progress further.

The Letter

Katherine Kucharski

All Saint’ College

Ewing Avenue

Bullcreek WA 6149 

13 May 2022

Hon Ben Morton MP

PO Box 329

Willetton, WA, 6155

Dear Mr Morton,

I, a year eight student from All Saints’ College, am writing to inform you of the issue of coral bleaching in Western Australia, and respectfully requesting that you take action.

As a visitor of the astounding Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, I am concerned about preserving the good health of this and other reefs as I would hate to see them bleached like some of the coral at the Great Barrier Reef. Only around 7% of coral reef in the Great Barrier reef has avoided coral bleaching. Most of the Western Australian coral has been unaffected, but we must act now.

Coral bleaching is a result of multiple causes.

1. Warmer waters. Warmer waters stress out the algae that give it its colour. The algae can be forced to leave the coral, draining it of its colour. The algae helps the coral make cleaner waters, coral is like the trees of the sea. Coral actually produces more oxygen than trees, supplying around 50% of the world’s oxygen. Without the algae, it produces no oxygen, and is more susceptible to diseases which can destroy the coral. Coral reefs can’t easily recover from destroyed coral. It takes around 100 000 to 300 000 years to fully form again.
2. Runoff and pollutants. Even the wrong type of fertiliser can destroy reefs. Storm precipitation can dilute coral waters, and runoff can carry pollutants which can bleach the coral near the shore. Pollutants need to be reduced from going into waters or coral bleaching can rapidly increase in Western Australia.

You might be wondering, why should we worry.

It would be bad for tourism. I know that quite a lot of people go to Exmouth to visit the amazing reefs. If they no longer existed, tourism would heavily decrease for Exmouth, which would negatively impact the economy.

There would be shortages of fish. It’s estimated that 25% of fish live in reefs, which is also around 4000 species of fish. Without coral reefs to support the needs of the fish, the fish will exit the reef in search of another. The problem with that is that there might not be many unbleached reefs left, and some of the fish require reefs for certain parts of their lifecycle. That would reduce the amount of fish available for fishing. According to the United Nations, around one billion people globally depend on coral reefs for their food and livelihood. It wouldn’t be surprising if the fish population reduced and this would affect the livelihoods of many fishermen.  

Lastly, reefs could be the key to a medical breakthrough. By researching corals’ natural defences, it could provide more treatments for diseases like cancer. The coral reefs being bleached can put us a step back in medicine and could delay the possibility of saving lives.

There are already many reefs around the world, and Australia, that have been heavily affected by coral bleaching.

I’m requesting that you take action to save the reefs for current and future generations of Western Australians. Please could you consider the following options to prevent coral bleaching.

Global warming is the main cause of the warmer waters that result in coral bleaching. To reduce global warming, there are multiple options.

1. Promoting electric vehicles. Electric cars are much more sustainable than fossil fuel cars, as fossil fuels are non-renewable resources and won’t last forever. We will have to eventually switch to electric cars, but it’s better to start now, so we can reduce our carbon footprint. You could provide subsidies for people purchasing electric cars. Or you could increase taxes on fossil fuel cars.
2. For fossil fuel vehicles, you should bring in laws to check and reduce vehicle emissions.
3. An alternative would be more electric/magnetic powered public transport. Maglev trains exist and are sustainable. They are cleverly designed to transport many people without causing noise or air pollution.
4. Close down coal fired power stations. I think we should move away from coal power towards renewable energy. So, more needs to be done to install a) renewable energy generating schemes like wind, solar and wave energy, b) batteries, c) improve the electricity grid and d) provide subsidies for home owners to instal solar panels on their roofs.

There are more strategies, but these are the ones that impact global warming in Australia the most.

I’m really hopeful that you will take this into consideration for our generation and beyond. So I ask you to please, reduce our global warming to save the reefs of Western Australia.

Yours sincerely,

Katherine Kucharski