Capturing the Great Barrier Reef
No matter how you look at the Great Barrier Reef, it is mind-bogglingly impressive.
Geographically, it covers an area of more than 344,000 square kilometres — roughly the size of 70 million football fields — and is so big that it can be seen from space.
Economically, it attracts an estimated two million visitors every year and is the focus of thousands of rangers, marine park officers, traditional owners, search and rescue crews, scientists and tourism operators.
Ecologically, the Reef is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem and, according to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, includes some 3000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 1625 types of fish and 600 types of hard and soft corals.
Environmentally, the future of the Reef is balances on a knife’s edge. The coral thrives best in a marine environment that is nutrient-poor but stable in temperature, and everything from tropical storms, climate change, invasive species, over-fishing and development along the coast can threaten its survival.
Its enormity means capturing the diversity and importance of the Great Barrier Reef is a daunting task, but a new three-part observational documentary goes above and below the waterline to showcase not just the remarkable animals and wildlife but also the people who call the reef home.
Filmed over 12 months, Life on the Reef follows the changing seasons the reef, from the mild winters that mark the start of the humpback whale’s migration and calving season, to spring’s annual coral spawn and the destructive force of summer’s tropical storms. Helping viewers on their journey is diving instructor and naturalist Paddy Colwell, who has spent more than 20 years swimming with sharks, walking along the reef bed and educating visitors on the beauty and importance of the Reef.
The Irishman fell in love with the region during an extended trip around Australia and said after more than two decades of diving on the Reef, it still had the power to surprise him.
“I love diving, I have always loved diving but to look around (the Reef) and see stuff that is absolutely, totally amazing gives me chills,” he said.
“The more you see about it the more amazing it is.”
The series investigates the ways the reef walks the line between maintaining its status as a natural wonder and supporting a range of activities and industries, such as tourism, fishing, boating and shipping.
Colwell said he had witnessed firsthand the way different management policies had affected the Reef, from fishing restrictions that had seen “clouds of fish” return to what had been almost barren, coral wastelands, to damage resulted in popular diving spots becoming choked with algae.
He said despite the Great Barrier Reef’s iconic status, he did not think Australians valued it enough and he hoped the series would inspire viewers to learn more about it.
“I don’t think people appreciate the Reef, but it is not because they don’t care, it is because they don’t know,” Colwell said.
“The lack of knowledge about the reef is just huge and it really upsets me.
“Even though I know the tourist industry damages the reef I support it, because the more people know the more they will appreciate it and the more they will want to protect it.”
Life on the Reef airs on Sunday at 7.40pm on ABC.
