The most recent report card on the Great Barrier Reef's water quality highlighted major changes that need to be made to meet targets by 2018. Sediment and pollutant runoff from land use have increased 2-3 fold since 1850, largely driven by agricultural land clearing and grazing, while fertiliser used in sugar cane farming contributes to nitrogen runoff.
History
Citation
Hamylton, S. & Ihlein, L. (2016). Cleaning up runoff onto the Great Barrier Reef: how art and science are inspiring farmers to help. The Conversation, 3 November 1-4.