~The fishing industry would suffer greatly without the GBR. Over-fishing in Australia has already affected the eco-system in the GBR. Without predators, the prey multiply fast. This has resulted in a lot of polyps, which fish eat, to be eaten. Coral relies on polyps and without it dies. The commercial fishing industry is valued at $160 million dollars, and that’s just from the GBR. If the corals continue to die at the rate they have been, the many fish this industry relies on will have no habitat and thus either migrate or die out. Essential seafood that local and international markets rely on is suddenly gone, as well as 975 full time jobs. Recreational fishing, which contributes signicantly to the $243.9 million generated by recreational users of the reef, disappears. Suddenly the tourism Industry is hurt as well- and all this just from coral d​ying.​

~Land erosion would speed up if coral in the GBR began to die. Both property and lives would be at risk if the GBR dies. Coral is one of nature’s main ways to protect coastal lands because it absorbs waves force. Without the GBR, Queensland’s coastal property would be at higher risk for property damage, coastal erosion, floods, waves, and storms. In fact, in Queensland Australia they’ve had to develop property maps including the risks of living on the shoreline. Climate change is the main factor killing the GBR, and by law in Queensland the said maps must include the risk of climate change. They said that “climate change is projected to have a significant impact on the coastal zone” partially referring to the loss of coral, which speeds up erosion. The ecosystem on land would also be negatively impacted. Sea grass meadows and mangroves in Queensland provide food and water purification; without the GBR they are very prone to damage from waves. The Australian governments only option for preventing this (assuming the GBR is dead) is to construct breakwaters. These can cost up to $15 million and require maintenance.

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~As mentioned earlier, the tourism industry in Australia makes a lot of money from the GBR. It has over two million people visit it every year! Alas, without it an annual $5-6 billion dollars for the Australian government would be lost. Shops and small businesses that rely on tourists staying near the GBR slowly die off, soon followed by the hotels on the coast (and even if they did stay in business, slowly the land would erode away to o the lack of a natural barrier against waves).

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~The medical industry is currently studying coral- without it we could miss out on future medicinal breakthroughs and lose a current source for certain medicine. Enzymes in coral can be used to treat asthma, arthritis, and is currently being studied for a cancer treatment.

~A total of 70,000 jobs rely on the GBR, which would all be lost