Peter Wright - Owner of Poseidon Outer Barrier Reef Cruises

Poseidon Outer Barrier Reef Cruises' Peter Wright has seen more than most when it comes to the Great Barrier Reef. His decades of experience led us to ask him about his thoughts on the health of the Reef and its predicted demise not too far into the future.

"While this may be possible (the destruction of the Reef), we're certainly not seeing any signs at the moment. The Reef is enjoying good water quality such as Agincourt and we're finding good coral regrowth after Cyclone Yasi.

"We need to emphasise currently (this is the case). As long as we maintain our efforts to keep the water quality (high) and moderate fishing pressure, and avoid introducing new factors like increasing shipping tonnage going through the reef which could have a detrimental effect.  There is a lot of concern about the new coal and gas export facility being built.

"Those are the things we can control and we and the Government must make every effort to ensure there are no new impacts placed on the Reef.

"The things we can't control are climate change. I personally don't call that climate warming. It was only 20 years ago that people were worried about having another ice age.

"Climate change is always going to be there, it's inevitable. I personally feel it's beyond our immediate control. A carbon tax is not going to make the slightest bit of difference.

"Climate change is always an issue, but we need to be open minded about it. There are too many people jumping on the band wagon.

"If indeed CO2 is the real villain, and I'm yet to be convinced of that to be honest, there are a lot of other factors that come in to play. But even if it was the real villain , the only way of tracking it is with a world-wide response. We're not within cooee of that.

"I don't think the carbon tax is the way to address the problem.

"I think it's the wrong approach. A unilateral carbon tax in one little country like Australia...it's a drop in the ocean. A unilateral action I don't think is going to benefit anyone.

"It's just aiding our competitors in whatever field you're in, not just tourism.

"What we should be doing is concentrating our efforts on getting a world body of agreement on it.

"We're not seeing any deterioration on the Reef in that regard on the local reef system...Everything is in better shape now than it was 30 years ago, more fish life and rigorous coral regrowth.

"So let's hope that's going to last. Then I'll still have a business."

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