The Great Barrier Reef is known as one of the seven wonders of the world. It is believed to be one of the most incredible places on this planet. This reef is the largest living organism on this planet and the only living thing on Earth visible from space (2011). The warm waters of the southwest Pacific Ocean provide the ideal environment for creating the world's largest coral reef system. The Great Barrier Reef is in such an intact state that it has been listed by the World Heritage Trust as a protected site and is therefore managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure its beauty is preserved for many travelers and tourists (Edgar 2010). ). Due to the complexity of this natural phenomenon, human practices have led to ecological problems for the reef, but preservation efforts can provide opportunities for future generations to learn and experience one of the ocean's largest coral ecosystems in the world. The Great Barrier Reef is located just off the coast of Australia. This marine park stretches 1,800 miles and runs almost parallel to the Queensland coast (2011). The reef extends 65 km wide and reaches 15 to 150 km offshore (2011). Only 500,000 years old, the Great Barrier Reef is a relatively young structure. However, the current structure of the reef is even younger, less than 8,000 years old (Edgar 2010). The formation of the Great Barrier Reef is very complex. Coral reefs began to form in the region approximately 58 to 48 million years ago, when the Coral Sea Basin formed (Briney 2010). However, once the Australian continent moved to its current location, sea levels began to change and coral reefs began to grow quite rapidly, thus changing the climate and sea levels. consequently brought them to...... middle of paper ......populations, some countries have invested in fish farming or aquaculture, but this practice has generated some controversy. Studies have shown that fish farms do not contribute to the survival of native fish and even harm them. There are two main types of aquaculture: land-based and offshore. These farms, often due to overcrowded reservoirs, lead to outbreaks of deadly diseases. One example is pop eye, an eye infection that causes swelling of the eye. On offshore farms, domesticated fish often escape through faulty and substandard nets, thereby infecting native fish populations. Alternatively, offshore farms pose a different problem. The management of these facilities is known to filter excess pure waste from fish in the ocean. Contaminated water, also full of nutrients, creates a proliferation of algae and deprives the seabed of sunlight..