The coral-eating starfish are naturally occurring but have proliferated due to pollution and agricultural run-off at the struggling reef. Funds will also go towards increasing the number of patrol vessels and divers targeting the starfish, he said. "It is a vibrant, resilient ecosystem and one of the best-managed coral reef ecosystems in the world," Turnbull said in a statement. The reef is also reeling from significant coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change. Conservationists said Monday the government's latest funding announcement did not go far enough and action is needed to slash greenhouse gas emissions to prevent warming sea temperatures.

Source: Daily Mail January 22, 2018 04:18 UTC