The deteriorating Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef, the immense coral reef system covering an area more than 133,000 square miles off the north-east coast of Australia, is the largest structure formed by living organisms on the planet.
The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to 600 types of corals and over 1,600 types of fish.
Though the Great Barrier Reef has lost around half its coral cover in the last 30 years, the world heritage committee declined to list it as "endangered" on July 1, 2015. The committee did express concern regarding the reef's decline and the need for it to be vigorously protected, essentially putting Australia on probation with the status to be reviewed in the future. UNESCO called the reef's outlook earlier in the year "poor."
The UNESCO delegates snorkeled the reef as part of their mission to verify the health of the world's largest living ecosystem, which brings in billions of dollars a year in tourism for Australia.
Here, Lady Elliot Island located north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, is seen on June 11, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
Peter Gash (L), owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels with senior rangers in the Great Barrier Reef region for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 11, 2015. They are carrying out an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens'.
Great Barrier Reef
Fish swim through the coral on Australia's Great Barrier Reef on September 22, 2014.
Some coral has been badly damaged and animal species, including dugong and large green turtles, are threatened.
Great Barrier Reef
Tourists stand in front of huts that form part of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort where a turtle digs for food amongst the coral in the island's lagoon, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 9, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, prepares to snorkel during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 11, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
Tourists snorkel near a turtle as it looks for food amongst the coral in the lagoon at Lady Elliot Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015. The lagoon, which is occupied by turtles during high tide, is only accessible for snorkeling during this time.
Great Barrier Reef
Pilot John Peaker prepares to land on Lady Elliot Island, an island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, located north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 9, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
Fish swim through the coral in Australia's Great Barrier Reef on September 22, 2014.
Great Barrier Reef
A tourist dives on Australia's Great Barrier Reef on September 22, 2014.
Great Barrier Reef
Dried coral and shells lie on a beach on Lady Elliot Island, an island in the Great Barrier Reef, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 10, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
A crew member from the Ocean Freedom helps a scuba-diving tourist into the water on Australia's Great Barrier Reef on September 22, 2014.
Great Barrier Reef
Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, one of the reef's 900 islands, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 11, 2015.
Gash snorkels every morning before he attends to managing duties on the island, and was showing the Great Barrier Reef rangers the current condition of the reef.
Great Barrier Reef
Tourists snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef on September 22, 2014.
Great Barrier Reef
A reef shell lies on a beach as the sun sets on Lady Elliot Island located north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 10, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
Tourists look through a glass window in the bottom of a boat as it floats above an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, one of 900 islands in the Great Barrier Reef, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 10, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
A turtle moves around Australia's Great Barrier Reef, September 22, 2014. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest structure formed by living organisms on the planet.
Great Barrier Reef
A stingray swims past the coral on the Great Barrier Reef, September 22, 2014.
Great Barrier Reef
A tourist snorkels in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, June 10, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
Tourists prepare to board a boat to snorkel in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia on June 10, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
A tourist snorkels in the lagoon located on Lady Elliot Island, in the Great barrier Reef, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, on June 9, 2015. The lagoon, which is occupied by turtles during high tide, is only accessible for snorkeling during this time.
Great Barrier Reef
Fish swim through the coral on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, September 22, 2014.
Great Barrier Reef
A boat carrying tourists floats above an area called the 'Coral Gardens' near Lady Elliot Island, one of 900 islands in the Great Barrier Reef, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 10, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
Fish swim through the coral on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, September 22, 2014.
Great Barrier Reef
Tourists walk from a boat after diving in the Great Barrier Reef, June 9, 2015.
Great Barrier Reef
Storm clouds can be seen above a coal ship as it sails near Lady Elliot Island, one of 900 islands in the Great Barrier Reef, located north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia on June 9, 2015.