It’s World Oceans Day and some of the most stunning underwater photos you'll see are taken in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest living thing on Earth, the Reef stretches over 2,600 kilometers, has over 900 islands and can even be seen from outer space.
But this ancient ocean jewel is under threat from Australia's coal boom. This is adding to the stress placed on the Reef by the impacts of climate change, like ocean acidification and temperature rise.
Approval has been given to plans to build an enormous new mega-mine near the Reef - ripping up millions of tonnes of sea floor in order to ship coal out to sea.
This collection of images is only a small illustration of the breathtaking beauty we must preserve. Add your name to help protect the Reef.
Aerial view showing lagoon detail. Wistari Reef, Southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.
© Gary Bell / Oceanwideimages.com
Schooling diagonal-banded sweetlips (Plectorhinchus lineatus). Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.
© Gary Bell / Oceanwideimages.com
Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Found in tropical and warm temperate seas worldwide. Endangered species listed on IUCN Red list.
© Gary Bell / Oceanwideimages.com
Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) school on the Great Barrier Reef.
© Darren Jew / Greenpeace 2010
Mandarin fish (Pterosynchiropus splendidus). Found throughout West Pacific. Photo taken Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.
© Gary Bell / Oceanwideimages.com
Half under and half above water picture of acropora coral reef. Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.
© Gary Bell / Oceanwideimages.com
Vibrant red corals. Great Barrier Reef.
© Greenpeace 2010
Anenome fish in sea anenome, Great Barrier Reef
© Greenpeace 2010
Abbot Point and Caley Valley Wetlands. The proposed expansion of the Abbot Pt Coal Terminal will directly affect the surrounding wetlands.
© Tom Jefferson / Greenpeace 2013
Bulk carriers moored off Hay Point awaiting to be loaded with coal.
© Dean Sewell / Greenpeace 2013
Coal stockpiles at R.G.Tanna Coal in Gladstone Harbour.
© Dean Sewell / Greenpeace 2013
Greenpeace activists paint the message Reef in Danger on the side of a coal ship - the Panamanian-flagged Chou San, berthed at Gladstone RG Tanna Coal Terminal, as a UNESCO team inspect the harbour.
© Greenpeace 2012
Aerial view of the Great Barrier reef off the Whitsunday Islands.
© Michael Amendolia / Greenpeace
