The Great Barrier Reef is subject to two million visitors every year and furthermore generates $5-6 billion per year. Despite this however tourism does generate many problems for the Great Barrier Reef. One problem caused by tourism is the use of anchoring damaging the reef and disturbing natural homes for whales and dolphins. Furthermore the collecting of coral damages the reef and destroys habitats. Also overfishing in the area reduces the fish population and outboard engines further pollute oceans. Warmer ocean temperatures put stress on coral and lead to coral bleaching. The Great Barrier Reef has experienced two mass coral bleaching events in 1998 and 2002. Bleaching was more severe in 2002, when aerial surveys showed that over 50% of reefs experienced some coral bleaching.

Declining water quality is a major factor in the pollution of the Great Barrier Reef. During tropical floods, runoff containing fertilizer and pesticides is dispensed into the reef's waters and harms its delicately balanced ecosystem. The runoff problem is made worse by the loss of coastal wetlands along the Queensland coast, which act as a natural filter for toxins. The area of wetlands in the Great Barrier Reef catchment has decreased by over 50 percent.

The Great Barrier Reef supports a vast array of life forms. Thirty species of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef, More than 1,500 fish species live on the reef, including the clownfish, red bass, red-throat emperor. The Great Barrier Reef is home to 215 species of birds.