Australia: Fears that oil spill may threaten Great Barrier Reef

A fisheries conservationist has raised concerns about the possibility of an oil spill in the Gladstone Harbour in central Queensland reaching the Great Barrier Reef.

In Queensland's biggest spill in 35 years, 25,000 litres of oil poured into the harbour when a tug ran into a coal carrier this week.

Australian Marine Conservation Society spokesman Craig Bohm says a big effort has gone into the clean-up.

But he wants assurances there is going to be a long-term monitoring program that looks below the surface.

"I really hope the oil spill on the surface has been contained," he said.

"But with the high winds and the quite strong current at this time of the year, particularly with a lot of unsettled weather, the potential for spread is certainly greater than perhaps in the winter months and I think the Maritime Safety Authority needs to be watching that very, very carefully."

Related Article: Australia: Gladstone oil spill a tragedy for marine life

Source: www.abc.net.au/news