Cruise ship spills food waste onto the Great Barrier Reef

In August, a cruise ship dumped 27,000 liters of food waste and gray water into the Great Barrier Reef. The incident occurred on August 26th, but authorities were only informed two days later when the cruise line reported it. CNN reported that the ship was detained by Australian authorities upon its return to Sydney and fined 1.5 million U.S. dollars. Discharging waste into the reef is a serious offense, especially as the coral reefs are already suffering from climate change and environmental damage.

What incident occurred involving a cruise ship in August?

How much food waste and water did the ship dump into the Great Barrier Reef?

When did the cruise report the incident to the authorities?

What was the fine imposed on the cruise ship by Australian authorities?

What are some of the environmental issues affecting coral reefs in the region?