Scientists demand action to protect Great Barrier Reef Aerial view of Great Barrier Reef, Cairns. Australia's leading marine scientists have demanded governments take better care of the Great Barrier Reef just weeks from a key United Nations meeting considering the impacts of proposed coal and gas development on the world heritage site. In a joint statement, the scientists urge governments to contain several proposed new ports along the reef's coast associated coal mining and gas projects to existing industrial areas. They also want the federal and Queensland governments to encourage greater sharing of existing infrastructure to reduce industrial footprint, and better management of shipping through the reef. The statement includes signatures from more than 150 scientists from 33 Australian institutions, along with a number of prominent international researchers. "As scientists, we are concerned about the additional pressures that will be exerted by expansion of coastal ports and industrial development accompanied by a projected near-doubling in shipping, major coastal reclamation works, large-scale seabed dredging and dredge spoil disposal - all either immediately adjacent to, or within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area," the statement says. The UN's world heritage committee will meet in Cambodia later this month to consider whether the Great Barrier Reef should be put on a list of sites considered "in danger" due to the threat of industrial development and other issues. A precursor report for the heritage body recommended that in the absence of a firm government commitment to rectify the concerns the reef should be inscribed on the list in 2014. Co-author of the statement Professor Hugh Possingham said if the planned industrial development along the reef's coast was got wrong it would undo years of work to improve the health of the reef, including setting up marine reserves and reducing polluted runoff from farms. He said the industrial development also came at a critical time for the health of the reed. A landmark scientific study last year found the reef had lost half its coral cover in the last 27 years due to storm damage, crown of thorns starfish, and bleaching. "It is hard to think of a natural asset more that is more significant to the people of Australia both from cultural perspective and an economic perspective," he said. So if we can't sort this out we can't sort anything out on an environment front. This is a no brainer. The statement was first circulated to attract signatures back in April. The WWF - which has been funded by the Thomas Foundation to run a massive "Fight for the Reef" campaign - paid for a consultancy to coordinate the declaration. Scientists who signed onto the declaration include laureates of the United Nations' 500 Global Roll of Honour. International signatories are based at institutions including the Natural History Museum of London and the University of California, Berkeley.