Yasi does 10yrs damage to Barrier Reef

ABC News - 

Authorities say hundreds of kilometres of the Great Barrier Reef hit by Cyclone Yasi will take up to 10 years to recover.

It is still too early for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to send divers out to do a full assessment, but coral from the reef has been washing up on nearby shores.

The damage is expected to be similar to that of Cyclone Larry five years ago.

The authority's chief executive, Russell Reichelt, says all the progress the reef has made since then will now be destroyed.

"We can expect to see smashed coral beds, movements of coral boulders, sand and rubble moved around," he said.

"If there's any sand islands there and importantly sea grass beds, when they get disturbed - which they do by cyclones - then animals like dugong get affected."

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