Great Barrier Reef to stay off UN's 'endangered' list

Australia hailed a United Nations decision to keep the Great Barrier Reef off its endangered list as "tremendous" on Thursday, but activists warned more must be done to improve the marine park's health.

The world's biggest coral reef ecosystem, which has had World Heritage Site status since 1981, has been under increasing threat from climate change, farming runoff, development and the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish.

The UNESCO decision will see the reef - a major tourist attraction off the Queensland coast - remain under surveillance but not listed as endangered.