Warning that it's "now or never", researchers are pushing all sides of government to commit to a ten year, AU$10 Billion emergency effort to save the Great Barrier Reef. 

Chief researcher Jon Brodie of James Cook University says the next five years are crucial, and the fate of the reef will be determined within that time. 

"After that, I think it will be too late. So, I think it's either now or never really," Mr. Brodie told the ABC.

Scientists and environmentalists have been watching in horror as huge expanses of the Great Barrier Reef this year turned a ghastly white, caused by global warming heating up the water which prompts the corals to expel the tiny organisms that gave it its color.  But warmer water isn't the only problem facing the reed, and Mr. Brodie insists the proposed $10 Billion can be spent on things that Australia can control right now, such as on-site management and controlling agricultural run off which is fouling the water.

"That number comes from a number of water quality improvement plans, each of which costed to clean up water quality to meet the standards required in the Great Barrier Reef's long-term sustainability plan," Mr. Brodie said.

The reef's World Heritage status and the tourism and other benefits that it brings will be gone forever if action isn't taken.

"If the Government really thought it was too much money, well then they should say so and just give up on the reef, let UNESCO put it on the In Danger list, because that's where it is," said Brodie. 

"We need to spend a lot of money and we need to spend it soon," he continued, "If we don't, then we're really giving up."