Coral Decline Hits Great Barrier Reef in Australia

(MENAFN) Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef has undergone its most significant yearly loss in coral populations, primarily attributed to the effects of climate change, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS).

The findings revealed that two out of the three regions analyzed have endured the sharpest yearly drop in coral coverage since observations began 39 years ago.

The primary factor contributing to this dramatic reduction in coral health was intense heat conditions brought on by climate change.

“This year Western Australian reefs also experienced the worst heat stress on record. It's the first time we've seen a single bleaching event affect almost all the coral reefs in Australia,” emphasized AIMS CEO Selina Stead.

Highlighting the severity of recurring coral bleaching, Stead continued: “This was the second time in a decade that the Reef experienced mass bleaching in two consecutive years.”

“These results provide strong evidence that ocean warming, caused by climate change, continues to drive substantial and rapid impacts to Reef coral communities,” she added, pointing to the pressing threat warming seas pose to marine ecosystems.

Stead also emphasized that safeguarding the future of coral reefs depends on significantly cutting greenhouse gas outputs, addressing local and regional environmental pressures, and implementing adaptive strategies to help coral systems withstand the evolving effects of climate change.

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