Australia coral reefs struggle as coral severely drops

(MENAFN) Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef has faced its most severe yearly drop in coral cover in nearly four decades, according to recent findings from a marine science study.

The report revealed that two out of three regions surveyed recorded the sharpest annual coral loss in 39 years, with extreme heat linked to climate change cited as the primary cause of coral mortality.

“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.

Stead also highlighted the increasing frequency of coral bleaching, stating, “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.

According to the study, the survival of coral ecosystems relies heavily on reducing major greenhouse gas emissions, implementing stronger local and regional environmental protections, and finding new methods to help reefs adapt to changing ocean conditions.

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