The Great Barrier Reef has experienced its most widespread coral bleaching event on record, according to a recent Australian government report. This unprecedented occurrence coincided with a significant rise in ocean temperatures during 2024.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducted a comprehensive survey of the reef’s health between August 2024 and May 2025. The findings revealed the most extensive coral bleaching since records began in 1986. The report attributes this phenomenon primarily to heat stress caused by climate change.
Scientists observed a substantial decline in coral cover, with a reduction of nearly one-third, bringing the total to 26.9 percent in the southernmost third of the reef. This region faced the highest levels of heat stress ever recorded.
“The declines in both the northern and southern parts of the reef were the most severe in a single year since monitoring started 39 years ago,” the study’s authors stated in The Conversation publication.
Spanning 2,300 kilometers, the Great Barrier Reef is recognized as the world’s largest living structure. It supports an extraordinary diversity of marine life, including a vast array of coral species and wildlife.
Professor Selina Stead, CEO of AIMS, emphasized that mass bleaching events are becoming more frequent and intense. She highlighted the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to secure the future of global coral reefs.
In addition to addressing climate change, managing local pressures and supporting the reef’s ability to adapt and recover from environmental impacts is crucial, she added.
UNESCO, which has designated the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site, notes that the ecosystem hosts the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, comprising 400 types of coral. It also provides habitat for 1,500 fish species, 4,000 mollusk types, 240 bird species, as well as endangered animals such as the dugong and the green sea turtle.
Despite these ecological values, some United Nations experts have recommended that the Great Barrier Reef be listed as a site in danger. However, the Australian government has actively worked to prevent this designation, citing concerns over potential economic impacts on the tourism industry, which generates billions of dollars annually.
A recent report from Australia’s Climate Change Authority outlined several strategies to protect the reef from climate change, including the adoption of low- and zero-emission alternatives by major fossil fuel-exporting countries. It also called for stronger measures to address climate pollutants like methane, which contribute significantly to near-term warming.
Australia remains a leading exporter of fossil fuels, including coal from the contentious Adani coal mine, which is transported through waters near the Great Barrier Reef.
The report further noted that approximately 93 percent of the excess heat generated in the atmosphere has been absorbed by the oceans. It also indicated that ocean temperatures in 2024 exceeded those recorded in 2023, underscoring the accelerating impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
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