A recent report by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) reveals that parts of the Great Barrier Reef have suffered their largest annual decline in coral cover since records began nearly 40 years ago. The northern and southern branches of the reef experienced widespread coral bleaching, with heat stress from climate change being the primary cause.
The AIMS surveyed 124 coral reefs between August 2024 and May 2025, finding that repeated bleaching events are turning vast swaths of once-vibrant coral white. Coral bleaching occurs when the water it lives in becomes too hot, causing stressed coral to turn white and potentially die.
The report warns that the habitat may reach a tipping point where coral cannot recover quickly between catastrophic events, facing a “volatile” future. The reef’s recovery is dependent on future coral reproduction and minimal environmental disturbance.
Climate change has triggered unusually warm tropical waters, contributing to the sixth mass bleaching event since 2016. Natural weather patterns like El Niño can also play a role in these events. While some success has been seen with the Australian government’s crown-of-thorns starfish culling programme, more needs to be done to protect the reef.
The report highlights that the Great Barrier Reef is an “ecosystem under incredible stress” and that scientists are concerned about its future without rapid climate action. The UNESCO warns that the iconic Australian reef is “in danger” from warming seas and pollution.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg3pp52m65o