The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has released its annual report on the health of the Great Barrier Reef, revealing a significant drop in live coral coverage for the second year in three years. The report found that coral cover had fallen by 25% in the northern section and 30% in the southern section between 1986 and 2023.
The decline is attributed to the severe coral bleaching event in 2024, which was exacerbated by cyclones and flooding in the region. This year’s survey revealed a “graveyard of corals” around Lizard Island in the north, with the death of 40% of corals at One Tree Island in the south.
Experts warn that the volatility in coral cover is a sign of an unstable system, with record highs quickly followed by record falls. Dr. Mike Emslie, who leads the long-term reef monitoring program at AIMS, stated that the situation is becoming increasingly dire, with coral cover now mostly back in line with long-term averages.
The 2024 and 2025 events were part of a global mass coral bleaching event affecting over 80% of the world’s reefs, including Australia. The Great Barrier Reef has experienced widespread mass bleaching since 1998, with events occurring in 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, and 2024.
The AIMS report comes ahead of a federal government announcement on its emissions reduction target for 2035. Experts, including Richard Leck from WWF Australia, stress the importance of setting a target consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5C to give the reef a fighting chance.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/05/great-barrier-reef-suffers-biggest-annual-drop-in-live-coral-since-1980s-after-devastating-coral-bleaching