<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/16/australias-next-government-may-be-great-barrier-reefs-last-chance-after-sixth-mass-bleaching-conservationist-says>
"The Great Barrier Reef was hit by a sixth widespread coral bleaching event
since 2016 this summer – the second time the world’s biggest coral reef has
seen the phenomenon strike in back-to-back years – according to government
authorities.
Scientists and conservationists reacted with dismay that widespread bleaching –
driven by global heating – was becoming normalised, with one saying Australia’s
next term of government may be the natural wonder’s last shot at survival.
“It’s awful,” said Prof Tracy Ainsworth, of the University of New South Wales
and vice-president of the International Coral Reef Society.
“The impact to the reef of these consecutive and severe bleaching events now
for a decade is fundamentally changing nature and the reef ecosystem.”
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority released an update on Wednesday
saying data suggested the reef had experienced “widespread coral bleaching”
across the north and far north.
“This event is the sixth since 2016 and, while less extensive than the coral
bleaching event in 2023–24, it is the second time the reef has experienced
widespread bleaching events across consecutive summers,” the update said.
The authority said in an accompanying report that the “severe and widespread
coral bleaching” had been caused by marine heatwaves driven by the climate
crisis."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
