Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has faced a significant decrease in coral cover in two out of its three regions over the past year, according to recent research released on Wednesday. This decline follows a severe coral bleaching event, one of the most devastating on record. The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences reported that the reef has seen the largest annual drop in coral cover in its northern and southern areas since monitoring began 39 years ago. Coral cover has decreased by approximately a quarter to a third after several years of steady growth.
Mike Emslie, the head of the institute’s long-term monitoring program, noted the escalating volatility in hard coral cover levels, a trend observed over the last 15 years that indicates a stressed ecosystem. The Great Barrier Reef, the largest living ecosystem globally, spans about 2,400 kilometers along the coast of Queensland’s northern state. Since 2016, the reef has endured five consecutive summers of mass coral bleaching, caused by heat stress, which increases the risk of coral death.
In 2024, the reef experienced its most extensive bleaching event on record, with widespread high to extreme bleaching across all three regions. Despite its critical condition, the Great Barrier Reef is not currently classified as endangered by UNESCO. However, the UN has recommended adding it to the list of world heritage sites in danger. Australia has been actively campaigning to prevent the reef from being listed as endangered to protect its tourism industry.
