30 May 2016

Extent of coral death at Great Barrier Reef revealed

From Afternoons, 1:25 pm on 30 May 2016

Scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in Queensland have completed diving and aerial surveys of 84 reefs and say there is at least some bleaching at 93 per cent of individual reefs.

But even worse, 35 per cent of corals have died in the northern and central sectors of the reef.

It's the first confirmation of how much coral has died since mass bleaching began when sea surface temperatures soared earlier in the year.

Bleached mature staghorn coral at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef in February 2016

The same patch of mature staghorn coral at Lizard Island, 2 months later. It is dead.

Surveying dead coral in shallow waters at Cygnet Bay, Western Australia in April 2016. Photo Chris Cornwall

Extensive coral bleaching (white/yellow patches) documented on the Great Barrier Reef during aerial surveys in March 2016. Credit: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

Bleached Acropora plate coral, next to unbleached Montipora coral. Picture taken at Cleveland Bay. Credit: Andrew Baird

Bleached staghorn with damselfish. Photo by Jodie Rummer.

Jesse speaks with one of the scientists involved in the research, Dr Mia Hoogenboom from the College of Marine & Environmental Sciences.