Great Barrier Reef Faces Unprecedented Coral Mortality

The Great Barrier Reef has experienced its largest coral mortality in 39 years, with surveys finding up to 72% coral death on 12 out of 19 reefs. This decline is attributed to climate change-induced heat stress, mass bleaching, two cyclones, and flooding during the Austral summer. The fast-growing coral species, Acropora, has been particularly hard-hit, contributing to the significant loss of coral cover. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) reported that areas around Cooktown and Lizard Island saw more than a third of hard coral cover disappear, turning vibrant reefs into 'graveyards of corals'. This situation has raised concerns among scientists and environmentalists about the reef's resilience, with fears that repeated bleaching events are pushing it toward a tipping point. Efforts are ongoing to assess the full impact and develop strategies to mitigate further damage.