The world-famous coral reefs along the Western Australia (WA) coast have suffered the worst bleaching on the record after the “largest, largest, greatest and most intensive” marine heataveave, scientists say.
Between August and this May, hot water temperatures gave rise to significant heat stress on rocks, expecting many coral algae that gives them life and color – a process called bleaching, which is often fatal.
Damage – It will take months to assess – extends to 1,500 km (932 mi) and includes areas pre -climate change.
The worldwide coral reefs suffer from a two -year -long global coral bleaching event, which are recorded due to high sea temperature.
Australia’s marine science agency said that eight -week heat stress is usually sufficient to kill the coral, and initial estimates suggest that there have been several WA Reefs between 15 and 30.
James Gilmer of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) said, “The length and intensity of heat stress, and its footprint in many areas, is something that we have never seen before on most rocks in Western Australia.”
In a new report, AIMS researchers found that the 2024–25 season was the “most serious coral bleaching on record” for the WA Coral Reefs in the northwest and central rocks.
He said, “The areas that had given us hope because they were rarely bleached or not bleached before – such as Roli Sholes, North Kimberly and Niglu – have been given a tough fight this time. Finally, the climate heating has caught with these rocks,” he said.
Climate change means that the incidence of bleaching is becoming more frequent, more intense and more broad, which Dr. Gilmore says that the coral gives to the reefs – which requires 10 to 15 years to recover – very short to bounce back.
“Climate change due to carbon emissions remains the biggest threat to our coral reefs, and all rocks are globally,” he said.
