Australia’s Great Barrier Reef hit by most extensive bleaching event on record

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Great Barrier Reef, Australia’s natural jewel and the world’s largest living structure, is grappling with an unprecedented crisis as record bleaching devastates its fragile ecosystem. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), a staggering 73% of surveyed reefs have been damaged, marking the most extensive bleaching event on record.

Stretching over 2,300 km (1,400 miles), the Great Barrier Reef is renowned for its stunning biodiversity, boasting over 600 types of coral and 1,625 fish species. However, recent aerial surveys conducted by scientists have revealed alarming statistics: Approximately 730 out of more than 1,000 surveyed reefs have experienced bleaching, with extreme bleaching affecting the entire expanse for the first time in history.

The Marine Park Authority, a federally-funded organisation overseeing the reef, issued a statement expressing concern over the cumulative impact witnessed this summer, which surpass previous years’ occurrences. Government reports indicate that up to 46% of reefs have endured record heat stress, a significant escalation compared to 2016 when only 20% of reefs were exposed.

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This event marks the fifth mass bleaching on the reef in the past eight years. Bleaching, triggered by rising water temperatures, occurs when corals expel symbiotic algae, resulting in their whitening and eventual death if the conditions persist. Richard Leck, WWF Australia’s Head of Oceans, told AFP that the unprecedented scale of the bleaching, particularly in regions previously spared from severe events, is alarming.

“This is the worst event the southern reef has experienced,” he said. “The scary thing about this year’s event is that it is more widespread than in 2016, but we won’t know for a few months what the mortality of corals looks like.”

Roger Beeden, Chief Scientist at the Reef Authority, emphasised climate change as the foremost threat to reefs globally, stressing the urgent need for action. “The Great Barrier Reef is an incredible ecosystem, and while it has shown its resilience time and time again, this summer has been particularly challenging,” he said.

Experts have called for immediate measures to mitigate coral bleaching, including global emission reduction and local restoration initiatives. Anna Marsden, Managing Director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, lamented the reef’s “worst summer on record” and warned of irreversible damage without swift intervention.

“If we do not take immediate action to reduce global emissions and implement effective conservation measures, we risk losing these irreplaceable ecosystems forever.”

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In Lizard Island, one of the worst-hit areas, marine biologist Anne Hoggett described scenes resembling a “watery graveyard,” with around 80% of vulnerable Acropora corals bleached. Concerns loom over the ability of these corals to recover from the extensive damage.

Australia has invested billions into conservation efforts, but its status as one of the world’s largest gas and coal exporters underscores the challenge of balancing economic interests with environmental preservation. The nation’s commitment to carbon neutrality and conservation measures will be scrutinised by UNESCO later this year as it assesses the reef’s World Heritage status.

With inputs from AFP

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow