New data released today by Terry Hughes, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, shows record-breaking water temperatures have caused bleaching to over 1500 kilometres of coral over the last two summers.
“This second round of bleaching shows that we are running out of time to address climate change and protect one of Australia’s natural wonders,” Greenpeace campaigner Sebastien Blavier said.
“Last year we saw catastrophic bleaching on the northern parts of the Reef and this year the damage has moved further south.
“But instead of taking action to protect the Reef the government are considering funnelling almost $1 billion of taxpayers’ money to help fund the Carmichael mega-mine right next door.
“The Government must take action on the root cause of coral bleaching - and that is climate change, fueled by mining and burning fossil fuels like coal.”
Professor Hughes and his team collected data on the Reef by conducting aerial and below water surveys of about 800 separate reefs.
Unlike his 2016 survey, which found the bleaching to be more highly concentrated on the northernmost parts of the Reef, this year the worst of the damage has occurred in popular tourist areas further south between Townsville and Cairns.
“Almost 70,000 people rely on the Reef for their livelihoods, and the Reef is now in danger thanks to our Government’s inaction on climate change,” Blavier said.
“Instead of supporting the dying coal industry our leaders must commit to keep taxpayers’ money out of the Carmichael mine.”
In 2015, UNESCO placed the Great Barrier Reef on its watchlist due to concerns about the Australian Government’s management of the World Heritage Area.
Coral bleaching occurs when the water temperature is too warm. This increase in temperature causes the coral to expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues, which then takes on a bleached white appearance.
If water temperatures do not return to normal within six to eight weeks of the bleaching, the coral dies.
Notes to editors:
Photo and video can be accessed here, including drone footage of bleached coral: http://media.greenpeace.org/shoot/27MZIFJJD68E1
Media contacts:
Simon Black, Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, mob: 0418 219 086, email: simon.black@greenpeace.org