Great Barrier Reef Suffers Most Widespread Coral Bleaching on Record

Sydney, August 6, 2025 – Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has experienced its most extensive coral bleaching event ever recorded, according to a government report released on Wednesday. The iconic reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is facing severe threats due to unprecedented ocean heat stress in 2024, compounded by tropical cyclones and infestations of crown-of-thorns starfish.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducted surveys across 124 coral reefs from August 2024 to May 2025, revealing the “most spatially extensive” bleaching since monitoring began nearly four decades ago. The northern and southern sections of the 2,300-kilometer-long reef saw the largest annual decline in coral cover ever recorded. “The number one cause is climate change,” said AIMS research lead Mike Emslie, emphasizing the impact of rising sea temperatures.

Bleaching occurs when corals, stressed by warmer waters, expel the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) that provide their color and nutrients. Prolonged heat can lead to coral death. The report noted that 2024 and early 2025 marked the sixth bleaching event in nine years, driven by record-high sea surface temperatures around Australia. Globally, over 80% of coral reefs have been affected by a mass bleaching event over the past two years. Despite the losses, Emslie highlighted the resilience of fast-growing acropora corals, though they are highly vulnerable to bleaching. Recovery could take years and depends on minimal environmental disturbances and successful coral reproduction. “It is still worth fighting for,” Emslie said, urging continued efforts to protect the reef.

Richard Leck from the World Wildlife Fund described the reef’s health as a “rollercoaster,” warning that without rapid climate action, the Great Barrier Reef could follow other reefs that are beyond recovery. Australia, a major coal exporter, is currently shaping its next emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, amid ongoing reliance on fossil fuels.

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