Great Barrier Reef Faces Record Coral Decline Amid Climate Crisis

Mon Oct 20 2025 06:36:57 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

New report reveals alarming levels of coral bleaching and habitat degradation on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, raising concerns over its future.

A report from the Australian Institute of Marine Science indicates that the Great Barrier Reef has experienced the worst annual decline in coral cover on record, primarily driven by climate change, tropical cyclones, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. This tipping point could threaten the reef's ability to recover and maintain its vital ecosystem.

The Great Barrier Reef, renowned as one of the planet's most stunning natural wonders, is currently grappling with the largest annual decline in coral cover since monitoring began nearly four decades ago. According to a report from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), both northern and southern parts of this vast reef complex have endured the most extensive coral bleaching observed to date.

Multiple environmental pressures, including recent tropical cyclones and outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish—predators of coral—have severely impacted reef health. However, AIMS identifies climate change-induced heat stress as the primary culprit behind the drastic reduction in coral cover.

The organization warns that the Great Barrier Reef may be approaching a tipping point, compromising its ability to regenerate adequately following devastating events. AIMS's recent surveys, which assessed the condition of 124 coral sites between August 2024 and May 2025, reveal that the reef's future is increasingly uncertain.

Often hailed as the world's largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef stretches for approximately 2,300 kilometers (1,429 miles) and is a vital habitat supporting nearly 25% of marine species. Coral bleaching occurs when corals, stressed by excessively high water temperatures, lose their vibrant colors and turn white.

Preliminary findings from AIMS show that severely bleached corals—especially the Acropora species, which are fast-growing yet highly vulnerable—were among the most affected. According to Dr. Mike Emslie, the lead researcher at AIMS, coral can recover from such stress but requires substantial time free from environmental disruption.

The report notes that while successful efforts have been made to cull crown-of-thorns starfish, the ongoing ecological stressors—amplified by climate change and natural events like El Niño—pose ongoing threats. Environmentalist Richard Leck from WWF warns that the reef is under immense stress, cautioning that without significant climate action, the Great Barrier Reef could face irreversible damage, similar to some coral reefs globally.

Despite its World Heritage status over the past four decades, UNESCO has flagged the Great Barrier Reef as being "in danger" due to increasing sea temperatures and pollution. The urgent need for local and international efforts to safeguard this precious ecosystem has never been more critical.