Media Release

Coral bleaching – will global warming
kill the reefs?

May 9, 2003

Coral reefs are sensitive to environmental change. Recently, the frequency and distribution of coral bleaching have increased, and in 2002 the Great Barrier Reef experienced its worst case of coral bleaching on record.

As the world's oceans become warmer, this scenario is taking place more frequently, on the Great Barrier Reef and on coral reefs all over the world. Coral bleaching has never been more common or widespread, prompting the question: are rising sea temperatures killing the reefs?

Over the past one hundred years, the temperature of sea water in many tropical areas has been rising. The Australian Institute of Marine Science has collated data showing that 2002 was the warmest year for water temperatures off northeast Australia since 1870.

Coral bleaching is a natural process. For thousands of years, fishermen have noticed mysterious whitening of the reefs. What is not natural is the rate at which coral bleaching is occurring. In Australia alone, the 2002 bleaching saw nearly 60 per cent of the reef suffer bleaching and, in the worst areas, 90 per cent of the coral was bleached.

Some corals survive bleaching events better than others and perhaps the best strategy is to protect the corals that do survive bleaching. One way to do this is by creating marine parks: areas protected in some way from souvenir hunters and activities such as fishing and boating. An important consideration is to locate marine parks in areas where the coral is resistant to bleaching.

Though the reefs may not be doomed, there is definitely cause for concern. Some scientists have predicted that by 2030 massive and devastating coral bleaching events will occur every year. Other scientists believe that there is a future for the reefs, and that though the reefs may change, they will be there in some form or another.

More about coral bleaching is on the Australian Academy of Science's Nova: Science in the news website at http://www.science.org.au/nova. The topic also includes a glossary; student activities; further reading in Australasian Science and New Scientist; and annotated links to relevant websites, including the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The topic was developed with support from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

For further information: 
Ms Marian Heard 
Education and Public Awareness Manager, Australian Academy of Science
GPO Box 783
Canberra  ACT  2601
Telephone: 02 6247 5777
Fax: 02 6257 4620
Email: marian.heard@science.org.au

Further information about coral bleaching at AIMS 
Coral bleaching - index page 

Media contact at AIMS
Theresa Millard, Science Communication Manager,
Telephone: 07 47534250 (w), 0409596271,
Email: t.millard@aims.gov.au 

AIMS home page 

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Last updated - May 9, 2003

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