Great Barrier Reef suffers third mass bleaching

Great Barrier Reef suffers third mass bleaching

Some previously untouched areas had now suffered “moderate or severe bleaching”, said the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which is conducting an aerial survey of the giant organism

AFPUpdated: Friday, March 27, 2020, 03:38 AM IST
article-image
Great Barrier Reef | Wikimedia Commons

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has suffered “very widespread” damage after rising sea temperatures caused the third mass coral bleaching events in five years, authorities said Thursday.

The planet’s largest coral reef system is worth an estimated USD 4 billion a year in tourism revenue for the Australian economy, but is at risk of losing its coveted world heritage status because warmer oceans brought about by climate change have damaged its health.

Its northern reaches suffered an unprecedented two successive years of severe bleaching in 2016 and 2017, prompting the government agency overseeing the reef to downgrade its long-term outlook to “very poor”.

Some previously untouched areas had now suffered “moderate or severe bleaching”, said the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which is conducting an aerial survey of the giant organism.

The damage had been less extensive around popular tourist destinations like Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands, the agency added.Environmentalists have criticised Australia’s conservative government for favouring an expansion of the country’s massive coal mining industry over action to curb climate change.The latest findings show “the urgent need for reef-safe climate policies,” said Australian Marine Conservation Society campaigner Shani Tager.

RECENT STORIES

BRICS Raises Serious Concerns On US' Unilateral Imposition Of High Tariffs, Inconsistent With WTO...

BRICS Raises Serious Concerns On US' Unilateral Imposition Of High Tariffs, Inconsistent With WTO...

'BRICS Remains A Powerful Force For Global Good': PM Modi At Summit

'BRICS Remains A Powerful Force For Global Good': PM Modi At Summit

PM Modi Shares Warm Hug With Brazilian President Lula At BRICS Summit (VIDEO)

PM Modi Shares Warm Hug With Brazilian President Lula At BRICS Summit (VIDEO)

Israel Sends Delegation To Qatar For Ceasefire & Hostage Deal Talks With Hamas

Israel Sends Delegation To Qatar For Ceasefire & Hostage Deal Talks With Hamas

Yemen’s Houthis Claim Hypersonic Missile Attack On Israel, Say Strike Hit Ben Gurion Airport

Yemen’s Houthis Claim Hypersonic Missile Attack On Israel, Say Strike Hit Ben Gurion Airport