Australian Waters Are “Cooking” Coral to Death, Causing Worst Ever Die-Off

In Brief

•   One stretch of the Great Barrier Reef that measures 700-km (435 miles) long has been depleted by two-thirds, the largest die-off ever recorded.

•   Scientists estimate a 5-10 year recovery period for that area of the reef, barring another bleaching event.

Massive Losses

It’s a threat people can see from a mile away but still, the news is quite shocking. Andrew Baird, a researcher at James Cook University has reported that warm seas around Australia’s Great Barrier Reef are causing coral to die out. One stretch of coral that measures 700-km (435 miles) long has already been depleted by two-thirds.

It’s now being called the biggest die-off within the Great Barrier Reef system. “The coral is essentially cooked,” said Baird on a telephone interview with Reuters. The coral in the area has experienced massive bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures. This rise forces the corals to expel algae causing it to calcify and turn white.

A media release from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies reports 67 percent of shallow-water coral along the northern areas in the Great Barrier Reef has been lost.

A Global Threat

The death of the coral threatens the area’s tourism industry, which employs more than 700,000 people and brings in $5 billion annually. The good news, according to scientists, is that most of the southern area of the reef has fared better, with losses limited to just one percent of the area. Craig Stephen, a manager of one of the reef’s tourist operations says, “the patchiness of the bleaching means that we can still provide our customers with a world-class coral reef experience by taking them to reefs that are still in top condition.”

The die-off of the corals may be temporary though, as the Great Barrier Reef could still recover once the sea temperatures return to normal levels. Scientists estimate a 5-10 year recovery period for that area barring another bleaching event.

The Paris Agreement hopes to solve this by having countries lessen their carbon emissions that contribute to the rising temperatures in the world. It’s a crucial measure for the Great Barrier Reef, as scientists warn that climate change may stifle the reef’s ability to repair itself.

Read more https://futurism.com/australian-waters-are-cooking-coral-to-death-causing-worst-ever-die-off/