Now Reading: Great Barrier Reef coral cover rises to 35.1% after bleaching
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Great Barrier Reef coral cover rises to 35.1% after bleaching
The Australian Institute of Marine Science reports that hard coral cover in the northern Great Barrier Reef has rebounded to 35.1 per cent after plunging to 30 per cent in 2025, its…
The Story in Brief
The Australian Institute of Marine Science reports that hard coral cover in the northern Great Barrier Reef has rebounded to 35.1 per cent after plunging to 30 per cent in 2025, its biggest annual decline on record. Surveys conducted from August 2025 to June 2026 showed a 16.7 per cent relative increase in the north and a 10.2 per cent rise in the central region, while the south remained stable.
The recovery followed a rare late-summer monsoon in 2026 that cooled sea temperatures and limited bleaching. However, the reef has suffered five mass bleaching events since 2016, and scientists warn that without deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the Australian government is deciding its 2035 target, such resilience will be overwhelmed by more frequent marine heatwaves.
The Indian Opinion
Some will seize on this rebound as proof the reef can handle climate shocks, while others will dismiss it as a lucky break that changes nothing. Both miss the point: the monsoon bought time, but the underlying threat, rising sea temperatures, remains undiminished. The real test is whether Australia commits to a 90 per cent emissions reduction by 2035. Watch that number, not the coral count.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
