The last six months have seen a devastating mass bleaching event hit coral populations on Australia's eastern shores. Graeme contributed to a statement from the Biodiversity Council about coral bleaching and its causes. According to the Reef Authority, GBRMPA, this year's event has been larger and more severe than any previous coral bleaching event.
Nearly all bleached corals will die. Unfortunately, the only solution for preventing future bleaching events - and quite possibly, eventual extinction of heat-intolerant corals - is to stop releasing carbon dioxide into the earth's atmosphere.