Aerial Surveys Confirm Widespread Bleaching Across The Great Barrier Reef
https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/news/aerial-surveys-confirm-widespread-bleaching-across-great-barrier-reef
Aerial Surveys Confirm Widespread Bleaching Across The Great Barrier Reef
8 Mar 2024
Aerial surveys conducted by the Reef Authority in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) spanning two-thirds of the Marine Park confirm that a widespread coral bleaching event is unfolding across the Great Barrier Reef.
Observations were collected from over 300 inshore, midshelf and offshore reefs, from Cape Melville north of Cooktown to just north of Bundaberg (southern boundary of the Marine Park). Some areas are yet to be surveyed.
Reef Authority Chief Scientist Dr Roger Beeden said the results of these surveys are consistent with the patterns of heat stress that have built up over summer.
The results are consistent with what we have seen with above average sea surface temperatures across the Marine Park for an extended period of time, Dr Beeden said.