84% of World's Coral Reefs Bleaching as Ningaloo Faces Emergency

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For the first time in history, both Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef are bleaching simultaneously as marine temperatures soar to record highs.

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Scientists have documented that heat stress has affected 84% of the world's coral reefs since January 2023 – making this the largest global bleaching event ever recorded.

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Sea temperatures near Ningaloo measured 1.5-2.0°C above normal in March 2025, pushing corals beyond their survival threshold and triggering mass bleaching.

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Aerial surveys show the marine heatwave has spread like an "underwater bushfire" across the entire 260km reef tract, with some areas showing up to 80% paling.

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What happens when oceans absorb excess heat? They've taken in 90% of human-caused heat since the 1970s, while also becoming 30% more acidic from carbon dioxide.

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Indigenous knowledge offers hope. Baiyungu Traditional Owner Hazel Walgar highlights how seasonal freshwater influx during "Thubayurri" (hot time) historically aided coral recovery.

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At Minderoo's Exmouth Research Lab, scientists are breeding "super corals" with twice the heat tolerance of their parents. Will these new corals save Ningaloo?

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The stakes? Coral reefs support $9.9 trillion in ecosystem services globally, with Ningaloo's tourism alone generating A$110 million annually.

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Meanwhile, fossil fuel projects like Woodside's Burrup Hub extension through 2070 threaten to lock in emissions that accelerate reef decline.

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The IPCC has warned that exceeding 1.5°C global warming endangers 70-90% of coral reefs by 2030. Time is running out.

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Over 65 Traditional Owner groups are now co-managing reef protection, bringing valuable ecological knowledge to conservation efforts.

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The race to save Ningaloo combines cutting-edge science, ancient wisdom, and economic reality. Will the world respond in time?

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