Ningaloo Reef is experiencing unprecedented coral bleaching, marking the first time both it and the Great Barrier Reef have bleached simultaneously. This alarming development comes as global warming pushes ocean temperatures to record highs. Scientists report that since January 2023, heat stress has affected 84% of the world’s coral reefs – the largest global bleaching event ever recorded. The marine heatwave hitting Western Australia has bleached reefs from Ningaloo up to Ashmore Reef simultaneously—another “first”. Minderoo scientists describe the bleaching as akin to an underwater bushfire, with aerial and drone footage documenting rapid color loss. A Curtin University survey of … Continue reading Ningaloo Reef Bleaching Crisis: 84% of Global Coral Systems Hit as Marine Heatwave Pushes Temperatures 2°C Above Normal