Aerial surveys of Great Barrier Reef ordered as flights show extensive coral bleaching

Coral bleaching at Heron Island, off Gladstone in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef seen last week. Conservationists fear a seventh mass bleaching event could be unfolding. Photograph: Devin Rowell

The Great Barrier Reef’s management authority is preparing to carry out aerial surveys across the entire length of the marine park after helicopter flights confirmed extensive coral bleaching across the southern section of the world’s biggest coral reef.

The Guardian reported last week that bleaching was being reported in all regions of the reef from Lizard Island in north to the Keppel islands in the south – a distance of more than 1,100 kilometres.