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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Graham Readfearn

How a marine heatwave is threatening Australia’s spectacular coral reefs

Divers inspecting corals impacted by a bleaching event on the Ningaloo Reef off Australia's west coast.
Stress test … divers inspecting corals impacted by a bleaching event on the Ningaloo reef in Australia. Photograph: Violeta J Brosig/Minderoo Foundation/AFP/Getty Images

When it comes to coral, the Great Barrier Reef steals the global limelight. It’s a bucket-list place for many and, when it gets hit by coral bleaching, it makes news around the world.

But Australia has another group of spectacular reefs on the west of the continent. Many of them had managed to escape the worst of global heating, until the worst marine heatwave ever recorded for this region. Even a “hope spot” for coral reefs has been decimated by the most severe heatwave on record for that part of the world.

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