by By Alasdair Pal
The Great Barrier Reef of Sydney (Reuters) -Australia last year has the biggest decrease in coral cover in two of his three regions ago, research showed, after a massive proves of his corals that were among the worst on record.
The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences said that the RIF has experienced the largest annual decrease in coral cover in the northern and southern regions since the monitoring began 39 years ago, with the coral covering decreased between a quarter and a third after a few years of solid growth.
“We now see increased volatility in the level of hard coral cover,” says Mike Emslie, head of the long -term monitoring program of Institute.
“This is a phenomenon that has arisen for the past 15 years and points to an ecosystem under stress.”
The Rif, the world’s largest living ecosystem, extends for around 2,400 km (1500 miles) off the coast of the northern state of Queensland.
Since 2016, the RIF has experienced five summers of massive coral bleaches when large parts of the reef turn white due to heat stress, giving them a greater risk of death.
The 2024 event had registered the biggest footprint ever on the reef, with all its three regions high to extreme, according to the report.
The Great Barrier Reef is currently not on the UNESCO list with World Heritage Sites that are in danger, although the UN recommends that it must be added.
Australia has lobby for years to keep the RIF – which contributes a $ 6.4 billion ($ 4.2 billion) to the economy – of the endangered list annually, because this could damage tourism.
(Reporting by Alasdair Rel in Sydney; Edit by Lincoln Feast)
