All articles tagged with #great barrier reef
A 39-year-old Cairns man was killed by a shark while spearfishing with friends off Kennedy Shoal on the Great Barrier Reef. Witnesses pulled him from the water and paramedics could not save him. The incident comes on the heels of another fatal attack nearby earlier in May, making it Australia’s third shark fatality in 2026, amid ongoing research that warming oceans and crowded waters may be driving more attacks.
A spearfisher was fatally attacked by a shark on the Great Barrier Reef, marking Australia’s second deadly shark attack in a week as authorities monitor risks for divers and beachgoers.
Diver Jamie Wilson filming the Great Barrier Reef captured hundreds of pale surgeonfish visiting a cleaning station, and one fish abruptly darkened from white to black. Scientists say such color changes may signal to cleaner wrasse that the fish is ready for a cleaning and not a threat, aiding parasite removal and communication in reef ecosystems.
Citizen scientists identify a Pavona clavus coral off Cairns spanning about 111 meters and covering roughly 3,973 square meters, potentially making it one of the reef’s largest colonies. Genetic testing is needed to confirm if it is a single organism or multiple close colonies, with size mapped via photogrammetry and implications for reef resilience.
A mother-daughter team with Citizens of the Reef identified the world’s largest known coral colony on the Great Barrier Reef—a Pavona clavus spanning about 111 meters and covering roughly 3,973 square meters—verified by underwater measurements and a 3D model; the exact location isn’t released to protect the site, and the find underscores the value of citizen science in reef monitoring amid ongoing bleaching.
A new study argues that removing sulfur from ship fuels reduced shading aerosols, allowing 5–10% more sunlight to reach the Great Barrier Reef and heightening heat stress during the 2022 bleaching event, illustrating a local impact of air pollution alongside CO2-driven warming.
An elderly woman, Suzanne Rees, died after being left behind on Lizard Island during a cruise in the Great Barrier Reef, prompting investigations by Australian authorities into the incident and the cruise company's handling of the situation.
The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its worst coral decline on record due to unprecedented heat stress and bleaching events driven primarily by climate change, with natural factors like cyclones and starfish outbreaks also contributing. Recovery may take years, and experts warn that without urgent climate action, the reef could face irreversible damage, similar to other global coral reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef experienced its largest annual decline in live coral since the 1980s due to severe bleaching events in 2024, driven by rising ocean temperatures and climate change, with scientists warning that increasing frequency of such events threatens the reef's recovery and survival.
A juvenile epaulette shark was observed walking along the seabed of the Great Barrier Reef using its fins, showcasing its unique ability to move across land and rocks to find food, thanks to specialized organs and adaptations, as captured by marine biologist Jacinta Shackleton.
A 2025 study using drone imagery revealed up to 92% coral mortality at Lizard Island during the 2024 bleaching event, highlighting severe damage to the Great Barrier Reef and emphasizing the urgent need for climate action to protect marine ecosystems.
Drone footage and a recent study reveal an unprecedented 92% coral mortality rate at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef following the 2024 bleaching event, highlighting the severe impact of climate change on coral ecosystems and the urgent need for action.
A recent study using drone imagery revealed a 92% coral mortality rate at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef following the 2024 bleaching event, marking one of the highest global coral death rates and highlighting the urgent need for climate action to protect these vulnerable ecosystems.
Research on ancient coral fossils from the Great Barrier Reef shows that the reef survived rapid sea level rises around 11,000 years ago, demonstrating resilience, but modern reefs face additional stresses from climate change that threaten their survival. The study suggests that while reefs can adapt to past environmental changes, current human-induced stresses may limit their ability to cope with future sea level rises, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts.
The Great Barrier Reef has suffered significant coral loss due to extreme heat, cyclones, and flooding, with some areas losing over a third of their coral cover. The Australian Institute of Marine Science reports that climate change-driven heat stress is the primary cause, exacerbated by cyclones and freshwater flooding. The mass bleaching event is part of a global trend linked to rising ocean temperatures from fossil fuel emissions. Conservationists warn that the reef's resilience is nearing its limits, urging significant emissions reductions and a halt to new fossil fuel projects.