Worst bleaching on record for Western Australian coral reefs
12 August 2025, 03:52 BST
World-famous coral reefs along Western Australia's (WA) coast have suffered the worst bleaching on record after the state's "longest, largest and most intense" marine heatwave, scientists say.
Between last August and this May, warmer water temperatures led to significant heat stress on the reefs, causing many of the coral to expel the algae which gives them life and colour - a process called bleaching, which is often fatal.
The damage - which will take months to assess - spans 1,500km (932 miles) and includes areas previously unscathed by climate change.
Coral reefs worldwide have been suffering from a two-year-long global coral bleaching event, due to record high ocean temperatures.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq877llq099o
