In the past 12 months, Australia has known the hottest months in its history. It was between April 2024 and March 2025 that the average temperature in the country increased by 1.61 ° C. An increase that was felt on earth as on sea. For good reason, the corals of the Ningaloo reef have whitewashed, the phenomenon worries.
To the west of the Australian territory, turquoise waters offer an idyllic landscape. However, it is in these same depths that nature is dying. The Ningalo reef, which extends over more than 9000 kilometers, must face the challenges of climate change. Holds during the southern summer impacted the corals of the area that bleached. An alarming phenomenon for scientists from the Minderoo Foundation, who evaluate the damage. “Our mission coincided with an episode of important thermal stress,” explains Zoe Richards, a scientist specializing in coral reefs, so that our project has evolved, and now includes the health examination of the colonies. I also document the degree of whitening of corals, their state of health, and their degree of partial whitening ”.
Some of these colonies are starting to be invaded by algae, which indicates that they are dying
Zoe Richards, scientist specializing in coral reefs
Thermal stress is the final diagnosis of scientists. Over several meters, the reef of a sickly pallor is dried up, as if he had cooked. This is what gives it this white color. A worrying assessment for biodiversity. “This is what I see there,” illustrates Zoe. Certain colonies of a coral called serialopora, which some know under the name of “coral needle”, are very severely affected. The whole colony turned. At the moment, some of these colonies are starting to be invaded by algae, which indicates that they are dying. It is therefore not good for this coral ”.
The UNESCO World Heritage Reef, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage, is at the center of attentions. The Minderoo Foundation may have to turn to the culture of coral, to save what can still be. Coraux whitening also concerns new Caledonia. The territory has the second largest coral barrier in the world.
