27 November 2008 

With the first day of summer fast approaching, projected higher than average sea temperatures could mean bad news for some corals on the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Climate Change Group Director Dr Paul Marshall said climate change was causing rising summer sea temperatures and leading to more frequent coral bleaching.

“Climate change is raising the average temperature of our oceans and coral reefs are increasingly at risk from mass coral bleaching.

“The best weather and climate information currently available for this summer from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates a greater than average risk that the Great Barrier Reef could suffer from widespread bleaching,” Dr Marshall said.

“Although bleaching could occur this summer, we are not expecting it to be as bad as what the Reef experienced in 1998 and 2002, the two hottest summers on record,” he said.

The risk of sea temperatures increasing to levels which are stressful for corals depends on a complex interaction of regional water temperatures, local air temperatures, cloud cover, winds and rainfall.

“While mass coral bleaching may not eventuate, we will be keeping a close eye on conditions over the coming months,” Dr Marshall said.

With a higher than average risk of coral bleaching this summer and more frequent coral bleaching predicted into the future, the GBRMPA is calling on industries and communities to work collectively to reduce other pressures on the Great Barrier Reef to enable it to better cope with climate change.

“We need to work together and take action now to reduce all pressures on the Reef such as poor water quality, overfishing, marine pollution, increasing carbon emissions and other coastal impacts.

“Everyone can help protect the long-term future of the Great Barrier Reef in the face of climate change by reducing energy use, choosing sustainable transport options, adhering to zoning and fishing regulations, minimising pollutants in water run off, and disposing properly of waste,” Dr Marshall said.

“People can also do their bit when they are out on the Reef by reporting incidents of coral bleaching.”

The GBRMPA welcomes reports on reef condition over the bleaching season.

If you have seen bleaching on the reef you can download and submit BleachWatch monitoring forms from the GBRMPA website www.gbrmpa.gov.au