Great Barrier Reef Suffers Record Coral Loss

In August 2025, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has recorded its largest annual decline in coral cover across two of its three regions, following one of the most severe mass bleaching events ever documented.

Key Points

Sharp Decline in Coral Cover: According to the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS), the reef’s northern and southern regions saw coral cover drop by 25% to 33% in the past year — the steepest decline since monitoring began 39 years ago.
Extent of Bleaching in 2024: The 2024 bleaching event had the largest footprint on record, with high to extreme bleaching recorded across all three reef regions due to rising sea temperatures.
Global Significance: Spanning 2,400 km (1,500 miles) off the coast of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living ecosystem and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Not Yet on ‘In Danger’ List: Despite repeated bleaching events, the reef is not currently listed as ‘in danger’ by UNESCO, although the organization has recommended its inclusion.
Economic Stakes: The Australian government continues to lobby against the reef’s endangered listing, citing its A$6.4 billion (US$4.2 billion) contribution to the national economy, largely through tourism.