Mass bleaching at the Great Barrier Reef

31 Jan 2022

Mass bleaching at the Great Barrier Reef

Mass bleaching at the Great Barrier ReefA priceless sea of marine life
Our little readers are well aware of the importance of coral reefs. A large majority of marine life live in them. People who live near the seas also depend on them for fishing, tourism and beach protection. Therefore we need to protect them from climate change.
Great Barrier Reef and high temperatures
The month of December 2021 saw high temperatures at the Great Barrier Reef. This led to mass bleaching of corals as per experts. What this tells us is that the corals were under stress. Let's revisit the concept of "Coral Bleaching".

The Australian government announced funding for reef conversation. Although this move was welcomed by scientists and conservationists, the real reason experts point out are greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel projects.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions - A jinx for the atmosphere
Greenhouse gases especially Carbon Dioxide(CO2) heat up the world's oceans. Scientists fear that over time coral bleaching will be a more frequent event. 
In the course of time, scientists have observed four times mass bleaching events at the 2300kms stretch of the Great Barrier Reef. In in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017.
Next steps
Experts have yet to decide whether to place the reef on its "in danger" list.
The world heritage committee is due to decide in July whether to place the reef on its “in danger” list.
Experts have also been asking for funding to improve the water conditions over the reef. This will greatly improve the health of corals. In addition, this will also give the corals a better chance of survival if the temperatures rise.
Furthermore, the government needs to continue to pursue its targets to reduce water pollution.

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