Pacific Coral Reefs Can Be Saved By Getting Climate Under Control

Coral reefs can be saved and made more resilient by getting the climate under control, believes Rosemary Steinberg, a research at the University of New South Wales. She said the Islanders need to work closely with local corporations and businesses to help make the reefs more resilient.

Steinberg recently returned from surveying reefs across Lord Howe Island Marine Park, off the east coast of Australia. She and her colleague, Tess Moriarty found severe bleaching on the island’s inshore lagoons. The UNESCO World Heritage site had declared the site in 1982. It has the coral reef closest to a pole and is the home to many species found nowhere else in the world. Steinberg said 95 per cent of the island’s coral is showing signs of extensive bleaching. “However, bleaching is highly variable across Lord Howe Island. Some areas within the island lagoon coral reef are not showing signs of bleaching and have remained healthy and vibrant throughout the summer. There are also corals on the outer reef and at deeper reef sites that have remained healthy.”

The researcher said high seawater temperatures from a persistent summer marine heatwave off southeastern Australia caused bleaching. “There is evidence that some corals are now dying on the most severely affected reefs.”

Steinberg highlights coral bleaching as the greatest threat to the sustainability of coral reefs worldwide. It is clearly one of the greatest challenges in responding to the impact of global climate change.