Reports indicate that between 2023 and 2024, there was a remarkable increase in the number of corals in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This marks the third consecutive year of record growth.
Growth Observed in the Great Barrier Reef Area
Across nearly all sections of the 2,500 km long reef, from the warmer northern waters to the cooler southern regions, coral colonies have increasingly covered more area since monitoring began.
The available data shows that last year’s growth was strikingly significant. In the northern region, hard coral cover increased from 35.8% to 39.5%, from 30.7% to 34% in the central area, and from 34% to 39.1% in the south. This report is a result of monitoring efforts conducted by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) between August 2023 and June 2024. The percentage of hard coral cover serves as a standard measure of reef health. Scientists use this metric to assess the condition of the reef because it provides a straightforward and reliable indication of its wellbeing. AIMS has been publishing similar reports for the past 38 years.
Nature Isn’t Reporting the News, Right?
Mainstream media have largely overlooked this news. Interestingly, a recent article in Nature focuses more on the narrative that climate change poses an existential threat to coral reefs. The Guardian has also reported that this existential threat has now become a reality. However, the actual situation differs significantly.
For the first two years of record coral growth, narrative-driven mainstream media disregarded the story.
This year, skeptics allege that something needed to be done to downplay the news of this remarkable growth. Support came in the form of an article published in Nature, which, based on temperature measurements and climate models, suggests that the highest temperatures recorded in the last 400 years are now being observed around the massive reefs. This time frame is, from the corals’ perspective, a brief moment, considering they have existed for hundreds of millions of years. They have survived periods of significant temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide fluctuations. Nonetheless, this scenario is proposed as a supposed existential threat. While subtropical corals are known to thrive between 24°C and 32°C, they appear to grow faster in warmer waters.
Natural bleaching, where corals expel algae and turn white, can occur due to temporary local temperature spikes. However, evidence from years of scientific observation indicates that corals recover quickly after such events, which occur frequently. Long-term changes in water temperature—a minor fluctuation compared to optimal coral conditions—are not considered a threat. However, many continue to emphasize bleaching events to warn of a potential ecological collapse. The Guardian recently reported on the fifth mass bleaching event on the reef within eight years, attributing it solely to global warming, leaving readers uninformed about its connection to the recent record growth.
A decade of mass bleaching that aligns with the media’s alarmist perspective does not seem to have significantly impacted the recent growth of northern coral reefs.
Or in the central reef…
Or in the south…
Climate Change is Blamed for Everything
Reading the latest AIMS report is challenging without bias. Naturally, all of this is attributed to climate change, allegedly driven by human actions.
It is theorized that climate change is causing marine heat waves to become more frequent and prolonged, a notion derived from climate models. It is generally believed that these heat waves and mass bleaching events were rare prior to the 1990s, although how this is known remains unclear. Detailed observations and temperature records extend back only a few decades.
As is often the case with government-funded operations, the political agenda is never far from the surface. This leads us to discover, for example, that
…the survival of coral reefs under stressful conditions necessitates a reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions to stabilize temperatures…and requires interventions to help reefs adapt and recover from the impacts of climate change.
The latter proposal will undoubtedly demand significant taxpayer funds to support this extensive endeavor.
Not Everyone is Concerned About Climate Change
Distinguished scientist Dr. Peter Ridd has studied the Great Barrier Reef for 40 years and he also notes [pdf] that there has been an explosion in the number of corals in recent years. According to Ridd, coral is present in all 3,000 reefs in the world’s largest system.
“Not a single reef or even a single reef species has been lost since the British settled,” he reports.
Ridd has also observed that the media and some scientific organizations routinely exaggerate the impact of bleaching.
In his view, the public is being misled about the state of the reef.
“How and why this happens is a serious issue within the reef science community, which seems willing to embrace emotion, ideology, and self-interest to secure funding,” notes Peter Ridd.
According to reports, in 2023-2024 there was a significant increase in the number of corals in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This is the third consecutive record year of strong growth.
Growth in the Great Barrier Reef
In almost every part of the 2,500-km-long reef, from the warmer northern waters to the cooler southern conditions, coral colonies are covering more and more area. This remarkable trend has been consistently noted since the beginning of detailed observations.
Based on available data, the increase in hard coral cover in 2023 has been striking. Specifically, the hard coral cover jumped from 35.8% to 39.5% in the northern part, from 30.7% to 34% in the central area, and from 34% to 39.1% in the south. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducted monitoring from August 2023 to June 2024, with these percentages acting as a key measure of reef health. AIMS has been publishing similar reports for 38 years, making this trend notable within their historical records.
The Media’s Response
Interestingly, mainstream media has not widely reported this positive development. Instead, a recent article in Nature highlights climate change as a critical threat to coral reefs. The Guardian echoes this sentiment, claiming that global warming poses an existential threat. However, this narrative contrasts starkly with the actual data emerging from the reef.
For the first two years of record coral growth, mainstream media largely ignored the story.
This year, critics argue there were attempts to suppress the positive news of coral recovery. Nature’s recent publication, which suggests rising ocean temperatures are threatening the reefs, aligns with this narrative. Although temperatures are indeed rising, historical evidence suggests that corals have thrived under varying conditions for hundreds of millions of years.
Corals have been known to naturally thrive in temperatures between 24°C and 32°C, and there’s evidence to suggest they can grow faster in warmer waters.
Temporary spikes in temperature can result in natural bleaching, where coral expels algae, resulting in a white appearance. However, several years of scientific observations indicate that corals typically recover from these bleaching events, which have been recorded frequently throughout history. Despite recent mass bleaching reports, the successful growth of northern coral reefs suggests a resilience contrary to media narratives.
Climate Change and Coral Health
AIMS reports frequently cite climate change as a crucial driver behind observed trends in coral reefs. There is a prevailing theory that climate change is resulting in more frequent and extended marine heat waves, leading to increased incidents of mass bleaching. However, this assumption is curious, as many scientific studies have only recorded detailed ocean temperature data for a few decades.
Political narratives often accompany climate-based science, as seen in the AIMS findings, which emphasize the need for global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stabilize reef environments. These proposals invariably seek funding for further research and interventions that assist reef recovery.
Contrasting Opinions from Experts
Dr. Peter Ridd, a distinguished scientist with 40 years of research experience on the Great Barrier Reef, offers an alternative perspective. In his findings, he indicates that coral numbers have surged across the entire reef system. In a recent report [pdf], Ridd stated:
“Not a single reef or even a single reef species has been lost since the British settled.”
Ridd believes the media and some scientific organizations routinely exaggerate the effects of bleaching. He argues that the public is often misled about reef conditions, stating:
“How and why this happens is a serious question for the reef science community, which is willing to embrace emotion, ideology and raw self-interest in order to maintain funding.”
Benefits of Coral Reefs
Healthy coral reefs offer numerous benefits not only to marine ecosystems but also to humans:
- Biodiversity: Coral reefs support a vast array of marine species, fostering biodiversity.
- Coastal Protection: Reefs act as natural barriers, protecting coastlines from erosion and storm damage.
- Economic Value: Coral reefs contribute to local economies through tourism, fishing, and recreation.
- Climate Regulation: Healthy reefs play a role in sequestering carbon, contributing to climate stability.
Practical Tips for Coral Conservation
As global awareness of coral reef health increases, individuals can take actionable steps to contribute to their conservation:
- Reduce Carbon Footprint: Engage in practices that minimize greenhouse gas emissions, including using public transport and reducing energy consumption.
- Support Sustainable Seafood: Choose seafood sourced from sustainable practices to reduce overfishing pressure on reef ecosystems.
- Participate in Beach Cleanups: Join local efforts to clean beaches and reefs, ensuring debris doesn’t harm marine life.
- Educate and Advocate: Share knowledge about coral health and advocate for policies that protect marine environments.
Case Studies of Coral Resilience
Research shows that various coral species exhibit remarkable resilience to changing environmental conditions. Notable case studies include:
- Coral Rehabilitation Projects: Initiatives designed to transplant healthy corals into damaged areas have shown promising recovery rates.
- Genetic Studies: Research into heat-resistant coral species has provided insights into possible solutions for enhancing coral resilience.
- Marine Protected Areas: Success stories from established marine protected areas show substantial growth in coral populations when human interference is minimized.
Visual Documentation of Coral Growth
Below is a table summarizing the hard coral cover percentages based on AIMS reports:
| Region | Hard Coral Cover 2022 (%) | Hard Coral Cover 2023 (%) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | 35.8 | 39.5 | +3.7 |
| Central | 30.7 | 34.0 | +3.3 |
| South | 34.0 | 39.1 | +5.1 |
Coral Health and Future Studies
As research continues to evolve, understanding the dynamics of coral growth in relation to environmental changes remains paramount. The contrast between media narratives and scientific findings provides fertile ground for debate in ecology, climate science, and public understanding.
Supervised studies and conservation efforts will play a crucial role in determining the future of coral ecosystems. Maintaining an open dialogue and presenting factual information to the public will bolster support for initiatives aimed at protecting these vital marine resources.
