Great Barrier Reef in danger after losing half its coral

Australian Institute of Marine Science says the Great Barrier Reef has lost coral in the last 30 years...

Researchers from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) made an alarming discovery: that the Great Barrier Reef is in serious danger as it is steadily losing its coral.

Aside from Australia’s surging coal and gas shipments, this can part blamed for the destructive starfish activity and the climate change. 

Based on research, the Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its corals over the last 30 years and the damage is more serious than it was in 2006, as reported by Mail Online.

Globally, reefs are facing different threats, coming from rising sea temperatures, increased ocean acidity and an increase in more powerful storms. However, researchers confirm that the threats to the Great Barrier Reefs are far more alarming. 

“In terms of geographic scale and the extent of the decline, it is unprecedented anywhere in the world,” AIMS Chief, John Gunn, told Reuters.

Scientists from AIMS have been studying over 200 individual reefs off the Queensland coast since 1985. Based on their research, the main reason why these reefs are losing coral is due to cyclones - which accounts for at least half of the losses.

It is understood that 40per cent of the loss is blamed on crown-of-thorns starfish, and 10per cent is on coral bleaching due to spikes in sea temperature according to a report by the Mail Online.