An aerial survey has found 95 per cent of the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef has been damaged by coral bleaching. Of the 520 reefs inspected from Cairns to the Torres Strait only 4 were free of bleaching.
There are concerns the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef could be permanently damaged if a weather event causing coral bleeching does not subside. Hot summer conditions and rising water temperatures have already led to major coral bleaching and death.
The concerns come despite scientists previously believing a major coral-bleaching event had been avoided.
A research centre in Queensland's Far North is now warning a significant part of the U-N world-heritage site could disappear from steady high water temperatures and strong sun exposure.
